Versatility and quiet ride make this an appealing minivan.

Introduction

The Toyota Sienna is a transportation solution for moving up to eight people and it does that well. It's also versatile as a cargo mover, with flexible interior configurations for any combination of passengers or cargo. 

Sienna excels in second-row passenger comfort and cargo flexibility. The second-row seats are mounted on very long sliders, so they can be moved far forward or far back, depending on the way the interior needs to be configured for people or cargo. With the second-row seats adjusted to the rearward limit, a walk-in isle is created, big enough for an adult to walk through to help a child or an older passenger. With the second-row seats adjusted all the way forward, walk-in access to the third row becomes possible. With the third row folded flat and the second row removed, Sienna offers a cavernous 150 cubic feet of cargo space, more than most SUVs offer. 

This fifth-generation Toyota Sienna was introduced for the 2011 model year. Toyota has made only minor changes since then, mostly upgrades to standard equipment and options. 

The 2013 Toyota Sienna is available in five grades, with seating configurations for seven or eight. There are models aimed at practical transportation, models driven by luxury tastes. The sporty Sienna SE sits lower than the other models, on a sport-tuned suspension, with its electric power steering tuned for quicker response and better feedback, and it drives and handles more like a sports sedan. At the opposite extreme is the luxurious Sienna Limited, which has the nicest interior, and low-effort steering tuned for ease of operation, with high levels of power assist. That makes the Sienna Limited easy to park and maneuver at low speeds, but it also requires more attention to keep in the center of the lane when driving quickly. Sienna LE and Sienna XLE models are somewhere in between, with steering and chassis priorities balanced 50/50 between comfort and handling. 

All Sienna models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 266 horsepower and come with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional. The V6 runs smoother at highway speed, with more reserve power for passing. Fuel economy is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency at 18/25 mpg City/Highway. 

The Toyota Sienna is made in America, designed in California, developed at Toyota's technical center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and assembled in Indiana. 

Lineup

The 2013 Toyota Sienna ($26,585) comes standard with cloth upholstery, tri-zone manual air conditioning with air filter and rear-seat control panel, seven-passenger seating, power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions, 60/40 split and stow third-row seat with one motion stow, removable second captain's chairs with tip-up and long-slide feature, cruise control, windshield de-icer, integrated color-keyed rear spoiler, AM/FM/CD with four speakers, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels with 235/60R17 tires. 

Sienna LE ($30,135) gets automatic three-zone climate control for 2013. Other upgrades relative to Sienna L include eight-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, second and third-row sunshades, six-speaker audio, XM Satellite Radio, steering wheel controls for audio and telephone, Bluetooth for hands-free cell phone operation and music streaming, compass and outside temperature displays, dual power sliding doors, HomeLink garage door opener. LE AWD ($32,465) adds all-wheel drive, 18-inch wheels with 235/55R18 run-flat tires. 

Sienna XLE ($33,510) and XLE AWD ($35,950) upgrade further with leather upholstery, power liftgate, power moonroof, heated front seats, four-way power passenger seat, anti-theft system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood trim, towing package, power rear quarter windows, and auto on/off headlights. A sound-deadening acoustic windshield has been added for 2013. 

Sienna Limited ($40,105) and Limited AWD ($41,475) get upgraded 6CD JBL audio with 10-speakers, overhead console, integrated antenna, chrome door handles, push-button start, smart key, deluxe mirrors, dual panel moonroof, sonar parking system, third-row seats that power stow in floor, memory for driver's seat, leather with wood steering wheel, 18-inch wheels with 235/55R18 all-season tires. Added for 2013 is a blind spot monitor with cross-traffic alert. 

Sienna SE ($33,725) features special body trim, 19-inch alloy wheels, sports suspension, and comes with exclusive instrumentation and unique interior colors and trim. 

Options are too numerous to list. Navigation is available on all but Sienna L, but only in packages that bundle it with Entune (Toyota's package of popular mobile apps and information services), audio upgrades, and other features. 

Safety features include Toyota's Star Safety System with anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Traction Control; the mandated tire pressure monitor system; three-point seatbelts in all seating positions with adjustable seatbelt anchors on front and second row seats, driver's seatbelt Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR), and Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR) on all other seatbelts; front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters; driver and front passenger Active Headrests; driver and front passenger airbags with Advanced Airbag System; driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags; driver knee airbag; three-row side curtain airbags; side impact beams in front and sliding side doors; LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children); child protector sliding door locks; jam protection for power windows. Optional all-wheel drive enhances safety in adverse conditions. The Pre-Collision System is optional with Dynamic Radar Cruise Control,Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management System (VDIM), and Hill Assist Control (HAC). Blind Spot Monitor with Cross Traffic Control, Safety Connect, and front and rear sonar are optional or included on premium models. All of this stuff is a very good idea. All prices are Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP), which may change without notice at any time. Prices do not include destination charges. 

