2011 Toyota Sienna Bottom Line

TheCarConnection.com's editors have driven the new 2011 Toyota Sienna and have written this road test summary from firsthand driving impressions. Editors have compared the new Sienna with other minivans in its class, to help you decide which one is best for you. A companion full review will be published when other respected Web reviewers complete their Sienna reviews.

High Gear Media accepted travel expenses to be among the first to drive and report on the 2011 Toyota Sienna.

Likes
Revamped looks
Updated dynamics
Flexible seating options
Four-cylinder engine's a winner
A sport minivan?

Dislikes
Second-row seats don't store inside the vehicle
Not as entertaining as Chrysler vans
No need for pricey V-6 Limited

The 2011 Toyota Sienna may be the Japanese automaker's third-generation minivan, but Toyota emphasizes that the new Sienna is becoming more carlike than ever. The Sienna gets smart updates to its drivetrains and to its interior package for 2011-but not to its seating configurations, which still lag the class-leading Dodge Grand Caravan and Nissan Quest in flexibility. The Sienna is offered in a broad model range, and continues to be the only minivan with an all-wheel-drive option. Toyota says the base price of the 2011 Sienna will come in below the current vehicle's $25,000 price point. Available in front- or all-wheel-drive versions, with either a four- or six-cylinder engine and in seven- or eight-passenger versions, the new Sienna will go on sale in February 2010. Competition includes the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, the Kia Sedona, the Nissan Quest and the Honda Odyssey.

The 2011 Sienna has new body panels with a more dynamic front end, but it's nothing to draw a flashmob or attract civil disobedience. A wide grille is framed either in body-color paint or in metallic trim; SE versions get a very aggressive front-end treatment. There's a sharper crease along its shoulders and geometrically bold windows, and as the lines taper rearward, the Sienna draws to a roofline that's similar to that on the Kia Sedona. The 2011 Sienna rides on the same chassis as the previous generation, so while it's marginally shorter and wider than before, there's not a tremendous change in its proportions. Inside, the Sienna has adopted the latest Toyota styling theme, with a dramatic arc separating driving controls from secondary and passenger-shared controls. The dash is styled to give the impression of more passenger space, and Toyota says slimmer seats and controls add to the feeling of roominess in the new Sienna. The interior looks less expensive than before, though. Plastic trim is replaced on some versions by matt woodgrain trim; pricier versions get Optitron gauges like those in some Lexus models.

Toyota cites improved performance in the new Sienna, since its carryover V-6 engine gets a six-speed automatic. However, it's the Sienna's four-cylinder engine that should give minivan buyers second thoughts about paying more for their family hauler. The base 2.7-liter four-cylinder puts out 187 horsepower, while the larger 3.5-liter V-6 churns out 266 hp. Both team with a six-speed automatic for an estimated 19/26 mpg in the four-cylinder Sienna, to 16/22 mpg for the V-6, all-wheel-drive version. Engine performance from the four-cylinder is perfectly acceptable; it's a little louder and obviously less quick than the V-6, but for minivan duty, it's amply, safely powerful enough to carry a carpool's worth of kids and adults, at a price thousands less than the luxuriously powerful V-6. The latest Sienna carries over a straightforward MacPherson front strut and independent rear suspension, but electronic power steering is a new arrival, and it's fine in a vehicle like the Sienna, in which handling is a lower priority than space and fuel economy. While it's no sportscar, the Sienna has smooth ride motions and quick steering, making it nicely maneuverable in city driving. A special SE edition gets tighter suspension tuning and big 19-inch wheels, along with a lower body; it's a gamble that may not register with average minivan buyer, especially as it's a subtle difference from the XLE or Limited feel. The Sienna is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds, and itself weighs from 4275 lb to 4750 lb.

