Background: Toyota dealers have been anxiously awaiting the 1998 Sienna's arrival. Back in 1990 Toyota introduced the 1991 Previa, a minivan built in Japan and imported into the United States. But Previa, which Sienna replaces, never made inroads in the booming U.S. minivan market. Previa, with its four-cylinder powertrain, was sorely underpowered. It was also too narrow for American tastes, featured a rear-wheel drivetrain and was priced more than many of its six-cylinder American counterparts. Sienna is everything Previa wasn't. For starters, it's built in the United States at Toyota's Georgetown, Ky. facility off the front-wheel drive Camry platform. It's wider and now includes Camry's impressively quiet six-cylinder powertrain. Sienna also measures six inches longer than Previa.
Trim levels: Sienna's three trim levels include CE, LE and XLE. We had the opportunity to try out both an LE and XLE. All three trim levels have the same exterior dimensions. Chrysler and General Motors' minvans are marketed in standard and extended versions. Ford Windstar, like the Sienna, is available in one standard length. Sienna's 193.5-inch length falls about eight inches shorter than Windstar's 201.2-inch measurement. Chrysler's Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan offerings include lengths of 186.3 inches and 199.6 inches. A passenger-side sliding door comes standard while a driver-side sliding door is optional in LE and standard in XLE. A power-operated passenger sliding door is optional in these trim levels too. One nice feature in models with driver-side sliding doors is a half-door stopper, which limits the door from fully opening when the fuel lid is in use, preventing the door from contacting the fueling area.
Safety features: Anti-lock brakes, dual front air bags, child protector rear sliding door locks, five-mile-per-hour bumpers and front crumple zones come standard. Traction control is not offered.
Engine: The sole Sienna powertrain is Toyota's 3.0-liter, 194-horsepower V-6 engine. It's the same power source in the durable Camry sedan.
Price: Our LE Sienna included a base price of $23,975. With an option package including alloy wheels, upgraded stereo and mid-row captain chairs, the bottom line added up to $26,245 including at $420 destination charge. The top-of-the-line XLE test-drive van, with the most standard features of the three Sienna's, came in at $27,100. With the destination charge, the bottom line was $27,520. The lowest priced CE Sienna starts at $21,140.
Standard equipment: Four-speed automatic transmission, variable-assist power steering, tilt steering wheel, rear windshield wiper, reclining front bucket seats, air conditioning and intermittent front windshield wipers are standard in all three trim levels.
Options: Power windows, door locks and outside mirrors are optional in CE Siennas, but standard everywhere else. A moonroof and leather seats are optional in XLE exclusively. Heated mirrors and roof racks are standard in XLE, while optional in other trim levels. Keyless entry systems are standard in XLE, optional in LE but not offered in CE. Rear air conditioning vents and controls, cruise control and rear-window defogger come standard in LE and XLE only.
Seating comfort: Each trim level includes three rows of seating. Second-row captain's chairs are standard in the top-of-the-line XLE, optional in LE, but not available in CE. All second and third-row seating fold easily or can be completely removed for more cargo room. When seats fold down, backrests become table tops with more cup holders and a plastic surface. The third row bench seats folds with a 50/50 split. Like most minivans, there's plenty of head and leg room. Driver's have good road perception in all directions.
Interior: The steering-column mounted automatic transmission opens floor space between the front captain's chairs. Like most Toyota products, headlights operate from the turn signal stalk and windshield wipers control from a right-hand side stalk. But the gear shifter is too close to the windshield wiper stalk, making it more difficult then it should be to operate the wipers when precipitation hits. The uncharacteristically small glovebox was a surprise too. Cup and juice holders, interspersed throughout the van, offer convenient placements. Front-seat cup holders flip down from the side of the captain's chairs away from instrument controls; a nice touch. Beverage holders exclusively designed for water bottles were molded into both sliding doors. The three rotary dials controlling temperature setting, fan speed and direction situate above the stereo system. The digital clock is separate from the radio frequency display. The instrument panel is similar to Camry's and Corolla's with average-sized, circular speedometers, odometers and fuel gauge. A backlit gear shift indicator is also found in the instrument cluster while a cruise control lever is part of the steering wheel. The fuel-tank release lever is on the floor, left of the driver's seat. Some Sienna competitors offer rear headphone jacks so kids can plug into their own music while parents listen to their favorite tunes. Currently, Toyota doesn't this musical variety package.
Exterior: All-season, 15-inch radial tires come standard. Top-of-the-line XLE comes with upgraded aluminum alloy wheels and slightly wider tires, both optional features in LE. The high-mounted stop lamp is integrated into the roof while sideview mirrors fold in when brushed against an object. The spare tire stows under the vehicle while the radio antenna is placed on the right front fender.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Overall length: 193.5 inches Overall width: 73.4 inches Overall height: 67.3 inches Weight: 3,891 pounds (LE)
Target market: Sienna buyers are expected to have an average age of 42 years with a median household income of $63,000. Ninty percent are married and 78 percent have children under the age of 18.
Fuel economy: All three trim levels include mileage estimates of 18 miles per gallon city and 24 m.p.g. highway. The tank holds 21 gallons of regular unleaded fuel. The locking fuel tanks is found on the driver's side.
Final thoughts: Automotive pundits assert minivan sales have reached a plateau. The number of first-time minivan purchasers is dwindling and most of Sienna sales are coming at the expense of Chrysler and Ford, who have seen minivan sales flatten out. Sales are steady, they're just not as robust as late '80s, early '90 heyday. Being a new, well-designed vehicle, Sienna is benefiting from strong first-year sales. It's the new kid on the block and shoppers are curious. The Camry heritage is not hurting either. Camry was the best-selling car in the United States in 1997. One of Toyota's biggest challenges this year is plant capacity in Georgetown, Ky., which opened in 1988. In addition to Sienna and the hot-selling Camry, the facility produces Toyota's full-size Avalon sedan. Sienna sets itself apart from competitors with extensive noise-dampening technology, including strategically-placed sound-absorbing materials. The above-average suspension system absorbs bumps quite well at both low and high speeds. |