2011 Toyota Sienna

Review

The 2011 Toyota Sienna has higher quality standard than some of the other available minivans in its class. It's a spacious alternative to a crossover SUV. It will seat seven or eight, depending on trim and options chosen. The new Sienna comes with a choice of two engines, delivering striking different power levels while offering a good amount of fuel economy.

Specifications

These are the 2011 Toyota Sienna’s specs:

• Pricing: car pricing starts at $24,260 MSRP ($23,333 invoice)
• Engines: 2.7-liter, 187 horsepower inline-4; 3.5-liter, 265 hp V6
• Fuel economy: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway for the inline-4, 18 city/24 highway for the V6 model
• Acceleration: V6 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds
• Car safety features: antilock brakes, stability and traction control, driver knee airbag, front side airbag, side curtain airbags, windshield de-icer. Rearview camera on LE model; Limited model comes with rear parking assist (optional on XLE).
• Suspension: regularly tuned with strut suspension in the front, torsion beam suspension in the back. Suspension smoothes rough roads.
• Warranty: three-year/36,000 mile basic warranty; five-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty; five-year/unlimited corrosion warranty

Exterior Features

Seen in photos from the front, the 2011 Sienna is described as having a “Gillette-like front end” that seems to give the vehicle something of a “grinning” appearance. Optional foglamps enhance the styling that seems to take its cues from the Toyota Venza, including a larger front bumper. LED taillights and nice engineering that hides the sliding door tracks give the van a nicer, sleeker look overall.

Interior Features

The 2011 Toyota Sienna has a wide variety of features that depend on trim level. The base model includes features like three zones of air conditioning, power accessories, cruise control, and a CD player with mp3 compatibility and an auxiliary audio input. The interior reclining rear seats on the all-wheel-drive XLE model are a nice feature. A widescreen DVD feature is available as an option that is great for traveling families; the 16-inch widescreen LCD can show dual movies on its screen, so that one rear passenger can watch a movie while the other plays games or watches an entirely different show using headphones.

Performance

Both engines of the 2011 Toyota Sienna are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. The LE, XLE, and Limited V6 vehicles can be purchased with an all-wheel drive. The V6 model can tow up to 3,500 pounds. The Sienna has a comfortable ride that handles well for a minivan. All-wheel-drive is a feature that will be useful to drivers who endure snowy winters. The SE has a sport suspension that makes it more agile.

How the 2011 Toyota Sienna Compares to Other Minivans

The 2011 Toyota Sienna is an excellent vehicle that is well made and has impressive features. It is the only minivan that offers all-wheel-drive, which may be a plus for some. Still, there are a few other good minivans that are worth taking a look at:

• Honda Odyssey
• Kia Sedona
• Mazda MAZDA5

While the demand for minivans is not what it used to be, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is one of the top choices if this is what you are looking for.