The best thing about mid-cycle product corrections is that car companies get to correct whatever mistakes they made in the original design.
Sometimes that involves new engines or a better transmission or something real expensive, and sometimes it involves making a must-have feature available throughout the line.
In the case of the Toyota Sienna minivan for 2006, it's mostly the latter. The big change for prospective buyers is that they no longer have to buy the most expensive version of this family buggy so that they could have a
DVD rear seat entertainment system. A DVD system is now available on every model, as common sense suggested it should have been from the get-go.
Another important change for the Sienna for the 2006 model year is adding standard front seat, side seat, and side curtain airbags in all three positions (front, rear and third row) for added safety and protection.
All in all, the intent of Toyota Canada was to expand Sienna's "range of configurations to suit a broad variety of needs and lifestyles."
To that end, says Tony Wearing, one of Toyota Canada's three managing directors, "Sienna continues to offer several well-equipped trim levels in both seven- and eight-passenger configurations, as well as a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrains."
Cosmetic changes for 2006 include a new front bumper with a revised grille and headlights, new rear combination lights, and body side molding.
Every Sienna gets a roof rack for 2006, and the wiper sweep area has been increased on the front and rear wipers.
All Sienna LE and XLE models get Optitron instrumentation, which is easier to read, and power folding mirrors with memory, integrated turn signals and puddle lamps, as well as a driver's seat with position memory, are now optional on the Sienna XLE FWD, and standard on the Sienna XLE AWD Limited.
Pricing for Sienna (with last year's MSRPs in brackets) starts at $30,800 ($30,000) for the seven-passenger CE FWD and $32,040 ($31,240) for the eight-passenger version, while the CE AWD is a $36,700 ($35,900).
MSRP for the better-equipped seven-seat LE model starts at $36,255 ($35,420), while the LE AWD version is priced at $40,665 ($39,830).
The seven-seat XLE FWD starts at $44,630 (no change), while the seven-seat XLE AWD Limited with additional equipment for 2006 is $50,875 ($52,640).
"Sienna is an exceptional package with something for everyone," says Wearing. "It has responsive, fun-to-drive power and handling plus a flexible, roomy interior along with generous levels of standard and optional equipment. The Sienna proves that safe, practical family transportation can also have a lot of style, yet deliver outstanding fuel efficiency."
That last claim has a special resonance with fuel prices where they are these days. In Canadian testing procedures, the Sienna requires 12.4 litres of fuel to go 100 km in city driving and 8.2 litres to go 100 km in highway driving, which is a pretty good score for a minivan.
Sometimes that involves new engines or a better transmission or something real expensive, and sometimes it involves making a must-have feature available throughout the line.
In the case of the Toyota Sienna minivan for 2006, it's mostly the latter. The big change for prospective buyers is that they no longer have to buy the most expensive version of this family buggy so that they could have a
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Another important change for the Sienna for the 2006 model year is adding standard front seat, side seat, and side curtain airbags in all three positions (front, rear and third row) for added safety and protection.
All in all, the intent of Toyota Canada was to expand Sienna's "range of configurations to suit a broad variety of needs and lifestyles."
To that end, says Tony Wearing, one of Toyota Canada's three managing directors, "Sienna continues to offer several well-equipped trim levels in both seven- and eight-passenger configurations, as well as a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive powertrains."
Cosmetic changes for 2006 include a new front bumper with a revised grille and headlights, new rear combination lights, and body side molding.
Every Sienna gets a roof rack for 2006, and the wiper sweep area has been increased on the front and rear wipers.
All Sienna LE and XLE models get Optitron instrumentation, which is easier to read, and power folding mirrors with memory, integrated turn signals and puddle lamps, as well as a driver's seat with position memory, are now optional on the Sienna XLE FWD, and standard on the Sienna XLE AWD Limited.
Pricing for Sienna (with last year's MSRPs in brackets) starts at $30,800 ($30,000) for the seven-passenger CE FWD and $32,040 ($31,240) for the eight-passenger version, while the CE AWD is a $36,700 ($35,900).
MSRP for the better-equipped seven-seat LE model starts at $36,255 ($35,420), while the LE AWD version is priced at $40,665 ($39,830).
The seven-seat XLE FWD starts at $44,630 (no change), while the seven-seat XLE AWD Limited with additional equipment for 2006 is $50,875 ($52,640).
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That last claim has a special resonance with fuel prices where they are these days. In Canadian testing procedures, the Sienna requires 12.4 litres of fuel to go 100 km in city driving and 8.2 litres to go 100 km in highway driving, which is a pretty good score for a minivan.