Motors has been treading water for years. Its long-nosed, plastic-bodied

minivans--the Chevrolet Lumina, Pontiac Trans Sport, and Oldsmobile Silhouette,

aka the "Dustbusters"--never managed to catch a wave with consumers.

For 1997, General Motors launched a brand-new lineup of front-drive

minivans. The designers have kept the best of the old--the sturdy 3.4-liter

V6 engine, the modular seats that can be removed individually, and the

power sliding door--and changed just about everything else.

The result is a group of thoroughly competent vehicles that belong on

the shopping list of any minivan buyer.

by their conventional good looks. The Dustbuster nose that made parking

difficult and created acres of dusty dashboard has been trimmed to manageable

proportions. The plastic body has been converted to less-expensive steel.

And fresh colors modernize the look.

The Chevolet Venture (the minivan formerly known as Lumina) and its

Oldsmobile and Pontiac siblings (still known by their former names) are

quite similar in exterior appearance. The Venture sports a big chrome grille.

The Trans Sport and Silhouette have more modest front ends, with twin dark

grille openings flanking the appropriate badge.

Buyers looking for something a little different should take a look at

the Trans Sport Montana. Intended to attract folks who need a minivan but

wish they could buy a sport-utility, the Montana has SUV styling cues such

as two-tone paint with lower body cladding, foglights and brawny front

bumpers. Its exclusive sport suspension, with stiffer springs and larger

self-leveling air shocks improves handling, but the Montana lacks the four-wheel-drive

and higher ground clearance of a real SUV.

All the minivans come in short- and long-wheelbase versions. The overall

lengths are similar to the comparable Chrysler minivans, but the GM models

are almost five inches narrower, and are easier to enter or exit in a garage

or tight parking space. Step-in height is comfortably low.

The four-door long-wheelbase Venture LS we tested had a second sliding

door behind the driver's door for convenient loading of goods or passengers.

(Dual doors won't be available until later this year on short-wheelbase

models.) An even greater convenience is a feature exclusive to GM so far:

a power sliding door on the passenger side ($350) that kids love and we

found quite handy.

The door can be activated with the remote keyfob or buttons located

above the driver's head or behind the front passenger seat. (The rear button

locks out when the car is in gear.)

The power door is supposed to stop and reverse directions if it bumps

into an obstacle. When we stuck in an arm to test it, the door squeezed

rather hard before reversing. It moves slowly, however, and chirps as it

closes. The power door can be closed manually, but requires a heavy yank

to get going.

One more nice idea: a coating on the windshield keeps the interior cooler

and functions as a radio antenna, cutting down on antenna-associated wind

noise and car wash damage.

controls. The list of standard features is commendable: air conditioning,

power locks and mirrors, tilt wheel, and an overhead console.

Storage is plentiful with a big glovebox and up to 26 compartments,

according to Chevrolet. A cargo net stretches between the two front seats

on the LS model to store purses, phones and other stray objects. Less clever

are the hard-to-reach cupholders that fold down from the sides of the front

seats.

The modular seats make it easy to rearrange space in the rear. Seven-passenger

seating is standard, and available in split or solid benches or bucket

seats. Single or dual integrated child safety seats ($125-$250) are available.

The second and third rows are raised slightly to give passengers a better

view. The seat bottoms are relatively low, though, which will force some

adults' knees uncomfortably high.

Seatbacks on the bucket seats flip down to provide a flat surface, or

the whole seat can be folded up to make space for a big box and at 38 pounds,

the seats can be removed by one person. Those who want leather seats or

dual captain's chairs for the second row will need to shop an Olds or Pontiac

store.

The wide pass-through makes transit between the front and the back easy,

while numerous features make life in the back comfortable. High on any

teenager's list would be the dual-jack rear audio controls that are optional

on the Venture LS ($110). Back-seat passengers can listen to a tape or

CD ($200) over headphones while front-seat passengers listen to the radio

(or vice versa). Rear vents and climate controls will cut down on temperature

complaints.

Cargo space is plentiful; maximum capacity is only 13 cubic feet less

than Chrysler minivans despite the Venture's narrower width. Behind the

third row of seats, the Venture has more space than the Chrysler. The LS

has a net across the rear opening and two netted compartments at the sides

of the rear cargo area to keep gallons of milk and tool kits from skidding.

The one annoyance is a ridge across the floor at the rear that forces you

to lift heavy objects out rather than slide them.

Some buyers may have questions after viewing the last-place showing

of the Pontiac Trans Sport in an insurance-industry-sponsored 40-mph frontal

offset crash test. Federal standards--which all U.S. vehicles meet--regulate

performance only in head-on and side impacts.

Buyers should note that of the nine vans tested, only the Ford Windstar

received a Good rating, so the issue involves more than just the GM minivans.

Carmakers point out that there are no Federal standards for offset collisions,

that the test was conducted at a much greater speed than any Federal test,

that offset crashes constitute only a small proportion of all accidents,

and that minivans in general have an excellent real-world safety record.

to its quiet interior, car-like ride and handling, and robust engine, a

180-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 that is more powerful than the standard engines

of its competitors. The V6 provides plenty of start-up oomph and passing

power at cruising speed. It is paired with a smooth-shifting four-speed

automatic transmission. The firm, accurate steering saves the driver from

constant corrections at higher speeds.

The model we tested was equipped with the optional touring suspension

with automatic load leveling in the rear ($180). In general, the handling

was responsive and controlled. The ride tended to the firm side, but with

little body roll. The standard suspension would have less harshness but

more roll.

Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard, and traction control ($175)

can provide extra security.

Venture and its siblings haven't quite moved to the head of the class (Chrysler

still has an edge in refinement and capacity), but they are solid contenders.

The modular seats work well with the multiple demands of minivan owners,

and the power sliding door is a great help when juggling kids and groceries.

The Venture and its clones are a welcome addition to the minivan fleet.