Performance? Check. Entertainment? Check. Style? Check. Minivan? Check.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey might just be the perfect fit for your family road trip. From comfort to performance, the Odyssey makes a strong case to be 2012’s hottest family car.

Let’s start with what’s under the hood. The Odyssey’s surprisingly powerful 247-hp, 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine will make many drivers think they’re driving a sports car rather than a minivan. The Odyssey handles extremely well through even the tightest turns and is rated at almost 30 MPG on the highway. The Touring and Touring Elite Odyssey come with a six-speed automatic transmission while the rest get a five-speed automatic.

The body design of the Odyssey is unlike most minivans, too. We think it actually looks cool. Not just “soccer mom cool” either. Real cool. The front and back of the Odyssey borrow many design features from other Honda models such as the Accord, but the side is unlike any other vehicle on the road. From afar, the Odyssey shares some design basics with other cars in its class, but, up close and personal, the Odyssey is ahead of its time. An arched roofline and “lightning bolt” hump around the rear window make the Odyssey stand out.

Inside, the Odyssey just keeps getting better. It contains enough features to make even the longest of road trips a breeze.  Touring Elite models come with a 650-watt sound system with 15 GB of available storage and a 16.2” ultra-wide-screen TV (that can be split down the middle to hopefully settle some movie disputes in the backseat). Not enough for you? Zagat-integrated Voice Navigation paired with a Blind Spot Information system (BSI) and a multi-angle rearview backup camera make driving the Odyssey a treat. The console also contains a “Cool Box” to keep snacks and drinks cold for your journey. The Odyssey is a high-tech living room on wheels.

The 2012 Honda Odyssey has what it takes under the hood, under the roof, and in the dash to get you where you want to go in comfort and style. Soccer mom or not, you’ll want to consider buying the 2012 Odyssey as your next road-trip ready vehicle.

Despite the automotive industry’s tenuous economic position, vehicle manufacturers posted the strongest improvement in initial quality since 2009 and are producing higher-quality vehicles than ever before, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Initial Quality Study.

Since 2011, 26 out of the 34 brands have improved, and the overall quality of vehicles improved five percent from the previous year. There were also 185 models ranked and 65 percent showed an improvement from last year.

Lexus received the highest ranking for the second year in a row, and Jaguar and Porsche tied for the second place ranking. Jaguar showed the largest improvement jumping from the twentieth spot to the second place spot. To round out the top five ranked positions were Honda and Cadillac.

However, for the first time in the 26-year history of the study, owners reported the most problems with the audio, entertainment, and navigation systems versus any other vehicle area. The number of owner-reported problems with factory-installed hands-free communication devices has increased 137 percent during the past four years. The demand for hands-free technology has drastically increased from luxury models to the mainstream automobiles and users expectations for the technology has also increased.  As manufacturers introduce increasingly sophisticated multimedia systems designed to enhance the ownership experience, owners more frequently cite these systems as a source of quality problems.

The Initial Quality Study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better models and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions.

With more room, a lower price tag, uncommon standard features, and a variety of engine options, the redesigned 2012 Volkswagen Passat beat out about 70 cars to be awarded Cars.com’s 2012 Best of the Year honor.

The Passat’s spacious interior provides comfort to both passengers and the driver. While the space in the car got bigger, its price got smaller, dropping more than $7,000 off the base price of the previous generation.  The lower price tag does not equate to lower standards. In fact, the 2012 Passat comes stocked with uncommon standard features, such as dual-zone automatic air conditioning.

By delivering value over flashiness, the 2012 Volkswagen Passat is a clear choice for Cars.com’s Best of 2012 Award.