Luxury, serenity and big bucks
Have you ever watched the movie Dodging the Clock? In one particular scene, a father buys a minivan only because of family obligations, but he opts for the leather-wrapped steering wheel just to get a bit of sporty feel. This scenario now happens more and more often in dealer showrooms across the continent because these people haulers are definitely not as popular as they used to be.
Consumers find that minivans are too big, too uninspiring and especially too "granddaddy". As a result, the modern driver prefers to ignore their convenient nature. Crossovers are the new hot item with their stylish and sporty lines instead of a wagon-style look. That's a shame because the minivan segment is still home to several fine vehicles, including some very functional and efficient models -- despite what my younger, more enthusiastic colleagues might tell you.
One of those is the Toyota Sienna, certainly the queen of the crop thanks to its build quality and the fact that it's the only minivan to offer an optional AWD system. However, there is a price to pay. Indeed, despite an affordable base model, the Sienna's retail price can easily exceed $50,000 -- before taxes!
High-luxury wagon
Justifying such an amount of money requires more than a couple of paragraphs. First, the all-wheel-drive system is available on all models; that option alone is well worth a few grand. During my week behind the wheel of the Sienna, I had the opportunity to test the system in heavy snow. No matter what the road conditions were, the AWD Sienna managed to stay poised and surefooted.
Even better, the electronic stability and traction control was both efficient and unobtrusive. It allowed me to prevent the vehicle from skidding by maintaining control of the power being sent to the wheels.
The engine also raises the Sienna's price. The 3.5-litre V6 is the most powerful in its class with 266 horsepower. That's almost 20 horsepower more than its closest rival, the Honda Odyssey. As soon as you depress the throttle, you feel the vehicle surging forward with authority. That said, takeoffs are fairly noisy.
Have you ever watched the movie Dodging the Clock? In one particular scene, a father buys a minivan only because of family obligations, but he opts for the leather-wrapped steering wheel just to get a bit of sporty feel. This scenario now happens more and more often in dealer showrooms across the continent because these people haulers are definitely not as popular as they used to be.
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| The Sienna is available with front- or all-wheel-drive. |
Consumers find that minivans are too big, too uninspiring and especially too "granddaddy". As a result, the modern driver prefers to ignore their convenient nature. Crossovers are the new hot item with their stylish and sporty lines instead of a wagon-style look. That's a shame because the minivan segment is still home to several fine vehicles, including some very functional and efficient models -- despite what my younger, more enthusiastic colleagues might tell you.
One of those is the Toyota Sienna, certainly the queen of the crop thanks to its build quality and the fact that it's the only minivan to offer an optional AWD system. However, there is a price to pay. Indeed, despite an affordable base model, the Sienna's retail price can easily exceed $50,000 -- before taxes!
High-luxury wagon
Justifying such an amount of money requires more than a couple of paragraphs. First, the all-wheel-drive system is available on all models; that option alone is well worth a few grand. During my week behind the wheel of the Sienna, I had the opportunity to test the system in heavy snow. No matter what the road conditions were, the AWD Sienna managed to stay poised and surefooted.
Even better, the electronic stability and traction control was both efficient and unobtrusive. It allowed me to prevent the vehicle from skidding by maintaining control of the power being sent to the wheels.
The engine also raises the Sienna's price. The 3.5-litre V6 is the most powerful in its class with 266 horsepower. That's almost 20 horsepower more than its closest rival, the Honda Odyssey. As soon as you depress the throttle, you feel the vehicle surging forward with authority. That said, takeoffs are fairly noisy.
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| The 3.5L V6 is a commendable performer. |