Toyota’s Sienna Minivan Thrives on Versatility
The minivan continues to prove that it’s the ultimate useful, go-anywhere, do-most-anything vehicle to be driving.
Example No. 1:
Some friends were invited to an open house at Naples (FL) Luxury Imports, a multidealer complex with franchises for Aston-Martin, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maserati, Jaguar, and Land-Rover.
They could have gone separately in their own luxury cars; instead, we carpooled, rolling up in today’s test vehicle, an eight-passenger Toyota Sienna SE minivan.
We stood out in the queue waiting for valet parking, sitting up higher than the guests in their low-slung,make-a-statement Mercedes, Corvettes, Porsches, Jaguars, and similar luxury cars.
We also turned heads as adults exited from both front doors and both power-sliding side doors. It’s not true that someone said we looked like we were getting out of the clown car at the circus.
Don Sarazen of Stoneham, who was riding in the third row, cited the comfort of riding in the “way back.’’ Manny Rei of Hampton, NH, in the second row, noted that the seats were comfortable but that the pronounced side bolsters took some getting used to.
Example No. 2:
A trip the next day to Marco Island for lunch with another coupleprovided more feedback.
“Hey’’ we said, “let’s take the minivan. We think it’s pretty neat and wonder how you’ll like it.’’
So we did.
“It’s a little tough for a short person to get in here, but once you’re in, it’s really comfortable,’’ says Jean Troisiof Tewksbury, referring to the second row of seats.
“This is almost like stadium seating,’’ said her husband Tom. “Visibility is really good back here.’’
Both groups cited the extreme (23-inch) slide of the second-row seats, allowing first for easier access to the third-row seats and then for amazing legroom for second-row passengers.
Example No. 3:
The third-row seats fold flat in a two-part maneuver: Pull a latch strap to fold the seat, then grab a handle to rotate it into storage position.
That made room for a 4×4-foot console table Mrs. G found in a furniture store.
Examples 4 and 5:
Those second-row seats slide forward and tilt enough to accommodate a six-foot piece of furniture. When Mrs. G found a compactsectional sofa at the local Habitat for Humanity home store, it was easy to bring each of the 3×5-foot pieces home (in separate trips) with the seats in that forward-most position.
Taking those seats completely out is possible,although the maneuver is a bit awkward and they’re heavy. However, doing so makes it possible to fit the standard 4×8-foot sheet of plywood or sheetrock in the expanded cargo area.
We only had a seven-foot futon to take back to the thrift shop and figured it was just as easy to make the three-mile drive slowly with the back liftgate raised as it would have been to remove the seats.
All this is to establish that the minivan isn’t just for soccer moms, who erroneously have been eschewing these vehicles of late in favor of less versatile SUVs. Fans from other age groups, however, remain loyal buyers.
We found the Sienna to be spacious, comfortable, easy to drive, and obviously flexible. The Siena also remains the only minivan available with all-wheel-drive. That would be a huge factor in this winter of New England’s discontent.
Whereas we were driving it in Florida, our front-wheel-drive version was fine.
The SE trim level that we were driving also has a sporty touch with 19-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension, and electronic power steering. The SE is in the middle of Sienna’s five trim levels: L, LE, SE, XLE, and Limited.
Our upscale model of the Sienna was pricey with a $35,785 starting price, including destination. A $2,300 SE preferred package added a lengthy list of options, including blindspot warning and rear crosstraffic alert, power moonroof, backup camera display, remote activated sliding doors, and an upgraded audio system with navigation.
Roof racks ($185), security system ($359), and dual-screen rear entertainment system ($819) brought the bottom line to $39,448.
Power comes from Toyota’s established 3.5-liter V-6 and goes to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA mileage estimates are 18 in city driving and 25 on the highway. We averaged 19.3 mpg, a bit below the combined rating of 21. AWD versions are rated at 16 city, 23 highway, and 19 combined.
The Sienna basically is a carryover for 2015. It’s the third generation of the Sienna, which made its debut in 1998, although Toyota first began offering a van in 1984 and the Previa Van in 1991.
Changes to the SE line for 2015 include LED driving lights, a stiffer chassis, redesigned dashboard layout, and a more refined interior.
We found the changes all to be positive enhancements in Toyota’s tradition of evolving as opposed to reinventing. On the road, steering was precise, the ride firm without being harsh, and power smooth and more than adequate.
The infotainment screen has what Toyota calls apps for different functions such as the phone and navigation. The system is fairly intuitive to use and features a driver’s intercom. Instead of shouting over the tumult to be heard in back, the driver can use the voice activated microphone to speak to rear passengers.
And that’s just one more way we stood out from the crowd when we showed up to see what the expensive imports were offering.
2015 Toyota Sienna SE Minivan
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $35,785/$39,448. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 18 city, 25 highway, 21 combined.Fuel economy, Globe observed: 19.3.Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V-6, 6-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel-drive.Body: 8-passenger minivan.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 266.Torque: 245 lb.-ft.Overall length: 200.2 in.Wheelbase: 119.3 in.Height: 70.5 in. (w/roof rails). Width: 78.1 in.Curb weight: 4,560 lbs.
THE GOOD
Seating and cargo flexibility, refined interior, smooth operation of all systems.
THE BAD
Some found the second row hard to access and second row seats awkward to remove.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A really nice (and useful) vehicle gets more refined … and it can be had with all-wheel-drive.
ALSO CONSIDER
Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest.
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