2011 Toyota Sienna LE V6

Who says a minivan can’t have some attitude? The last such vehicles to display any real verve were the turbocharged Chrysler minis of the 1980s; since then, few automakers (of those even still making minivans) have dared inject much fun into this segment, for fear of scaring away buyers who still prefer the minivan’s family-friendly formula over the trendier crossover.

2011 Toyota Sienna LE V6

While Toyota’s viral “Swagger Wagon” ad campaign suggests that the Sienna’s cool factor has increased exponentially with this redesign, only a new SE trim gets any performance-oriented hardware, in the form of a tighter suspension and steering, with more aggressive bodywork being the outward indicator.

Perhaps more significant is the addition of a four-cylinder model, making this the first four-banger minivan in about a decade, and the first four-cylinder Toyota van since the Previa disappeared in 1997. Knowing that most van buyers prefer six-cylinder power, the four – a 2.7-litre shared with the Venza and Highlander – is only available in the most basic trim, while all other Siennas get a 3.5-litre V6 carried over from the outgoing model. All versions use a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Sienna line-up starts with the LE, which can be had with either seven or eight seats; the eight-passenger SE; seven-passenger XLE; and seven-seat XLE AWD and Limited AWD models.

My tester was an LE eight-seat model, the eighth seat being a removable centre cushion for the second row. Save this middle seat for someone small, as it’s quite narrow. Take that middle cushion out – it stows in a space in the wall behind the third row – to reveal a tray between the outboard seats with cupholders; that’s handy, but even more so is the fact that you can walk between the seats to get to the back of the van. The second row slides fore and aft on long tracks to allow for near limo-style legroom, at the expense of third-row space. Set up all three rows of seats, though, and there’s adequate space for life-size people all around. The second row seats recline regardless of trim, but XLE and Limited models get trick second-row “lounge” seats with a fold-out footrest.

Two improvements make getting in and out of the third row easier here: Toyota says the sliding door openings are two inches (about 50 mm) longer than in the old Sienna, and the bottom cushions of the second row seats fold up to allow the seat to slide far enough forward to be out of the way (tip-up-and-slide in Toyota parlance). In the old model, getting to the back seats involved a two-step process of folding the second row flat and then tipping it forward.

As with just about every minivan on the market now, the Sienna’s third row completely disappears into a well in the floor when it’s folded to create a flat cargo area behind the second row. Also, the seats can be raised and lowered with one hand, though shorter people might find it a stretch to reach the handle in the seatback when it’s folded. Toyota doesn’t offer a stowable second row, but the seats are removable without the need for tools.

A trip to the Toronto area proved the Sienna to be long-haul comfortable up front, at least, with typical van sit-up-straight front seats. My only complaint was that the adjustable lumbar support was positioned too high in the backrest. You’ll notice a resemblance in the Sienna’s dash to that in the Venza. The controls are well laid out, but some of the buttons – mostly the climate system’s fan speed control – are a reach from the driver’s position. Automatic climate control would help here, but it’s not available until the SE model; Siennas below that get a manual three-zone (driver/passenger/rear) system.

Toyota says the Sienna was designed to inspire the same kind of passion that cars do in their owners. Don’t expect this van to set your heart aflutter, but from behind the wheel, the drive is notably more spirited than in the competition. While the SE gets the up-rated suspension and steering hardware, my LE tester’s ride was nicely tuned all the same: comfortable but just firm enough to keep unnecessary body motions under control. Likewise, the Sienna’s handling isn’t sporty, but it’s competent, and actually inspires some confidence in quick corners. The steering is light, and the brake and throttle pedals are easy to modulate, making the Sienna an easy daily driver, just as it should be.

2011 Toyota Sienna LE V6

Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6 is a great motor: smooth, powerful and a willing revver, and it feels right at home here. The four-cylinder, with 187 hp and 186 lb-ft, is adequate in a vehicle of this size (I’ve driven a Highlander with this motor, and it’s fine as long as the car isn’t loaded right up), but will struggle with a full load. Not surprisingly, only V6 models are rated for towing, with a 1,585 kg (3,500 lb) capacity. I expect the V6 will be the volume seller, for two reasons: one, the base V6 trim (not the LE) is only $1,000 more than the four-cylinder (LE); and two, the V6’s fuel consumption ratings – 11.5/8.1 L/100 km (city/highway) – aren’t much higher than the four-cylinder’s (10.4/7.5). According to its trip computer, my V6 tester averaged 12.5 L/100 km in the city and 8.8 on the highway.

Minivans aren’t built for driving enthusiasts; they’re designed for those who appreciate having a lot of space to accommodate all the stuff that family life brings with it. The Sienna earns good marks for small-item storage, with four cupholders for the front seats (two in the console and two in a slide-out dash drawer); a large, shallow bin with raised edges at the base of the centre stack and an indentation on top of the console to keep stuff like phones and music players from sliding off to where they’ll never be seen again. The stereo includes auxiliary and USB inputs, but these are rather inconveniently placed way down on the centre stack.

Standard safety kit includes seven airbags (front and seat-mounted side for driver and front passenger, head curtains for all three rows and a driver’s knee airbag), front seatbelt pre-tensioners and active front headrests and stability/traction control. LE V6 models and up get a backup camera that displays atop the dash, in the same screen used for trip computer information; Limited models get a panorama rear-view camera plus front and rear clearance sonar and back-up sensor, all of which is also optional with XLE trim.

Sienna pricing starts at $27,900 for the LE four-cylinder model. The LE V6 van I tested comes with an MSRP of $32,500 that includes power sliding doors, second and third row retractable sunshades, rear-view camera, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, eight-way power driver’s seat, steering wheel audio controls and front centre console box. A power tailgate is standard with the LE Mobility, XLE and Limited AWD packages; I think buyers of lower trims would appreciate being able to add this to their vans as an option. The only extra is a Limited Package for the XLE model, which includes everything standard in Limited model save for its all-wheel drive system. Cloth seats are the standard in base, LE and SE models, while the XLE gets leather and the Limited “premium” leather.

Toyota now offers a few things that can’t be had elsewhere in a minivan, like a four-cylinder engine, big sliding door openings and the tip-up-and-slide second row seats with their impressive fore-and-aft adjustment. You can get more value for your money in this class – the Dodge Grand Caravan is a well-designed van for far less cash – but the Sienna’s practical features and the availability of a more fuel-efficient engine option are good reasons to give the Toyota a look.