Hey, I just bought one! So there IS a butt for every seat.
Going on 20 years of production, the Toyota Sienna is now in its third generation. Our test van came with an athletic body and the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine. You may remember that Toyota campaigned a pair of these minivans in the Tire Rack One Lap of America last year.
If you’re cross-shopping this against the Honda Odyssey or Chrysler Pacifica, just don’t. Yes, it looks awesome, but that’s about it for positives. I think it’s fair to say that Toyota now builds cars like the ones that ruined the big three a few decades ago. The van was fast, but that was definitely offset by the road noise and the heavy, dead steering.
I couldn’t find any USB ports in the back, which is so weird I’m pretty sure it’s actually impossible, but what really killed the interior for me was the horrible rattles that permeated every mile and every seating position. It was like being back in middle school, wondering if the bus would actually come apart that day. It’s not refined and comfortable like an Odyssey, and it doesn’t have Stow-N-Go like a Chrysler van. I’m not sure why anybody would buy this.
Hey, I just bought one! So there IS a butt for every seat.
Hello, Beautiful! There may be one in my future.
Gee Tom, don't hold back. How do you really feel about it?
We have a loaded 2017 XLE (Limited doesn't have enough headroom in the rear for me). Anyway, 300 bhp from a 3.6. My 996 is 330 from a 3.6. Ever think that a new minivan would have almost the same output as a 15 year old 911?
In reply to markwemple :
Or about the same as a Mustang GT from 15 years ago...
I got a 2013. Yes... I agree the quality has degraded...
I'm really souring on toyota lately... The modern stuff is not awesome.
In reply to Ian F :
The Mustang had a 3.6 putting out over 300 bhp 15 years ago?
markwemple said:In reply to Ian F :
The Mustang had a 3.6 putting out over 300 bhp 15 years ago?
I'm not sure the 5.0 V8 was putting out 300 bhp 15 years ago...
Ed Higginbotham said:
Going on 20 years of production, the Toyota Sienna is now unfortunately in the 8th year of its third generation.
FTFY. Simply saying it's "now in its third generation" makes it sound like this is an all-new platform that happens to suck, rather than sucking largely because it's an outdated platform. Aside from the leftover Grand Caravan production, It's the oldest platform in its class by at least half a decade and feels every bit of it compared to its rivals from Honda, Chrysler, and Kia. The only thing it has over the competition is the availability of AWD, for those who feel they need that in a minivan.
Of course, it probably doesn't turn the engine off randomly while you're driving with your family in it like the Pacifica either...So it does have that going for it too.
What is an athletic bodied mini van? You have put pictures in my brain that I am having a hard time un seeing as my brain is a rather warped place.
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