The modern minivan ought to occupy space in the Smithsonian. Behold thousands of gizmos, packed into a container that barely used to accommodate an air conditioner—surely a feat comparable to the miniaturization of the computer chip. Gaze in amazement as seats and other structures disappear into seemingly smaller spaces, like a David Copperfield trick. Pile people in, then enjoy the optical illusion as you pile more in, with nobody spilling out the other side. Can't we get the minivan wizards to work on AIDS or the manned Mars mission?

There's an engineering arms race going on in the minivan market, and the result is one feature after another that redefines convenience and versatility. The past two years have seen fresh new innovations for the Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, and Dodge Grand Caravan, and now it's Honda's turn with the redesigned Odyssey. There's no new killer app, like the fold-flat third-row seat that Honda devised for the last Odyssey—now standard across the segment. But Honda has executed virtually everything in this van with grace and precision. Some of what you get: a variety of seating configurations for up to eight people; second-row bucket seats that slide forward, back, and sideways, for maximum versatility; fold-down mechanisms on the second- and third-row seats that are so easy to operate that my 8-year-old daughter could handle all of them; power windows in the second-row sliding doors; so many cupholders that everybody inside can drink two-fisted. The list of convenience features seems longer than the credits at the end of a movie.

Honda also boasts about the Odyssey's engine, a 255-horsepower V-6 that's the most powerful you can get in a minivan. Soccer moms won't care about the specs or the bragging rights, but the boost from the V-6—standard on all versions, from the base model to the $35,000 "Touring" line—provides lots of built-in reassurance. It allows quick acceleration when getting up to speed on the highway and keeps the Odyssey sprightly when fully loaded down with people or stuff. The Odyssey may also have the best handling you'll find in a minivan, crisp steering, and sedanlike agility that defy the van's hefty size and its higher center of gravity.

Though the new Odyssey has more aggressive, SUV-type styling on the hood and grille, it remains one of the more minivanny minivans on the market—few singletons or empty-nesters will be rushing out to buy one. One shortcoming: There's no all-wheel drive version, which will disappoint true automotive multitaskers. But the array of small innovations and the superb packaging prove that sometimes as much engineering expertise goes into family vehicles as into Formula One racers. Even if you'll never see a minivan on exhibit.