Toyota Sienna
Looking for the Camry of minivans? Toyota's Sienna fills the bill.
Built on the same platform, as well as using the same engine and four-speed automatic transmission as Camry, Toyota Sienna is about as close as you can get to a seven-passenger Camry. It is even built at the Camry plant in Kentucky.
Designed specifically for the North American market, Toyota Sienna is a refreshing change from the Previa it replaced last year. Where Previa was quirky, Toyota Sienna is much more like the Dodge Caravan and Chevrolet Venture with which it competes. It may not have revolutionized the segment, but Toyota Sienna is at least in the same ballpark as the segment's big hitters.
A new model for 1998, Toyota Sienna has only minor tweaks for its return in 1999. Toyota delivered a top-of-the-line XLE version for this review. There is also a base CE and a midlevel LE. Only on the CE is the driver's-side sliding door an option. The other two trim levels have four side doors as standard equipment.
Six thousand dollars separate the CE from the XLE. Items such as an audio system with CD player, power-adjustable driver's seat, captain's chairs and remote keyless entry system, standard on XLE, aren't even offered as options on CE.
All Toyota Siennas are powered by the same 194-horsepower, 3-liter 24-valve V-6 found under the hood of Camry. This is a smooth, relatively quiet power plant with impressive torque and plenty of horsepower. It will move away from the line with enthusiasm when the light turns green. Reaching 60 miles per hour from a standing stop requires just over 10 seconds. This puts Toyota Sienna about in the middle of the segment.
Like Camry, the engine goes about its business without ruckus. Only hard acceleration alerts passengers to the V-6's presence. Likewise the automatic transmission is all but flawless in its operation. The shifts are mild and occur nearly unnoticed. With an Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy rating of 18 city and 24 highway, Toyota Sienna again falls right into the center of the minivan segment.
On the road, Toyota Sienna's ride is more pliant than firm. It is a minivan after all. Cornering is without chaos, but some body roll is evident. This is probably more attributable to Toyota Sienna's height than a spongy suspension; although it does wallow a bit over rougher surfaces. An anti-lock brake system is standard for Toyota Sienna's power-assisted discs up front and drums in the rear. The power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is responsive.
Camryesque conditions persist throughout the Toyota Sienna XLE interior as well. The test minivan had the leather seating package. This is a $2,700 option that not only wraps all three rows of seats in leather, but includes a power moonroof and adds power control to the passenger-side sliding door. The bucket seats in the first two rows are firm and comfortable, while the third-row bench seat borders on hard. Extremely versatile, the seats can be put into a number of configurations. The second- and third-row seats can also be removed to maximize cargo capacity.
Fourteen cup holders are scattered around this cabin. Straightforward controls and gauges make Toyota Sienna very user friendly. Criticism regarding the low placement of the audio system controls below the ventilation system sparked Toyota to place redundant audio system controls on the steering wheel. A rear-mounted air conditioner with separate controls complements the main unit up front. There is also an auxiliary power point for the third seat.
While Toyota Sienna probably won't wrestle the minivan sales crown away from more established brands, it finally does give Toyota a serious contender in the segment. Its carlike disposition, enthusiastic acceleration and versatility make Toyota Sienna a vehicle to be considered when shopping for minivans.
Base price of the Toyota Sienna XLE is $27,679. Among its standard equipment not already mentioned: dual frontal air bags, low-tire-pressure warning, daytime running lamps, 15-inch aluminum wheels, intermittent front/rear window wipers, roof rack, rear-window defogger, power windows/locks, cruise control, six-speaker AM/FM stereo/cassette/CD player and carpeted floor/cargo mats.
My test Toyota Sienna also had the $2,685 Leather package. Adding the $475 destination charge brought the price as tested to $30,839.
The Washington Times April 30, 1999 Heaps, Russ
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