2011 Toyota Sienna: It's a van, what did you expect?

March 22, 2010, by Michael Banovsky

Expert rating

Overall rating:

4 / 5

	Safety» Rating based on the vehicle's active and passive safety features.	/ 5
	Fuel efficiency» Based on current gas prices as well as in comparison to vehicles in the same category.	/ 5
	Ride and handling» The way a vehicle feels compared to others in its class.	3.5 / 5

Usability

	Bang for your buck»What you'll pay compared to others in its class	/ 5
	Feel good factor»How well the vehicle makes you feel—from the driver's seat as well as any other emotional responses	3.5 / 5
	Family friendliness»How usable is the vehicle (and its features) for a typical family?	/ 5
	Pet friendliness»A measure of space, easy-to-clean materials, durability, and other pet factors	/ 5
	Interior Storage»Both the overall space for passengers and usable space for their stuff	/ 5
	Cargo size and config»Carrying capacity is relative to how useful it is, this rating is a combination of space and configuration	/ 5
	Parking»Can an average driver park this vehicle? Can they see out at low speeds?	/ 5
	Usable technology»Having Bluetooth is one thing, how easy is it to use? A rating of how useful the vehicle's technology actually is	/ 5
	Entertainment system»A combination of anything entertaining about a car, including the stereo system, movie-watching capabilities, and other features	/ 5
	Towing»If the vehicle can tow, how does it compare to others in its class?	/ 5

Likes:

Available with a four cylinder engine
Functional, easy-to-use interior controls
Handing on SE model — but should be the standard suspension setup

Dislikes:

Minivans will never be cool straight from the factory
Fully-loaded Limited trim level drives like a barge
Ottoman-style seating almost too nice for kids

Vehicle details

Shopping tools

Probably the best minivan in a dwindling segment, the Sienna should be on your shopping list

Initial Thoughts
I'm sorry, dear readers: I'm the last person you'd ask for advice on a minivan. My earthly possessions include a nice digital camera, Apple MacBook Pro, Vivo Barefoot shoes and an expensive recycled European shoulder bag. No TV, no two car garage, no blender, no woman and definitely no kids. I have entered into a long-term relationship with my cat; however, she doesn't take up much space.

On the face of it, my minivan advice is just as valid as Conan O'Brien's advice on how to avoid upsetting your employer. However, you'd be mistaken for two reasons: I'm young enough to remember actually being a kid in the family minivan (three, actually) and my best friend has a van and children — so I know what works in a family setting beyond pacifying the young'uns with Go, Diego, Go! DVDs.

Performance
It's a tale of two engines. Sure, everyone loves horsepower — but if any vehicle is supposed to travel slowly and carefully, isn't it the one your kids are in? That said, the headline motor is a thoroughly revised 3.5-litre V6 with 266 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. New for this year (despite the Sienna being called a 2011…stupid, I know) is a 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque.

On paper, the four-cylinder sounds downright doggish. But, because all Siennas rock a six-speed automatic transmission, acceleration and passing maneuvers are far less marginal than you'd imagine. After all, the four-banger Sienna easily outmuscles the base 3.3-litre V6 in the Dodge Grand Caravan (with only 175 horsepower and a four-speed automatic).

Fuel consumption clocks in at 10.4 L/100km city and 7.5 highway for the four-cylinder Sienna LE. The V6 is rated for 11.5/8.1L/100km city/highway. All-wheel drive is optional on V6 LE and Limited models. With more drivetrain drag, 12.8L/100km city and 9.0 highway ratings are acceptable.

The new-for-2011 SE "Sport" trim adds a body kit and exterior trim upgrades in addition to a stiffer suspension and tighter steering that were personally tuned by van's chief engineer… who used to drift his Corolla AE86 in Japan. When asked why all Sienna models don't handle as well, he said that the suspension and steering setup was "out of spec" with what Toyota expects from a vehicle of this type.

Memo to Toyota: change your specs to the driving experience the SE delivers. While no sports car (or even sporty), it's far better than expected and gives the driver some much-needed feedback.

Ergonomics/Comfort/Quality
Talking about new vehicle features routinely eat up my maximum word count for reviews, and the Sienna is no different. When I was a kid, our Ford Aerostar had a rear radio control and headphone jack — and it was all I needed to feel like a prince. In a top-level Sienna Limited AWD, your children will enjoy reclining ottoman seats, a rear sunroof, rear ambient lighting, remote control, wireless headsets (not to mention headphone jacks for third row passengers), and a 16.4-inch super widescreen monitor… that accepts dual inputs.

In other words, your two kids could be playing xbox (there's a power outlet back there, too), while your strange cousin Larry indulges in Battlestar Galactica.

Ergonomics are exactly what you'd expect in a van (though the front LCD fuel consumption display could use the talents of a graphic designer), overall comfort is excellent and quality is better than Toyota models of late. But the interior still lacks flair — if the Ford Flex is the nightclub of people movers, the Sienna is the dentist's office.

That said, there are eight distinct trim levels (including all-wheel drive, mobility, and sport versions) plus options and accessories — so finding the van for your needs is quite easy.

Functionality/Usability
One-touch folding third row seats! Well, one pull. It's so easy that my cat, who has just mastered opening bifold doors, could probably get the rear seats folded. Another highlight is that on eight-passenger models, the centre second-row seat is removable and stows behind the third row in a special well that doesn't compromise overall cargo space. Changing between captain's chairs and second-row bench is as simple as a few lever pulls and lifting 14 kg (30 lbs.) or so.

rom the sliding centre console to the long-slide second row seats, the Sienna has just about every "usable" feature covered, apart from Dodge and Chrysler-style Stow 'N Go second row seats. A Sienna engineer said that they could have offered such a feature, but it would have made the second row seats smaller and uncomfortable. I can appreciate that. Besides, would you rather a comfortable, sleeping child on a long road trip, or a fidgeting, agitated one?

Conclusion
Pricing starts at $27,900 for the LE seven-passenger four-cylinder model, with the V6 engine priced at $1,000 more. Eight passenger models are only available with a V6, and start at $32,500. The all-wheel drive seven-passenger V6 will run you $35,350. A fully-loaded Sienna Limited AWD is a significant $49,100.

The LE "Mobility" model with a second-row captain's chair that swivels out of the van to make it easier for mobility-impaired passengers to get into the vehicle, is $31,375.

In all, the new Sienna is everything you could ever want in a van. While I won't be buying one anytime soon, new parents, families with active lifestyles, and aging baby boomers who need space and comfort should appreciate the vehicle for different reasons. Having a performance car enthusiast lead the engineering team did help bring some novel touches (including a subtle rear diffuser that aids in straight-line stability), but didn't make the van that fun to drive — even with that "SE" trim included.

As a former child and current back seat activity enthusiast, I can safely say that the new Sienna will appeal to even the most difficult-to-please members of your family. My one wish? That Toyota provided small reading lights so that kids had something else to do than watch a DVD. "Toyota Sienna Literacy Edition" has a nice ring to it, don't you think?