The new 2011 Sienna is 200.2 inches long, with a 119.3-inch wheelbase and an overall width of 78.2 inches, with a couple of inches more in interior room. There's ample space everywhere for adults, even in the third-row seat. Front passengers have a regal view of the road ahead, and plenty of head, leg and knee room. In the second row, either a bench or twin bucket seats also has copious room-and the seat(s) slide on an elongated track that gives the second row limo-like leg room, or no legroom while third-row passengers are loaded. The second-row seats can be removed, but there's no new floorpan in the Sienna, which means no in-floor storage or fold-away seats as in the Chrysler minivans or the Nissan Quest. Second-row aircraft-style "lounge" seats can also be ordered: they have leg-cushion extenders and footrests that give new status to backseat drivers. The third-row seat actually has adult-sized room in all directions, and isn't that difficult to enter-and they fold almost flat into a deep well in the cargo area. With the second-row seats moved as far front as possible, the 2011 Sienna has 117.8 cubic feet of cargo room; with the second row removed and the third row folded, it will hold 150 cubic feet of cargo. Even behind the upright third-row seat, there's 39.1 cubic feet of space-or almost twice as much storage room as the 2010 Ford Taurus' trunk. The Sienna also can carry an actual 4x8 sheet of plywood. There's also plenty of small-item storage inside in the Sienna's console, twin gloveboxes, map and side pockets, and available cargo organizer. The revamped interior suffers a bit in richness; interior materials and appointments feel a bit less refined compared to those of its competitors, in particular the horizontal grain on the dash and door caps.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna hasn't been crash-tested by either the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) nor by the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). However, the prior version earned four- and five-star ratings from the NHTSA and "good" ratings from the IIHS; a "poor" rating for rear impacts could improve with the addition of active headrests. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are standard on every grade of the 2011 Toyota Sienna, as are front side airbags and side curtain bags covering all three seating rows, as well as a driver-side knee airbag. A pre-collision protection system that preps the car for an imminent accident is offered on higher-level trims, as is dynamic cruise control. Visibility is excellent in the Sienna, and its available rearview camera offers a 180-degree view.

The 2011 Toyota Sienna's interior is rich on features-including standard dual sliding doors and the folding third-row seats on all models; power windows for the front side and sliding side doors; remote keyless entry; cruise control; AM/FM/CD player with an auxiliary jack; three-zone climate control; and a telescoping/tilting steering wheel. The LE adds power sliding doors and roof rails; steering-wheel controls for audio and phone; a center console; sunshades; and a cargo bin for the second-row seat. The SE gets sport trim; a new grille; 19-inch tires; LED taillights and halogen headlights; and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. The XLE adds a power rear tailgate; a power sunroof; 17-inch wheels; a towing package; an LCD information display; woodgrain trim; heated front seats; and removeable second-row captain's chairs. The Limited gets a dual sunroof; overhead console; a sliding center console; second row "lounge seats" and a power-folding third-row seat, as well as a JBL audio system with USB connectivity, Bluetooth stereo audio and a six-disc CD changer. Options on various models include DVD navigation; a Dual View rear-seat DVD entertainment system with an immense 16.4-inch wide pair of screens; and premium audio.

The Bottom Line: The 2011 Toyota Sienna adds room and adult-duty second-row seats, but leaves ultimate flexibility and entertainment to the competition.

Other Choices
If you like the 2011 Toyota Sienna, also consider:

- Dodge Grand Caravan
- Honda Odyssey
- Nissan Quest
- Ford Flex

Reason Why:
The 2011 Toyota Sienna competes with some of the company's own crossovers, like the Highlander and Venza. It's also a prime competitor for the likes of the Dodge Grand Caravan, which has a blunt style, a plasticky interior, and a world-class assortment of entertainment and storage options, including in-car satellite TV and folding, swiveling second-row seats. The Nissan Quest's seats fold into the floor, too, and it's generally a nicer place to be than the Chrysler vans. The Honda Odyssey is like the Sienna with only a removable second-row seat, but it's a reasonably crisp-handling vehicle with a great V-6 powertrain. The Ford Flex is an interesting option for minivan shoppers: it has amazing adult-sized seating inside, with a hip, boxy style and no sliding side doors, but regular front-hinged ones, not to mention its vast array of electronic gadgets, including SYNC.

Buying Tip
The base 2011 Toyota Sienna represents a great value-as does the LE version with a single Preferred Package that adds audio and phone features. TheCarConnection.com's editors pick this four-cylinder, front-drive version as the choice version.

This story originally appeared at The Car Connection

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