2007 Toyota Sienna Minivan Review & Performance

Love its styling or hate it, one thing is certain: The Toyota Sienna has an imposing presence. Measuring 200 inches front to rear, on a 119-inch wheelbase, the Sienna is nearly identical in length to a full-size Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle. There's nothing mini about this van, most especially when its big, angular headlights are bearing down on the car ahead at dusk.

The Sienna was developed expressly for the United States, and it's a very American vehicle, regardless of what its brand name might suggest. It was designed in Southern California and engineered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it's built in Princeton, Indiana. This family van may not inspire macho envy on cruise night, but its basic shape has its appeal, and it's nearly impossible to beat for utilitarian practicality.

Sneering grille work and those big headlights, freshened with a restyling for the 2006 model year, create the Sienna's first impression. The taillight clusters are big, too, in the name of visibility and safety. The windshield is huge, but long wipers and wiper-mounted washer nozzles are up to the worst conditions winter in the Snow Belt can dish up. On high-trim Siennas, a nearly invisible electric element at the bottom of the windshield keeps the wiper blades from freezing to the glass. Power-folding side mirrors are also available, and these feature bright puddle lights that illuminate when the doors are unlocked. They're handy for both functions.

In side view, the Sienna's profile is clean. The slot for the sliding doors is cleverly hidden. Black window pillars and extensions on the steeply raked windshield lend a sleek appearance, and make the Sienna look even larger than it is. Unfortunately, the overall impression of strength is undercut a bit by proportionally small wheels arches.

That's one reason we like the look of the Sienna Limited best. Its standard 17-inch wheels and lower profile tires maximize the impact of the small wheel wells, and its extra splash of chrome trim adds a bit of detail to the expanse of painted metal.

ats, or owners can order a second unit from the dealer.

When the second-row seats are empty, the seatbacks can flip down and the entire seat can tumble forward. The captain's chairs can also be removed completely. This is easily accomplished mechanically, but at 49 pounds the chairs may require two people to wrestle in and out.

Eight-passenger models (available on the CE and LE) differ mainly in the second row, which replaces the captain's chairs with a three-place split/folding bench. The small middle section of the bench can be moved nearly 13 inches closer to the front seats, putting children in child seats within arm's reach. When it's not being used, the center section converts into a big armrest.

Third-row seats have a rake adjustment, which increases their comfort. The Sienna offers more than enough storage space behind the third seat for a big grocery haul or a couple of sports bags, but the seat can be changed easily. It's split 60/40, which adds versatility when hauling a combination of passengers and cargo, and particularly long items. It can also be stowed completely. The third-row seatbacks flip forward, then each seat folds easily into a deep well. It's a two-step operation that can be done with one hand, and headrests are integrated into the seats so they don't have to be removed first (as on some minivans). Folding the third row away leaves a flat cargo floor with tie-down hooks. We were able to slide in a six-foot ladder without moving the second-row seats.

With its fold-flat front seat (standard on all but the CE), the Sienna can also accommodate long, narrow objects such as 2X4s up to ten feet in length or slightly longer, entirely within its confines. With hauling space maximized, the Sienna offers 148.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. That's about 12 cubic feet less that the class leader, the Chrysler Town & Country, about the same as the Honda Odyssey, and 12 cubic feet more than minivans from Ford and Chevy. Perhaps more significant, the Sienna has 40 cubic feet more cargo volume than a full-size SUV like the Chevy Tahoe (108 cubic feet).

The family van convenience and versatility packed inside the Toyota Sienna comes without a significant price, measured by everyday driving.

The Sienna is a big vehicle, yet it never feels overly bulky and it's never hard to handle or park. It's generally smooth, responsive and quiet, and compared to many family vehicles with comparable functional capability, it's relatively fuel efficient. An owner won't feel guilty or excessive driving it empty for errands. On long trips or school runs, loaded with people or just the driver, the Sienna is always comfortable and pleasant to drive.

With a new, more powerful engine for 2007, the Sienna moves closer to fun. This 3.5-liter V6 replaces a slightly smaller, 3.3-liter engine in all models, and it features the latest in control and materials technology, including four-cam variable valve timing (Dual VVT-I in Toyota parlance). VVT-i helps reduce emissions and deliver more power without increasing fuel consumption. In the new V6, it generates 266 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque. That gives Sienna class-leading power, and a few pound-feet shy of class leading torque.

We never considered previous Siennas underpowered, but the new engine makes this a hot rod among minivans. By the seat of our experienced pants, we'd say that the Toyota is now the quickest accelerating minivan you can buy, bar none, despite its hefty overall weight (more than 4500 pounds for loaded all-wheel-drive models).

Yet the hot-rod quality extends beyond acceleration. The 3.5-liter V6 is so powerful that it responds aggressively, even abruptly, to anything more than a bit of gas. A driver may jerk some heads until he or she gets a bit of practice and adjusts to the throttle response. Moreover, peak torque and particularly peak horsepower come fairly high in engine's rpm range. We wanted to keep the gas pedal floored well past respectful cruising speeds just to keep the engine pulling toward peak output and to feel maximum acceleration. The V6 remains smooth and relatively quiet all the way to the redline on the tachometer.

Gear ratios in Sienna's five-speed automatic help exploit the extra power, and the engine and transmission interact nicely. At steady speeds, the transmission keeps the engine purring at fairly low rpm. Yet if the driver floors the accelerator, the transmission immediately kicks down a gear or two, and holds that gear all the way to the redline before shifting up again smoothly and smartly. A low first gear offers quicker response off the line; the overdrive fifth gear means lower engine speeds when cruising, which translates into less engine noise and better gas mileage. It's a key reason that the 2007 Sienna gets nearly identical mileage to its less powerful predecessors (1 MPG less on the highway for all-wheel-drive models, according to the EPA), despite improved acceleration.

