Sienna sings a sensible tune
Toyota's minivan flaunts functionality with frills

Let's be practical here for a minute. Forget bling-bling and status, monster SUVs and over-the-top performance. We'll look instead at a vehicle that really makes sense - Toyota's new Sienna minivan.

Now don't rush away because you think minivans are just for suburban soccer moms (not that there's anything wrong with that). As a minivan owner, I think they get a bad rap.

Okay, I'll concede that they can't be made sexy or exciting, despite the best efforts of car company marketing types. And 20-something kids aren't slamming them, fitting them with nitrous oxide kits and street racing them.

But they can, as the Sienna XLE proves, be very luxurious. And they do deliver decent enough performance and handling to make them safe and pleasant to drive. And they most definitely are the best automotive devices ever created for moving people and stuff around.

And this is behind a theory of mine: To change a minivan's status from boring to cool, all you need is the correct bumper sticker. If the best you can come up with is one of those vinyl exhortations to DRIVESAFE, well, there's nothing that can be done for you. But if you've got a sticker that relates to windsurfing, skiing, car rallying, road racing or mountain biking, slap it on and you will subtly let the world know that you own a van because you lead an interesting life.

It also came with a $5,370 XLE Limited package, which adds upgraded entertainment features, including rear seat DVD, laser cruise control, power sliding doors, parking assist, spoiler, leather and wood trimmed wheel and shift knob, electrochromatic driver's side mirror and high intensity discharge headlamps.

All this turns the Sienna into a very capable and luxurious vehicle, and with freight charges added, brings the final price to a very un-minivan-like $53,330. But then, why not? We're busily redefining all kinds of things these days, so why not automotive luxury?

The redesign of the Sienna added 100 mm to its width and 130 mm to the wheelbase, which translates into more interior room. It doesn't pretend to be one of those neither fish-nor-fowl "crossover" vehicles, just a minivan, capable of seating seven or eight or carrying a total of 1489 litres of cargo or 436 litres behind the third-row seats that fold into the floor. Seating can be easily reconfigured in a number of handy ways. And the Sienna can carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood. Centre row passengers will like having their own power windows.

The materials used in the pleasant and stylish interior speak of quality. The cabin is also functional, with easy to read instruments (trip information, a compass and outside temperature readout in an overhead console) and large, easy to use switchgear. The climate control system works well, the JBL audio system is very good and can be operated with steering wheel controls. Stalks control lights and wipers, outside mirrors are large and the headlamps effective. The windscreen washers, however, are pretty pathetic.

Narrow A-pillars help front quarter visibility, and with the high driving position there's a good view all around. The seats look a bit perch-like, with a too-short base and little lateral support, but they didn't prove uncomfortable. The large console bin between them can be moved back between the middle seats. There's a treasure hunt of no less than 14 cupholders. It's reasonably quiet inside at highway speeds.

The previous Sienna won safety accolades and this new one should be even better, particularly the XLE AWD, which, on top of all-wheel drive, comes with traction and vehicle stability control systems, anti-lock brakes and brake assist, high intensity discharge headlamps, front seat mounted, side impact airbags and side curtain shields that protect occupants in all three rows of seats.

Powering the Sienna is a 3.3-litre, twin-cam, V6 engine rated at 230 hp at 5,600 rpm and 242 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 revs. A 5-speed automatic that upshifts easily and downshifts promptly gets power to the wheels. The combination delivers good driveability and acceleration, with zero to 100 km/h taking just over 10 seconds and 80 to 120 km/h a safe enough 8.3 seconds. Highway cruising is made somewhat irritating by the transmission downshifting when even light throttle is applied to adjust speed.

The laser cruise control operation can be a little disconcerting, and I frankly didn't like it. In one case, while passing three transport trucks on a Highway 401 curve in the rain, the system decided to activate and slow the vehicle dramatically. If a transport had been on my bumper, which frequently happens, things could have gotten interesting.

Suspension is independent up front, with a twist-beam axle at the rear. Steering and handling are typical modern minivan and response to the light steering is slow, but direct. There's plenty of body roll and understeer is evident early when things are pushed a little bit. It's safe enough though, and the ride is firmly comfortable.

I'll return to my opening lines to sum up. The Sienna makes sense, and is one of the best examples of the minivan breed.

Immediate competition:
Chrysler Town & Country,
Ford Freestar,
Nissan Quest,
Oldsmobile Silhouette