Offered last year as an option, a 3.9-litre, 240-hp V6 now replaces the old 3.5-litre, 201-hp unit as Montana's standard engine. This should help the GM van close the gap on various 240ish-hp rivals, though the transmission is still only a 4-speed. Other aspects of the GM vans' dynamics are already quite competitive, though the Versatrak all-wheel drive model is gone. Go figure. Montana's Achilles Heel is the inability of the third-row seat to "disappear" into the floor, though it and the second-row seats can be removed. Like Uplander, the Montana is available in Canada-only short-wheelbase versions. A segment exclusive is a 40-Gb Phatnoise multi-function hard-drive that installs in Montana's modular overhead rail system.

Lots of choice, affordable, and now has competitive power

Silly SUV-wannabe styling, no hideaway seats, AWD gone