Minivans used to be hugely popular because they were hugely practical. Which may explain why minivans have become less popular than they used to be.
They are curiously less practical in one very popular respect: Almost none of them offer all-wheel drive anymore.
Except for this one.
What It Is
The Sienna is a seven-to-eight-passenger full-size minivan in the same class as rivals like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, Dodge Caravan (and its Chrysler-badged twin, the Pacifica). But unlike all of them, it's the only new minivan still available with all-wheel drive.
Prices start at $31,115 for the base L trim with front-wheel drive.
All-wheel drive is offered optionally with the LE, SE and top-of-the-line Limited Premium trims, in either seven- or eight-passenger seating configurations.
A top-of-the-line Limited Premium with AWD and captain chairs (seven passenger seating) stickers for $48,890.
What's New
The Sienna AWD system is now available with the sportier SE trim.
What's Good
The AWD Sienna has snow-day capability its rivals do not offer.
The Sienna has more room than rivals offer.
The Sienna offers other features rivals don't offer — such as the Amazon Alexa.
What's Not So Good
AWD is not available with the lower-priced L trim; you have to buy the more expensive LE ($33,935 to start).
Eight-passenger seating also requires stepping up to the LE or higher trims.
Under the Hood
All trims come standard with a 293-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 paired with an eight-speed automatic and your choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
The Sienna can get to 60 mph in about seven seconds — a very quick time for a seven-to-eight passenger family bus.
Gas mileage is 19 city and 27 highway for the FWD trim, and 18 city and 24 highway for models equipped with the AWD system.
The Sienna can also tow up to 3,500 pounds — more than several rivals, including the Honda Odyssey (3,000 pounds) but slightly less than the class-best Dodge Grand Caravan's 3,600-pound max tow rating.
On the Road
The Sienna — like all current minivans — is big: 200.6 inches end to end.
There's no getting around how much space it needs curbside or in your garage. But even though it's about the same overall size as a full-size SUV, it's easier to maneuver into either space because most of its length is in the middle — between the front and rear axle centerlines.
The driver sits much farther forward — almost cab forward, much closer to the front wheels. There's less hood in front because the Sienna engine is mounted transversely (sideways) rather than longitudinally (front to back), as in a big SUV.
You have a better sense of the vehicle's proportions when maneuvering in close quarters, and the actual maneuvering is more adroit because the turning circle is tighter than a big SUV's. You also have a great canopy of glass all around, which gives a minivan like the Sienna something all too many new cars haven't got anymore, regardless of their physical size: excellent peripheral visibility.
At the Curb
Space efficiency is a minivan thing.
At 200.6 inches long, the Sienna is about 3.5 inches less long than a full-size SUV like the Chevy Tahoe. But it has 36.3 inches of legroom for its third-row passengers versus 24.8 inches in the Tahoe. That's the difference between a third row that's for kids only and a third row that can actually be used by adults.
The rows are also more accessible because of the low step-in height and the dual sliding doors on either side. It is much easier to climb into a minivan's third row than it is access the third row of anything with conventionally opening doors or the second row only.
The Sienna's second row has almost 2 feet (23 inches) of fore-aft adjustability, and there are 150 cubic feet of total cargo capacity — class best.
You can even get a 4-foot-by-8-foot sheet of plywood inside the Sienna — and it's easier to get it in (and back it out when you get home) because of the lower cargo floor and wider opening of the rear liftgate.
The Rest
Some neat Sienna features include a button to the left of the steering wheel that lets you turn off the power assist for the sliding doors. This is helpful for people who don't need help opening the sliding doors and prefer the faster manual operation of yanking them open and slamming them home using muscle power — but you still have the option to go with power assist for family members not as strong-armed.
Toyota also offers a voice-amplification system — Driver Easy Speak — that broadcasts the driver's vice through the speakers to the kids (or whomever) back in the third row, eliminating the need to yell to get their attention.
The Bottom Line
If you want a minivan and need one that won't get stuck in the snow, your choice has been narrowed down for you!
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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