Walkaround

The Toyota Sienna presents a wide stance, with broad flared shoulders. Up front is a contemporary face with sophisticated, highly angular headlamps. The lights have projector lamps and halogen high beams combined in a compact, slender design. 

From the side, the Sienna looks sleek, and less boxy in than some other vans. The track for the sliding rear doors is concealed, so the rear doors look like they belong on a sedan or crossover SUV. The rear windows are shaped in a tapered trapezoid and inclined inward like a sedan, again contradicting the standard boxy minivan look. 

The rear has been designed with a low, wide bumper and a roof spoiler that hides the rear wiper, for a stronger, cleaner appearance. LED tail and stop lamps are used, which illuminate more quickly and consume less power. 

Overall, the exterior looks clean and sleek, and it is. Aerodynamic work, including underbody covers to help manage airflow, keeps the coefficient of drag relatively low, at 0.31 Cd. 

There are quite a few exterior differences from model to model. Each has a distinctive grille, ranging from the sporty mesh grille on the Sienna SE to the chrome four-slot arrangement on the Sienna Limited. Wheels may be 17, 18, or 19 inches depending on the model and options. Sienna XLE, SE, and Limited models have front fog lamps in the lower valence, and Limited has HID headlamps as an option. The SE has dark chrome accents around the lights and smoked headlight covers. 

The Sienna SE gets other special styling cues. The front has a more aggressive appearance. Side skirting visually lowers the vehicle and smoked headlights and taillights make a distinctive statement. Aerodynamic sculpting hugs the standard 19-inch alloy wheels. The SE sits lower, on a sport-tuned suspension. 

Interior

The Sienna interior looks modern, with flowing lines and round controls to achieve a unified, integrated design. Prominently visible at the base of the center stack is a shape, something like a tadpole, that tapers laterally toward the passenger, to create the feeling that there is more room to share. To our eye, it's modern and effective, preventing the center stack from looking like a pile of squared-off rectangular boxes. Instead, the design suggests shared space and control areas, in a freshly contemporary atmosphere. 

Design aside, the center stack contains the usual controls, with the message center at the top, the audio system just below, the climate control system below that, and storage and convenience features, such as cupholders and 12-volt plugs, at the lowest level. The shifter is located on the dash, closest to the driver, freeing center console space for storage. 

There are three instrument designs. The standard analog system uses bright blue numbering with red needles. In all three designs, a large speedometer and tach are combined with fuel and temperature gauges. The automatic transmission range and odometer are displayed on the LCD in the center of the meter, and an ECO-drive light indicates economical driving. The dash materials and cloth upholstery look and feel nice enough, although the upper pieces of the dashboard, while attractively textured, turn out to be hard plastic. 

The steering wheel, padded and contoured, has buttons for the audio system and Bluetooth. The wheel tilts and telescopes. 

The front seats are passenger-car comfortable. Driver's seats are six-way adjustable on the base Sienna model, and eight-way adjustable on all other models, with power on all but LE memory available on Limited models. The front passenger seats are four-way, with power adjustability available on the XLE and Limited. An ample range of forward-to-back adjustment, generously sized cushions, and adjustable armrests contribute to comfort. Leather-trimmed and heated seats are standard on the XLE and Limited. 

Second-row comfort was obviously a design priority. The second-row seats are mounted on very long sliders, 25.6 inches in length, so they can be moved very far forward or very far back, depending on the way the interior needs to be configured for people or cargo. With the seats at adjusted to the limit, a walk-in isle is created, big enough for an adult to walk through to help a child or an older passenger. With the second row seats adjusted all the way forward, walk-in access to the third row becomes possible. 

Eight-passenger models use an arrangement that splits seating in a 40/20/40 proportion. That makes the second-row center seat small relative to the two outside seats, useful only for smaller people. When not in use, the center seat can be removed and stowed in a specially designed compartment in the back, converting the second row to captain's chairs with room in between. The standard chairs are quite comfortable. A Lounge Seating feature, standard on XLE AWD and Limited, equips the second-row captain's chairs with extended footrests. 

On certain models, the back half of the center console can be extended rearward about a foot into the second-row passenger area. With the console moved rearward, second-row passengers have more easily reached cupholders and another handy storage option. 

Third-row seats are split 60/40, and fold flat with one touch. The seats recline a bit as well. 

Versatility was another design priority, along with the ability to reconfigure the interior for different mixes of people and cargo. To convert from carrying people to carrying cargo, the Sienna's third-row seats easily fold flat and, when the second-row seats are folded far forward, 117 cubic feet of cargo area becomes available. With the second-row seats removed altogether, cargo area expands to 150 cubic feet. Even with just the third-row seats folded flat, there is 87 cubic feet of stowage behind the second row. 

