2011 Toyota Sienna Wants To Be a Sedan: 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show
Published Dec 2, 2009
Poor So-So Pretty Good Good Excellent 7 Ratings LOS ANGELES — "Minivan" apparently is a bit of a dirty word to Toyota. The Japanese automaker rolled out its 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show, emphasizing how sedanlike the redesign has made this people hauler.
The new Sienna goes on sale in February in the U.S. Pricing has not yet been announced.
"The third-generation Sienna will look and drive more like a sedan," Toyota said in a statement. The minivan has distinctly American roots, with its design a product of Toyota's Calty Design Research and its development taking place at the Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Among the highlights are a new, sporty SE model with side skirting, standard 19-inch alloy wheels, smoked taillamps and a sport-tuned suspension, as well as the debut of a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
Although the Sienna definitely still looks like a minivan, Toyota said it aimed for a "stronger profile" with the redesign. The Sienna rides on the same wheelbase as the previous generation, but it is wider and slightly shorter overall. The Sienna's face gets a slightly edgier look, and Toyota designers veered away from the minivan's classic boxy looks with a more sculptural rear. Toyota took pains to carve out personal cabin space for the driver and front passenger.
The 2011 Sienna comes with a choice of two engines. The 3.5-liter V6 makes 266 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, with Toyota pegging fuel economy at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The 187-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine is expected to deliver fuel efficiency ratings of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway. Both engines get a six-speed automatic transmission.
The Sienna will come in five grades: a base Sienna grade, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. Although the cabin doesn't leapfrog the competition in a dramatic way, it does offer some intriguing options. One of them is a rear-seat Dual View Entertainment Center, which uses two displays side by side to create a seamless 16.4-inch wide-screen image from a single source, said Toyota. The system can also split the screen into two individual screens, each with input from separate sources. It can be seen from the third row and can be operated from any seat.
Seven airbags are standard, and Toyota's new Safety Connect telematics system is standard on the Limited model and optional on the XLE model. All-wheel drive continues to be an option on the Sienna.
Inside Line says: Toyota continues to work hard to take the sting out of being seen driving a minivan with the redesign of the 2011 Sienna. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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