FAMILY FRIENDLY RIDE GETS THE JOB DONE
Smooth, comfortable minivan does everything you could ever expect of a three-row vehicle built for function
Just like Rodney Dangerfield, minivans just “can’t get no respect.” Which is completely unfair, as these domestic dromedaries continue to be the smartest vehicle for hauling adults, kids, dogs and all the familial detritus that goes along with the joyous process of procreation. Buying a minivan might be the automotive equivalent of crying “uncle,” but damn if they don’t make life a lot easier. That said, peruse any school parking lot mid-afternoon and you’ll see evidence of a reasonably healthy minivan market. The new Chrysler Pacifica has upped the game, adding a level of style, driveability and functionality to the segment, not to mention available hybrid power, that could be almost mistaken for cachet. Almost. Putting aside the still bargainpriced Dodge Grand Caravan, this new breed of minivan is more akin to a luxuriously appointed packing crate, bristling with all the tech, mod-cons and progeny-appeasing doodads a haggard parent could beg for. Naturally, they don’t come cheap. Here we have the Toyota Sienna, a perennial offering that saw a major overhaul for 2015 with an all-new interior, stiffer structure and some exterior tweaks. For 2017, the Sienna’s 3.5-L V-6 gets upgraded with direct injection along with port injection, boosting output from 266 horsepower to a classleading 296. Additionally, the previous six-speed automatic makes way for an eight-speed unit, all in the name of fuel efficiency. The official numbers for the front-wheel-drive Sienna are 12.5 L/100 kilometres in the city, 8.9 highway and 10.9 combined. The Toyota Sienna is the only minivan in Canada offered with ondemand all-wheel drive. Pricing starts at $33,420 for the base front-drive model, stretching to $44,130 for the seven-passenger XLE AWD. This tester is the mid-level, FWD SE with a starting price of $40,235. Standard kit on all 2017 Sienna minivans includes an in-dash touch screen infotainment system with Bluetooth streaming, voice recognition and Siri Eyes Free technology, plus cruise control, eight airbags and tri-zone climate control. The SE ramps things up with 19-inch alloys, a seven-inch touch screen display, an auto-dimming mirror with compass, heated leather front seats with an eightway power-adjustable driver’s seat, retractable side sun shades, dual power-sliding side doors, a power liftgate, LED daytime running lights and tail lights, and sporty bits on the body. When it comes to functionality, there’s little to complain about here. While Chrysler and Dodge have the lock on secondrow seats that disappear into the floor, at least the Sienna’s comfy captain’s chairs, with 58 centimetres of travel, easily flip forward and allow for ready access to a third row, which will accommodate three kids or two adults without much complaint. Behind the third row is a deep well that will likely handle most luggage of a full passenger contingent. The 60/40-split bench easily tumbles into the well, creating a flat floor that can accept 4x8 sheets of building material when the captain’s chairs are pushed forward. For ultimate hauling, the chairs can be removed (if you’re feeling energetic). The Toyota Sienna drives like a big Camry. It is smooth, reasonably quiet, has a good ride and handles well. Despite the engine’s class-leading power numbers, it doesn’t feel particularly lively, since peak torque arrives at a high 4,700 rpm and power doesn’t crescendo until 6,600 rpm. That, and wringing the snot out of a minivan just seems wrong. So, you won’t find any excitement behind this steering wheel, but nor should you expect it. Sure, the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica might be a little sharper on the road, but that’s like saying Bob Dylan sings better than Tom Waits. For a vehicle at this price point, the dash looks a tad cheap and dreary, showing lots of dark and hard plastics. Ergonomics, on the other hand, are good, with plenty of well-marked buttons and knobs. Toyota’s familiar touchscreen interface works well and is easy to decipher. The $5,355 Technology Package could be considered a musthave for parents. Among other things, it bestows navigation, a rear seat BluRay entertainment system with an overhead, 16.4inch screen, plus a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, a moonroof, and EasySpeak, which via a microphone up front, gives parents the ability to holler … er, speak easily to problematic progeny in the cheap seats through the rear speakers. “No, we’re not there yet!” Family trips will never be the same. This refreshed 2017 Toyota may not have the style or classy interior of the Chrysler Pacifica, but is does everything you could expect of a minivan in that easydriving, smooth Toyota way. For many, the promise of Toyota’s dependability will be a comfort, and Lord knows parents could use some of that.