An oversized screen for the entertainment system is available for the Limited models that's large enough to split into two screens in case rear-seat occupants want entertainment from two different sources. That allows for playing a video game on half of the screen, and showing a movie on the other. Wireless headphones are available. The screen is unusually large, big enough for third-row passengers to see. 

Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard on all but Sienna L. A cabin air filter that prevents pollen and dust from entering the vehicle is standard on all models. 

The navigation system, a voice-activated, touch-screen system, is available on all but Sienna L. It supports an integrated rearview camera with two views, and on XLE it can be packaged with the 10-speaker JBL audio system from the Limited. The system supports Bluetooth-capable audio devices, allowing the user to control the source device using the car's steering wheel controls to play, pause and seek. 

Toyota Safety Connect includes automatic collision notification, an emergency assistance button with 24-hour roadside assistance and the ability to locate a stolen vehicle by GPS. It comes standard on Limited, is optional on XLE, and either way comes with a one-year trial subscription. 

A sonar parking assist system, with four ultrasonic sensors, is available on Sienna XLE models. The system sounds progressively as an object becomes closer to the vehicle. A similar system, with six sensors, is standard on Limited. 

Driving Impression

The Sienna has electric power steering, which allowed Toyota engineers to tune the steering response for the different models. The Sienna SE has the tightest, most accurate and responsive steering of the models, along with the best handling and the best chassis control. The Limited model has the most power assist in the steering, and the chassis is tuned for comfort. Sienna LE and XLE models are somewhere in between, with steering and chassis priorities balanced between comfort and handling. 

Of the models we drove, the Sienna SE is by far the most appealing from a driving dynamics point of view. It steers exceptionally well for a minivan, more like a sports sedan. It corners without much body roll, with a nice crisp turn-in and a clean, stable track through the bends. This responsive personality is achieved with not too much ride tradeoff in the process. The 19-inch wheels and lower profile tires do allow a bit more road feel into the cabin, but it's not annoying, and the extra confidence allowed us to drive mountain roads at higher speeds in a relaxed manner. Frankly, we wish all minivans handled this well. We're not sure if a good-handling minivan is likely to become a major player in the marketplace, but if it is, the SE is a home run. We noticed the brakes become a little touchy when we hustled the SE down the Ortega Highway, but they don't lack for stopping power. All in all, we'd say the SE is a fun and responsive car to operate, in an attractive package. Drivers who drive enthusiastically will like the SE. 

The available all-wheel drive biases torque between the front and rear wheels based on information from wheel sensors. When wheel slip is detected, torque distribution is adjusted accordingly, providing better grip on icy or snowy roads. A key difference is that AWD models have run-flat tires and no spare. The run-flat tires, specially developed by Bridgestone, offer improved safety and performance in the event of a puncture through unique cooling ribs on the sidewall. They are designed to provide the capability to safely drive to a repair location instead of stopping to change a tire, which can expose driver and passenger to traffic hazards and bad people. We would expect the run-flat tires would ride a little harder than regular tires, and wear a little differently because of their unique construction and rubber compound. Our conclusion is that the AWD would be worth the investment in areas where weather conditions demand superior traction, but less attractive to buyers who don't experience wintry weather. 

Sienna Limited has steering tuned for ease of operation, with very high levels of power assist. We found the Limited easy to park and maneuver at low speeds, but it also required more attention to keep in the center of the lane driving quickly down a mountain road. The Limited is the kind of luxury wagon we would drive at a relaxed pace for almost any distance, just taking it nice and easy. 

All Sienna models have huge rear doors for easy entry. Access to the second and third row is easier than any minivan we can recall, because the door is so large, and headroom is good. Also, because the second row seats are on long tracks, it's possible to move them all the way forward to access the third row, or all the way back to walk into the passenger area. We think it would be possible for an average-size person to step in with a car seat, fasten it down and walk out, without having to kneel or crawl around. 

Sienna is well insulated against wind, engine, and road noise. Toyota engineers used every trick in the book, padding, phase-shifting techniques, noise cancellation, sound absorbing materials and better engineered seals in the doors, among others, to keep noise to an absolute minimum. These are quiet minivans. 

Summary

The Toyota Sienna sets the standard for minivans. Sienna benefits from sharp, handsome styling that borrows design cues from SUVs and sedans. The Sienna SE is the most carlike in its handling, but all Sienna models are appealing in their own way, and versatility may in fact be the Sienna's greatest virtue. Whether hauling the soccer team or materials from the home-improvement store or driving cross-country, there's a Sienna for every purpose. 

John Stewart filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.com. Additional material by John F. Katz. 

Model Lineup

Toyota Sienna L ($26,585); LE ($30,135), LE AWD ($32,465); SE ($33,725); XLE ($33,510), XLE AWD ($35,950); Limited ($40,105); Limited AWD ($41,475). 

Assembled In

Princeton, Indiana. 

Options As Tested

none.