Power and luxury are two words one would normally associated with an expensive European sedan. But Toyota’s Sienna minivan has these benefits and more plus the reliability and durability Toyota has become famous for. To wit: the Sienna is assembled alongside the highly acclaimed Camry and Avalon right here in the good 0l USA. It meets or exceeds all crash test criteria, was named a Best Pick by the Insurance institute for Highway Safety and was awarded five stars for frontal impact protection by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That’s not to say that the Sienna is a wimp, however. The standard engine is a 3.0 liter 24 valve V-6 with Toyota’s Variable valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that produces an impressive 210 bhp at 5800 rpm and 220 lb.ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. An electronic 4 speed automatic transmission is likewise standard, as is power assisted rack and pinion steering, a McPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension. The Sienna is offered in three trim levels: CE, LE and XLE. Standard interior equipment for all models includes a 6 way adjustable driver’s seat, dual zone front and rear air conditioning and other details.
The 50/50 split third row seat can slide forward for quick storage space, but can also recline, fold tumble and detach for a total of 57.8 cu. Ft. of rear cargo room. With the second and third row seats removed there’s a huge 133.4 cu. Ft. of cargo space available. Driver and front passenger airbags, power front disc/rear drum brakes with ABS and a tire pressure warning system are standard; additional safety items such as side impact airbags are vehicle skid control are optional.