The same balance of smoothness and response in the engine/transmission package applies to the Sienna's ride and handling. On curving mountain roads in Southern California, the Sienna drives more like a car than a minivan or sport-utility. Its steering is responsive and there's only a little body roll, or lean, when cornering.

Transient response is good, meaning the Sienna can quickly change directions without losing composure. It feels stable at high speeds. The steering is nice and light at low speeds, and with a turning radius of less than 37 feet, the Sienna is easy to maneuver through tight parking lots or U-turns. That radius is tighter than most minivans.

The ride, too, is generally very comfortable, helped by a long wheelbase that limits chop, or bounce, over recurring pavement joints. On smooth pavement, few will notice any more suspension movement or roughness than one experiences in a typical sedan. On the winter-scarred tarmac that passes for roads in parts of the Mid-West, the Sienna's solid rear axle can makes its presence known by way of a skipping or slight skittishness in the rear end. We'd guess that few owners will ever drive in a fashion that lets them experience this phenomenon.

Braking is smooth and adequately short. Making bigger 16-inch wheels standard equipment allowed Toyota to design bigger brakes, and four-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist come standard. EBD distributes the braking force to the tires with the most traction for quicker, more stable stops. Brake Assist maintains full brake pressure during emergency stopping situations, even if the driver inadvertently reduces pedal pressure in the excitement.

Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control is standard on the Limited and all-wheel-drive models, and optional on other Siennas. We recommend taking whichever option package is required to get it, based on our real-world experience and a number of studies that suggest such electronic stability systems help prevent accidents. VSC senses a potential skid and uses the brakes to compensate and correct the vehicle's trajectory. Traction control helps reduce tire slippage during acceleration.

Given these features, we would recommend the Sienna's optional all-wheel-drive system to only a relative handful of buyers. The Sienna is not the type of vehicle in which all-wheel-drive delivers a truly desirable performance advantage, and the safety advantage will apply to only that relative handful, perhaps those who live in rural areas with deep snow or travel frequently on gravel roads. Even in the Snow Belt, where slush and snow can be near-daily (and generally quickly cleared) fact of winter life, the front-drive Siennas with all-season tires are generally up to the challenge. And beyond the extra up-front cost of the all-wheel drive, the system typically means at least a few miles per gallon less in real-world fuel economy.

The 2007 Toyota Sienna is offered in four trim levels, from relatively inexpensive to true luxury grade. Prices increase nearly $20,000 from bottom to top, and each model adds more comfort and convenience features. All share a new 266-hp 3.5-liter V6 and five-speed automatic transmission. All come configured for seven passengers, though the lower-trim CE and LE models are available with eight seats. All but the base CE are available with all-wheel drive.

The Sienna CE ($24,155) is the least expensive, but it comes with nearly all the essentials, including dual-zone (front and rear) air conditioning, power windows, door locks and mirrors, sliding doors on both sides, keyless entry and AM/FM/cassette with six speakers, single CD and an auxiliary jack for MP3 players. The upholstery is vinyl/fabric combo and the wheels are 16-inch steel with hubcaps. Second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 Split & Stow third-row bench seat are standard. A second-row three-place bench seat ($150) is optional on the CE and LE.

The Sienna LE ($25, 680) is the most popular model. It adds nicer cloth fabric and several key features, including audio controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, heated mirrors, a roof rack, privacy glass, illuminated vanity mirrors and a fold-flat front passenger seat.

The LE AWD ($29,295) adds Toyota's fulltime all-wheel-drive system. Like other all-wheel-drive Siennas, it comes with 17-inch alloy wheels and run-flat tires, rear disc brakes (instead of drums), and daylight running lights (DRLs).

Sienna XLE ($30,125) and XLE AWD ($33,330) are more luxurious still, with yet another level of upgraded fabric, standard power sliding side doors and power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control (driver, front passenger, and rear), an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat, JBL Synthesis 360-watt audio with 10 speakers and a six-CD changer, rear seat audio controls, an overhead console with trip computer and universal garage-door opener, fog lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The front-drive XLE comes with 16-inch alloy wheels.

The Sienna Limited ($35,465) and Limited AWD ($37,655) are equipped like a full-on luxury sedan, adding leather upholstery and features such as dynamic Laser Cruise Control, second- and third- row sunshades, high intensity discharge (HID) headlights, heated front seats with memory, front and rear park assist, auto-dimming electrochromic mirrors and side mirrors with puddle lamps and integrated turn signals. The front-drive Limited comes with the 17-inch alloys and DRLs.

Options are clustered in many packages that make it impossible to buy most extra features separately: electronic stability control, heated seats or rear-seat DVD, for example. The packages are trim-level specific, and vary in price depending on model. On the LE, they range from LE Package no. 1 ($780), with a power sliding passenger-side door, overhead console and universal garage opener, to LE Package 4 ($5,530), with the features in Package 1 plus the eight-way power driver's seat, power driver's door and rear hatch, premium JBL audio with CD changer and rear-seat DVD entertainment.

Safety features include front-impact airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags and curtain-style airbags designed to provide head protection for outboard passengers in all three rows of seats. All models are also equipped with a tire-pressure monitor and anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, which together help the driver minimize stopping distance and maintain control when braking and swerving to avoid an accident. Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) skid-control system is standard on the Sienna Limited and all AWD models, and optional on the others.