Toyota minivan Reviews

While Chrysler’s Pacifica is the hottest news in this category, Toyota hasn’t been twiddling its thumbs on the sidelines. The Sienna’s new four-cam 3.5-liter V-6 (shared with the Toyota Highlander) is equipped with both port and direct fuel injection, boosting output from 266 to a husky 296 horsepower and torque from 245 to 263 lb-ft. Variable intake and exhaust valve timing yield a 4700-rpm torque peak and a power curve that doesn’t crescendo until 6600 rpm (on its way to the 6750-rpm redline), which is quite racy for a family hauler. The combination of Atkinson-cycle operation during cruising, an 11.8:1 compression ratio, and a new eight-speed wide-ratio automatic transmission boosts EPA mileage by 1 to 2 mpg (although the Sienna still trails the Pacifica by 4 mpg in EPA highway ratings). Keeping budgets in mind, this engine is happy with regular-grade fuel, and it’s impeccably behaved whether you’re running flat out to beat the school bell or cruising to church on Sunday.

Despite carrying a few hundred more pounds than the competition (attributable to the segment-exclusive all-wheel-drive option on this test car), the 2017 Sienna moves to the head of the class in acceleration. The seven-second-flat run from zero to 60 mph and the 15.4 seconds and 92 mph we measured in the quarter-mile for this Sienna Limited Premium flagship are records in our minivan ledger, if only by a few tenths of a second. And only the Honda Odyssey matches this Toyota’s 3.8-second 30-to-50-mph passing acceleration. Alas, the new Sienna falls behind the Kia Sedona, the Nissan Quest, and last year’s Sienna in 50-to-70-mph passing because of the new automatic’s reluctance to kick down expeditiously. (Pressing the well-hidden ECT PWR button, which instructs the electronically controlled transmission to rev higher before shifts, might help.)

Cornering and braking grip is core to every vehicle’s ability to avoid doom—assuming the driver has the skill to react decisively under duress. In this category, the improved Sienna runs at midpack, stopping from 70 mph in 177 feet with some fade evident after repeated brake use. While the 18-inch Bridgestone Turanza EL400-02 run-flat all-season tires hang on reasonably well, the stability-control system intervenes to halt the cornering fun at 0.77 g, well below the Chrysler Pacifica’s 0.83 g. Handling aficionados might do better with the Sienna SE, which has a sport suspension and 19-inch wheels and tires as standard equipment.

Every minivan’s primary mission is serving as the school bus/cargo hauler that fits in your garage. This Sienna carries five in its two rearmost rows in spacious accommodations. (Other Siennas can seat as many as eight.) Entry through the large doors, past the second-row lounge chairs, is a snap, and the back bench is roomy enough for strapping high-schoolers. The middle seats slide fore and aft through 23 inches of travel to maximize legroom when four adults are aboard.