Queensboro Toyota

2008 Toyota Sienna

Editor: New Car Test Drive
Maximum convenience.

Walk Around

The Toyota Sienna has an imposing presence. Measuring 201 inches front to rear, on a 119-inch wheelbase, the Sienna is almost as long (although not nearly as tall or heavy) as a full-size Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle. There's nothing mini about this van, most especially when its big, angular headlights are bearing down on the car ahead at dusk.

The Sienna was developed expressly for the United States, and it's a very American vehicle, regardless of what its brand name might suggest. It was designed in Southern California and engineered in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and it's built in Princeton, Indiana.

We find the basic shape of the Sienna appealing. Sneering grille work and those big headlights create the Sienna's first impression. The taillight clusters are big, too, in the name of visibility and safety. The windshield is huge, but long wipers and wiper-mounted washer nozzles are up to the worst conditions winter in the Snow Belt can dish out.

In side view, the Sienna's profile is clean. The slot for the sliding doors is cleverly hidden. Black window pillars and extensions on the steeply raked windshield lend a sleek appearance, and make the Sienna look even larger than it is. The overall impression of strength is undercut a bit by proportionally small wheels arches, however. That's one reason we like the look of the Sienna Limited best. Its standard 17-inch wheels and lower-profile tires maximize the impact of the small wheel wells, and its extra splash of chrome trim adds a bit of detail to the expanse of painted metal.

A nearly invisible electric element at the bottom of the windshield is available that keeps the wiper blades from freezing to the glass. Power-folding side mirrors are also available, and these feature bright puddle lights that illuminate when the doors are unlocked, both handy features.

Interior

If there's one word to describe the Toyota Sienna interior, it's versatile. In a matter of minutes, with little fuss, the Sienna can switch from carrying eight people in reasonable comfort to swallowing full 4X8 sheets of plywood or drywall, securely enclosed and protected from the elements. This flexibility is both the essence and core appeal of a good minivan (assuming, of course, that the minivan is not a chore to drive), and the Sienna delivers in fine style.

This emphasis on versatility shouldn't imply that the Sienna is Spartan or doleful inside, however. Even the base CE model comes with most of the requisite creature comforts, including air conditioning with separate temperature settings front and rear. In a few places, materials in the CE reflect its relatively inexpensive price; but overall fit and finish are first rate. Moving up the Sienna line, the trim and upholstery get richer, and the high-end Limited has luxury features that not so long ago were reserved for very expensive sedans.

Getting in and out is easy, front or rear. Step-in height is about six inches lower than in the typical SUV, nice when you're dressed up or dealing with toddlers or dogs. The manual sliding doors and manual rear hatch on LE and CE models work easily, with minimal effort. But the power doors are a real convenience. The Sienna's power doors are some of the smoothest going, and they open quietly and relatively quickly.

As noted, the trim materials improve as you go up the line. The basic fabric in the CE is fine, but the door panels and inserts suggest a low price. The LE features richer fabric, and the XLE is nicer still. The Limited is upholstered in leather, easy to clean and better for dog hair.

The Sienna driver sits before a smooth, organic dashboard, with a prominent if slightly awkward center stack housing most key switches and controls. The standard trim is dark, lacquered-look plastic, and it looks good. The faux-wood trim in the XLE and Limited looks tacked on.

The seats are comfortable, even for long drives, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes on all models. Big mirrors and lots of glass give the driver a good view in all directions. The dash-mounted shifter seems unusual at first, and has a bit of a spindly feel. On the other hand, it has a slightly sportier air than a conventional column shifter, and it doesn't block pass-through space between the front seats, as a floor shifter might.

The heating/air conditioning system works well, and it's easy to operate, manual or automatic. The upgrade automatic system features digital temperature readouts and dual front-seat settings. The three temperature zones (driver, passenger, rear) are easy to sync by pressing a button. Switches for the power sliding doors and power rear liftgate are overhead.

Toyota's navigation system is among the best. Its screen is larger than most, and its touch-screen operating system is far superior to the point-and-click systems used by many luxury brands.

The rearview camera is a great feature that you'll get so used to using you'll miss it when you get in cars without it. Shift the Sienna into reverse and a video camera mounted in the rear door automatically displays a wide-angle view behind the vehicle on the navigation screen. The viewing perspective provided by such cameras has improved considerably since their introduction, and in the Sienna it really helps when parallel parking or backing into tight spaces. More important, the rearview camera can help the driver spot small children or obstacles that might be hidden below the rear glass. Shifting into reverse also turns on an outside warning beeper, which sounds like a good thing for crowded parking lots, but could get old and may not be popular with neighbors late at night.

The rearview camera is a nice complement to the optional park-assist system, which sounds a tone inside the vehicle when backing up or pulling forward