Sienna’s interior is elegant, tasteful
drive models include the LE seven-passenger ($35,080), XLE seven-passenger ($42,800); XLE Premium seven-passenger ($41,715); and Limited sevenpassenger ($43,940).
The front-drive Limited Premium seven-passenger ($46,170) is the most-expensive model without the allwheel drive.
With the 2015 upgrades, the Sienna received refreshed exterior styling, along with new safety, convenience and multimedia features.
That included the Driver Easy Speak option, which uses the microphone from the Sienna’s voice-command multimedia system to let the driver address the rear passengers through the audio system’s rear speakers. It’s the ultimate mom/dad-over-mayhem feature. There’s also a conversation mirror in the overhead console. Toyota said that Driver Easy Speak “is the next best thing to having a hallway monitor in the van.”
Among exterior changes, designed to give the Sienna a more-upscale appearance, were a new front grille, slimmer headlights (with special designs for the SE and Limited models), standard LED daytime running lights for the SE and Limited, and new taillights (except for the SE).
While most configurations come with seating for seven — two up front, two in the middle and three in the rear — there is an eight-passenger configuration available on most trim levels. Cargo space can be expanded to as much as 150 cubic feet, turning the Sienna into a hauling monster.
The new engine for 2017 is rated at 296 horsepower and 263 foot-pounds of torque, and in our recent weeklong test of the Limited Premium front-drive model, we found that engine and the new eight-speed transmission to be perfect for the Sienna. We tested the vehicle on a variety of roads, including some hills and uphill freeway on-ramps, and it never felt underpowered, even when we had five adults on board.
Transmission shifting was smooth to the point of being almost imperceptible, and the Sienna never felt like it was searching for the right gear. The ride was smooth, even on some winter-ravaged road surfaces, and everyone on board remarked about how quiet it was inside the Sienna, even at highway speeds.
Our test vehicle was EPA rated at 19 mpg city/27 highway/22 combined, and we averaged 21.7 mpg during our week in the Sienna, with a nearly 50-50 city/ highway mix of driving.
A standard Tow Prep Package allows the Sienna to pull trailers weighing up to 3,500 pounds, but we did not have an opportunity to try its towing capabilities. That’s enough capacity for a one- or two-horse trailer, small- to medium-size boat or camper, or a utility trailer pulling a motorcycle or garden equipment. It wouldn’t be enough to haul a car, though, which is something I do frequently.
Our tester came with 18-inch alloy wheels, dual power sliding rear side doors, and a power liftgate. There was also a dual moon roof that covered much of the passenger area. High-intensity-discharge headlights with automatic high beams were included, along with the standard LED daytime running lights.
The interior was elegant and tasteful, with leathertrimmed front bucket seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way for the front passenger. In the middle row was a removable “long slide” leather-trimmed lounge seat (dual captain’s chairs), and the third row included a power-folding seatback that made it easy to expand the cargo compartment if the rearmost seat wasn’t needed for passengers.
The Sienna’s JBL premium audio system included navigation, all shown on a 7-inch touch screen in the center of the dash. It included the Toyota Entune App Suite, Bluetooth, satellite radio, CD player, auxiliary and USB inputs, and 10 speakers.
A driver-information system in the instrument panel included a 4.2-inch color screen. Three-zone automatic climate control allowed the driver, front passenger and middle-row rear passengers to set the temperature to their needs.
That long-slide middle row, with the pair of captain’s chairs, can be moved as much as 23 inches to the rear to give the middle passengers limousine-like leg and knee room — but at the expense of anyone sitting in the third row. There are four LATCH locations for hooking up child-safety seats.
The Limited’s second-row seats have premium leather, with dual armrests, and leg and foot support. There is a sliding center console between the front seats that is accessible to the second-row passengers.
Eight-passenger models come with center seat in the middle row that can be removed and stowed in the left side of the rear-storage area, leaving a cupholder and storage tray between the two remaining seats, Toyota said.
There are lots of storage bins, trays and cupholders in all three rows to help corral all the gadgets and other things people take with them on trips or even just around town these days.
Toyota said that even with the third-row seat in place, there is enough cargo space behind it to accommodate five golf bags or four large suitcases. There are grocery-bag hooks in both rows. Roof rack crossbars are also available for stowing gear on top of the vehicle.