Spy Shots: 2011 Toyota Sienna performs platform shuffle
The Toyota Sienna minivan already shares a lot of the Camry's yeoman components, and for 2011 the two vehicles are going to converge even more. A mule's been snapped by The Detroit News' sharpshooters, and it doesn't look too different from the van you can buy in your local Toyota showroom. Don't be deceived, though. Toyota's simmering away on the next Sienna, with plans to move its all-conquering van to the MC platform that Toyota uses for the Camry, Highlander, RAV4, Venza and even the Prius. Platform engineering doesn't have to stink, and it's going to save Toyota money to build so much of its line-up off the same basic list of ingredients. New styling, or at least a revision, should be expected to ride atop the newly appropriated bones when the updated Sienna drops. We're guessing it'll look pretty much like a box with a Toyota-family nose, though the F3R concept has been mentioned as a potential look, so who knows? [Source: The Detroit News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Quattroporte 8:36AM (5/06/2009)
Using common/modular platforms for mainstream cars seems like a no-brainer to me.
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Avinash machado 8:40AM (5/06/2009)
I think the Dodge Caravan is better.
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Sea Urchin 8:49AM (5/06/2009)
Both, infact all minivans are like tanks these days, i don't understand it. Minivans should get great MPG because they are for people with large families who would want to save money gas. But automakers make them larger and larger and larger. I like Mazda5, i am not sure if it have 3 rows but i like how "fit" and "trim" it looks.
BoneHeadOtto 9:19AM (5/06/2009)
Mini vans are much larger these days but they still get goodmileage. Far better than the SUV alternatives. Plus they are much safer. Alot of that safety comes at the cost of extra weight, but this is not just a mini-van issue. The entire automotive industry has gone this way. Sure you used to be able to get a Dodge Caravan with a 90hp 4cylinder that weighed 3200lbs but this was back when an accord also weighed 2400lbs. Whole industry has gotten heavier not just minivans.
What minivans need is a hybrid. They spend most of their time in stop and go around town. They would benefit greatly from hybridization. And like the rest of the auto industry, they should start shrinking and getting lighter.
Sea Urchin 9:32AM (5/06/2009)
@ Bone, the question is can you have a hybrid and a Stow and Go kind of a system, where seats can go into the floor
Tomac 9:58AM (5/06/2009)
@ Sea Urchin: I agree, the Mazda5 has the right mix of features for my tastes, especially given the un-vanlike handling and the manual tranny. I'm trying to convince my wife that we don't need a "full-sized MINIvan" (is that an oxymoron?) and that a Mazda5 will suit us fine. She feels with 3 kids there will be no room for luggage, I feel a cargo box on top will solve that problem. I just want a manual transmission again... :-(
If our next family hauler isn't a Mazda5 I'm voting for the CX-9. Driving enjoyment tops my list, and most of the minivans, crossovers, and SUVs out there don't fit that bill at all.
BoneHeadOtto 8:22PM (5/18/2009)
@tomac
you can have three kids in the Mazda5 and still do road trips, if you fold down half the seats in the back and dont mind piling up luggage next to your kid. But i dont think the Mazda5 seats fold nicely like the sienna seats do.
@seaurchin
yeah where to put the batteries is always a problem. Im thinking under the front seats and raise the floor a little. But yeah tough problem. But with a series hybrid like the insight you dont need as many batteries.
Judy Zik 11:41AM (5/06/2009)
Most people could get away just fine with a Microvan (Mazda 5). Unfortunately this generation of kids have been taught that they need a huge level of personal space. I can remember 3 day trips sitting 3 across in the back of an Escort wagon with no a/c. These days they would call that Child Abuse:)
Personally when I need to drive a van I need the cargo room of our Minivan. We just own a small car for all the normal running around trips when we don't need a van.
I agree about Hybridization. I really could care less if my seat Stow's in the floor. I wouldn't actually mind being able to take it out to save weight since it only is used about once a year.
Either way a Minivan is a much more efficient package for carrying 6+ people or less people but a lot more stuff. I haven't seen a 3 row SUV yet that does the job as well.
ehisforadam 8:49AM (5/06/2009)
That's interesting....because it's actually a 2010, not at 2011 and it's built on the same platform as the previous Sienna. At least that's my understanding.
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John 8:58AM (5/06/2009)
It would be interesting if they went the direction of the F3R, as that would pit it as more a competitor to the Ford Flex, in appearance anyway. I've been seeing a ton of those on the road lately, so perhaps the early slow sales have picked up. It's a cool vehicle.
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Luis 9:46AM (5/06/2009)
Because the Ford Flex is such a success?
carcomptoy 9:18AM (5/06/2009)
I had thought that the Sienna was already on the Camry platform. I know for sure that the 1st Generation Sienna was, but I figured that would have continued for this current one.
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Alex 9:19AM (5/06/2009)
No way Toyota goes balls-out and builds the F3R as the Sienna.
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300C 9:20AM (5/06/2009)
Just don't put the Venza grille on it....UGLY
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BoneHeadOtto 9:22AM (5/06/2009)
@Sea Urchin
Yeah the Mazda5 has 3 rows but with the 3rd row up there is not enough storage space to go on a road trip. So if you have more than 2 kids, it is not really a viable option, especially if those kids are small and you need to haul strollers and things like that. But i agree the Mazda5 is a great car, especially with the manual. Now if they would only make a MazdaSpeed5 :)
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Tomac 10:00AM (5/06/2009)
Car and Driver built a Mazdaspeed5, I think it's time Mazda did the same.
BoneHeadOtto 10:11AM (5/06/2009)
yeah read about that. They had issues to say the least and are still not done. But that is the exact car i want. That or give me a scion xB with a 6speed manual and the Camry v6. That could be offered for right at $20k. It would be a 263hp, 3200lb van that still gets the same mileage as the current model and does not require premium. Hell if the Rav-4 v6 at 3600lbs can hit 60 in 6.3 with that engine and still return 27mpg, then surely the scion could get 28mpg and be even faster weighing 600lbs less in its current form!!! Plus with a price of just over $20k it would be extremely competitively priced.
Avinash machado 10:18AM (5/06/2009)
What about a Caravan SRT?
Mobius_1 9:23AM (5/06/2009)
And... I still won't want one.
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Joe 9:28AM (5/06/2009)
Give me a Flex over these piles of hideous garbage any day of the week.