First Drives, Toyota

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna

March 19, 2010

2011 Toyota Sienna folding third row seat (top); 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited dash; all Siennas get power second-row windows; dash-top information display. Click image to enlarge

As before, the split third row seats fold flat into a floor cavity, creating a flat cargo floor. The seats can be lowered or raised in a two-step process, but the wider seat is heavier and more awkward to lift from the rear of the vehicle. With the 2nd row seats removed and the 3rd row seats lowered into the floor, maximum cargo space is 4,250 litres (150 cu. ft.), the most cargo space in its class.

The new Sienna’s more upscale interior has a classier look, more soft padded materials and a better quality finish. New are automatic up/down power windows with pinch protection for all four side windows, and retractable sunshades on the 2nd and 3rd row side windows in LE V6 and higher models.

Storage areas include new upper and lower gloveboxes, coin tray, centre console bin, door pockets, seatback storage with grocery bag hooks, second row bin and third row side bins. All three rows have cupholders.

Sienna LE, SE, XLE and Limited come with an information display at the top of the dash that includes average fuel economy, average speed, distance to empty, and outside temperature. And you can choose English, French or Spanish language settings. There’s also an ECO driving monitor designed to help the driver maximize fuel economy.

The 2011 Sienna now has seven standard airbags including a new driver side knee airbag and revised seat-mounted side airbags designed for improved protection in a side impact. Standard active head restraints for driver and front passenger are designed to reduce whiplash in rear-enders.

Driving impressions

The Sienna’s new 187-horsepower 2.7-litre four-cylinder engine is adequate for around town use, but I found it lacked punch when accelerating onto the freeway or when attempting to pull out and pass. The 266-hp 3.5-litre V6, in contrast, is a real powerhouse that’s very responsive and willing, and also smoother and quieter than the four while not being a lot more gas-hungry. Published fuel consumption figures for the four-cylinder are 10.4 L/100 km in the city and 7.5 on the highway while the Sienna V6 FWD offers 11.5/8.1 city/hwy, and the V6 AWD 12.8/ 9.0 city/hwy. The V6 uses Regular gas.

2011 Toyota Sienna SE V6 (top) and Limited. Click image to enlarge

The revised six-speed automatic transmission performs flawlessly, and includes a manual mode, and the shift lever is located conveniently close to the steering wheel. The new electrically-assisted power steering has a light feel that’s easy on the arms, and the Sienna’s tight turning circle makes it surprisingly manoeuvrable for such a long vehicle. At freeway speeds, the Sienna tracks very well and feels very stable.

I drove both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models and couldn’t really tell the difference in driving behaviour. The Sienna’s AWD system can vary front/rear power distribution from 100 per cent front and zero per cent rear, to up to 50 per cent front and 50 per cent rear via a rear differential with an electro-magnetic coupling device that varies the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels based on electrical current amperage. It’s all completely automatic and the driver has no input.

The new Sienna also includes an enhanced Vehicle Stability Control system and Traction Control system that integrates engine, braking, and steering controls to help prevent loss of control in emergency situations. The System includes Normal, TRAC “OFF” and VSC “OFF”, but will automatically engage if the vehicle exceeds pre-set limits for directional stability.

With a wide track and a fairly low centre of gravity, the Sienna handles very well, although base models with 17-inch tires seem a little soft. The SE model, with its lower, stiffer suspension, 19-inch radials and quicker steering, offers a little more excitement though the ride is a bit harder.

2011 Toyota Sienna XLE V6. Click image to enlarge

As well as driving the new Sienna, I took the opportunity to ride in the second and third row seats and can report that the standard second row reclining Captain’s chairs are extremely comfortable with plenty of headroom and legroom and folding armrests for comfort. Second row passengers have their own fan speed, ventilation, and temperature controls and roll-down side windows. The Lounge chairs in the Limited model are even more comfortable, but in order to extend the ottoman feature, they have to be positioned very far back, eliminating legroom for third row passengers.

I found the third row seat cushions and seatbacks stiffer but the seatbacks do recline and there’s plenty of headroom and adequate legroom. Third row passengers have flip-out vent windows at the rear for ventilation, and outboard cupholders and storage bins. After riding in the third seat for 20 minutes on a windy road, I didn’t experience any motion-sickness, a common problem in larger vehicles.

Conclusion

Sportier styling, improved handling, a more engaging driving experience, and a much classier interior with increased comfort and utility make the 2011 Toyota Sienna a more attractive minivan for drivers and passengers alike. But the new four-cylinder engine seems a bit underpowered.

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