Toyota Sienna Awd

toyota sienna awd: The minivan has actually been the Rodney Dangerfield of the auto globe for a lot of its 33-year presence. Concepts abound about why the minivan never gets the regard it deserves regardless of being the globe's most versatile transportation device. Could it be due to the fact that the "mini" appellation not fits, especially for the 200-inch-long Toyota Sienna examined here? Some blame the sliding doors. Others urge the beveled-shoebox form is sexless.

Even with warm trip-to-the-zoo memories and also joyous football explorations, modern moms and dads as well as children tend to shun minivans. Sales are hardly above half exactly what they remained in 2005, in large component due to the apparently inexorable increase of crossovers. Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai, and Mazda all have abandoned the classification. That claimed, six brand names still fight for their share of the minivan activity, currently around 600,000 sales annually.


toyota sienna awd


Heart Transplant

While Chrysler's Pacifica is the hottest information in this category, Toyota hasn't been puddling its thumbs on the sidelines. The Sienna's new four-cam 3.5-liter V-6 (shared with the Toyota Highlander) is outfitted with both port as well as direct fuel shot, enhancing output from 266 to a husky 296 horsepower and torque from 245 to 263 lb-ft. Variable intake and exhaust valve timing generate a 4700-rpm torque top and also a power contour that does not crescendo up until 6600 rpm (on its way to the 6750-rpm redline), which is quite racy for a household hauler. The mix of Atkinson-cycle operation during cruising, an 11.8:1 compression ratio, and also a brand-new eight-speed wide-ratio transmission increases EPA gas mileage by 1 to 2 mpg (although the Sienna still routes the Pacifica by 4 mpg in EPA highway ratings). Maintaining budgets in mind, this engine mores than happy with regular-grade fuel, and it's impeccably acted whether you're running just to beat the college bell or cruising to church on Sunday.

Despite lugging a couple of hundred more extra pounds than the competition (attributable to the segment-exclusive all-wheel-drive alternative on this examination cars and truck), the 2017 Sienna relocates to the head of the course in acceleration. The seven-second-flat run from no to 60 miles per hour and also the 15.4 seconds as well as 92 mph we gauged in the quarter-mile for this Sienna Limited Premium flagship are documents in our minivan journal, so by a few tenths of a 2nd. And also just the Honda Odyssey matches this Toyota's 3.8-second 30-to-50-mph death velocity. Unfortunately, the new Sienna falls back the Kia Sedona, the Nissan Pursuit, and also in 2015's Sienna in 50-to-70-mph passing away because of the brand-new automatic's hesitation to kick down expeditiously. (Pressing the well-hidden ECT PWR button, which advises the online regulated transmission to rev greater before shifts, may help.).

Collaring as well as stopping grasp is core to every automobile's capacity to avoid doom-- assuming the driver has the ability to respond decisively under duress. In this category, the boosted Sienna runs at midpack, quiting from 70 miles per hour in 177 feet with some discolor obvious after repeated brake usage. While the 18-inch Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 run-flat all-season tires hold on sensibly well, the stability-control system steps in to halt the cornering fun at 0.77 g, well below the Chrysler Pacifica's 0.83 g. Handling connoisseurs might do better with the Sienna SE, which has a sport suspension as well as 19-inch wheels and tires as common tools.

We didn't expect much driving pleasure baked into the Sienna's heart, which's exactly just what we located. The steering wheel is a hand rest, not a communication conduit to the pavement. With the exception of tire noise, the flight is peaceful, as the Sienna simulates the Toyota Camry's devotion to seclusion.

Functions and Options

Fundamental security aids like stability as well as traction control, flexible cruise ship control, automated emergency braking, automatic headlamp high-beam control, a wide-angle back-up cam, as well as blind-spot surveillance with rear cross-traffic alert are included with the leading Restricted Premium trim. Advanced functions such as lane-departure caution and also lane-keeping aid will need to wait on the fourth-generation Sienna, due following year as a 2018 version.

On-demand four-wheel drive is a confidence builder for those who contend with snow as well as ice, yet take into consideration very carefully before inspecting that box, because it includes $1140 to the sticker label and also decreases the EPA integrated mileage score by 2 mpg.

Every minivan's key objective is serving as the institution bus/cargo hauler that fits in your garage. This Sienna carries five in its 2 rearmost rows in large holiday accommodations. (Various other Siennas can seat as several as eight.) Access through the big doors, past the second-row easy chair, is a breeze, as well as the back bench is roomy enough for strapping high-schoolers. The middle seats slide fore and aft via 23 inches of travel to take full advantage of legroom when 4 grownups are aboard.

Toyota's response to Chrysler's innovative Stow 'n Go second-row seats is a third row that splits as well as goes down into a flooring well effortlessly. The second-row thrones are easy to unlatch yet heavy to get rid of in preparation for optimal cargo transporting. In that mode, the Sienna's indoor offers 150 cubic feet of space (9 more than the Pacifica) and sufficient clear floor area to transport four-by-eight-foot sheets of building product flat with the hatch latched.

Sadly, this Sienna's interior falls short in various other locations. To respond to the competition's surprise-and-delight attributes such as vacuum cleaners and drink coolers, the Sienna supplies a wide-angle mirror to check wrongdoing and also a method of reprimanding the children via the audio system's back speakers. That's not virtually sufficient to handle today's child-rearing tribulations. While the Sienna's 14 beverage owners suffice, the variety of electrical links-- 3 12-volt DC sockets, two 120-volt AC electrical outlets, 3 complementary jacks, two USB ports, and also one SD-card slot-- won't stay up to date with rising connection needs.

A lot more unsatisfactory is the low-grade interior in this $49,049 Sienna Limited Costs front runner. The seven chunks of wood-grain trim were obviously harvested from plastic trees, as well as the upholstery is natural leather leaning extremely in the vinyl instructions.

As always, the smart shopper has options. Pick a below-$ 40,000 Sienna such as the SE to delight in Toyota's well-earned track record for safety and longevity without the Restricted Premium's excessively high sticker label. Select the Honda Odyssey or the newer Chrysler Pacifica. Or wait a few months to see what Toyota's U.S.-based style, engineering, and also manufacturing group has contrived for the revamped 2018 Sienna. Allow's hope it's a top-flight minivan worthy of unwavering affection.