We all know that minivan is a word you want to avoid. Usually. You may well change your view when you drive the 2011 Toyota Sienna thanks to its rider-friendly interior and high safety ratings. Those are just some of the reasons that U.S. News & World Report ranked it No. 1 out of 7.
Not that we can agree with everything that’s written about the Sienna. Let’s take the exterior, for example. Not to offend anyone, but it’s difficult to see it as muscular, athletic, or any of the other cool terms that many have heaped upon it. Blame it on a documentary on parking lots that I just watched — seriously — but the Sienna is the curvy, bulky minivan that can hog more than one place in a lot unless the driver is very, very careful about staying within those lines.
But the problem may be mine and not that of the vehicle. That happens when you expect a vehicle to fill all roles. The Sienna doesn’t, of course, but does fill the family vehicle slot extraordinarily well. Even just the seven standard air bags and optional pre-collision system put it high on the family-friendly list of many.
| 2011 Toyota Sienna |
| Engine: 2.7-liter four-cylinder or 3.5-liter V-6 |
| Transmission: 6-speed electronically controlled automatic |
| Fuel economy: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway (four-cylinder), 18 mpg city/ 24 mpg highway (V-6) |
| MSRP: Starting at $24,560 |
Fortunately, this third-generation Sienna offers a lot more.
Let’s return to the exterior for a moment. Although there’s no escaping the minivan shape — after all it is just over 200 inches long and almost 80 inches wide — the Sienna does boast some sophisticated elements including high, angled headlamps, a contemporary grille and light-emitting diode taillights.
Climb inside, though, and you’ll be glad it’s so large. The Sienna is one of the roomiest minivans you’ll likely experience. Headroom is just over 41 inches in the front and just a hair under that in the second row. The third row sports just over 38 inches of headroom. All seats also move way up and back, so tall or short are equally comfortable in any seat.
Worried about cargo? The second-row seats have a Tip Up and Long Slide feature that allows you to access the third row with a touch of a button. The third-row seats offer a 60/40 split and stow feature and you can easily fold them flat.
Nice. It’s almost as nice as the central climate and audio controls that are some of the many features in a sleek, contemporary housing.
No, the interior isn’t luxurious but, again, this is a family vehicle. Do you really want muddy feet and bikes on high-quality carpet and leather seats?
Best of all, the Sienna is all about options. For instance, buyers have a choice of a 3.5-liter V-6 that gets 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway or 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
The Sienna’s “smart-shifting” six-speed automatic on a V-6 model offered plenty of power to keep the vehicle moving comfortably along in Beltway traffic despite its ton-plus weight. I wouldn’t call it a peppy ride — mostly because of the vehicle’s size — but I would call it assertive.
Yes, the Sienna is one of the larger minivans you’ll likely experience — but it offers plenty to love.
