Though a infant up of the legal minivan point in time, I've necessarily respected these vehicles for his or her or him excellent versatility. To wit, I utilized the Sienna to select up a recent dining table plus six chairs, continue to boxed, and the final Toyota swallowed every one contents moderately easily and whereas not having to fold the middle-row seats (which can not fold down back to the floor anyway). After i unloaded the furniture, I marveled at the simplest way a lot the process seats can slide forwards and backwards. Minivans have a tendency to be ideal for families allowing for youngsters, less than if four dads needed to become away for a tedious road trip, the Sienna would excel in which application, too. The blokes during the middle row can slide his or her seats all the long ago for really limousine-like legroom, still coming of the a large amount o room in the approach back for baggage. Additionally better, the middle captain's chairs suffer from La-Z-Boy-style footrests, therefore the guys in back (especially if they are definitely five-foot-six or shorter) can discover a bunch of forged business-class-style sleep while the 2nd one pair drives and navigates. The Sienna's occupants would possibly not feel awfully cool, but they had certainly be comfy.Rusty Blackwell 
I signed out Toyota's new swagger wagon to drive a handful of twenty-something friends all the way down to Detroit for a Tigers baseball game. It might not build a style statement, but the Sienna had them completely galvanized with the backseat comfort and entertainment features. I grew up riding in the back of minivans (my oldsters owned a minimum of four Mercury Villagers) and it had been smartly put in place that your parents' van was once not cool unless it had rear heat and/or audio controls. My Detroit-bound cadre was seriously wowed by the reclining second row and widescreen television. I need to note, though, that Toyota's lawyers have a warning that asserts you can still not make use of the ottomans after the automobile could be in motion. Yeah right.As far as driving is going, the powertrain is robust, the six-speed automatic is polished, the chassis is composed, and the direction is fine. My primary gripe is that you just cannot fold the seatbacks of the second row to for hauling. You either need to cope with them in place or take away them totally.Eric Tingwall 
Nada projects close to a genuine minivan for successfully combining individuals comfort and shipment carrying ability but, as evidenced by General Motors and Ford dropping their minivan offerings, nearly all American citizens assume therefore the uncoolness of minivans outweighs their utility. I suspect I am not most Americans for the reason that I'm not the smallest amount touch embarrassed or apologetic concerning my fondness for the minivan and after driving the Toyota Sienna for a weekend I will be in a very position to be told why it has got one of the segment leaders.Around city, the Sienna is swish, quiet, and comfy. To me, the three.5-liter V-6 appearance as if overkill, but I'm guessing it is the necessity after all the seats are full and the cargo space is loaded to capability. Unfortunately, the interior is a small bit little bit of a unhappiness during about that new Sienna. It looks great from a distance but get a little closer and most surfaces feel and appear plasticky, though most of the controls-radio, nav, and HVAC-feel nice and feature a smart weight to them.The rearmost seats are a cinch to flip down into the floor and the sliding second row seats move forward enough to form the cargo area cavernous. But I did notice a couple negatives. Because the headrests are fastened, the flipped down third row seats carry out not create a continuous, even surface. This constructed it challenging on behalf of me to slide large, heavy boxes across the cargo floor. A closer difficulty is what to perform with the shoulder belt for the 1/3 rear seat when it's stowed. I may gain not realize a location to secure it out of the way therefore I had to figure around it when loading.Jennifer Misaros 
Persist week, the employees of Automobile Magazine gathered up our current crop of take a appear at vehicles and spent an afternoon driving them on a back-road route from Ann Arbor to Kalamazoo. We tend to switched cars each and every Twenty-five miles or so, offering everybody a possibility to drive several cars in one twenty-four hour period. The Toyota Sienna was my ride for the first stint - one of my co-workers saw me climb in and discussed that it looked favor I might drawn the short straw, seeing because the remainder of the crowd were driving cars just like the Audi S4, the Mercedes E350 cabriolet, and the Acura TL SH-AWD.I have to claim, however, that it did not really feel like I'd been shortchanged. On winding Huron River Drive, the Sienna handled kind of well for a vehicle together with a high center of gravity. Body roll wasn't unnecessary, the suspension absorbed pavement irregularities, and the engine had brilliant enough power to keep abreast of the remainder of the cluster.In the cabin, the driving position is sweet and heavy, the gearshift lever on the instrument panel suggests that readily available is extra space in the heart console for storage, and the back seats are very passenger friendly, with a reclining option that features a stowable footrest. One unfortunate detail was the textured plastic on the dash, which both looked and felt downmarket for a vehicle in this value number.Amy Skogstrom 
A Sienna? Stylish? Contemplating Toyota's minivan has always erred on the side of dowdy, it's a fantastic feat. I do be acquainted with some consumers balk at the sight of sliding rear doors, but designers have done a brilliant job of injecting some pizzaz into this third-generation model. After all, I'd argue it's virtually added engaging in comparison to the Venza crossover, which appears to be forced encouraged a large number of features on this minivan (including the unfortunate dash texture Amy mentions).Granted, this full-tilt XLE trim does return with a number of accoutrements, but the Sienna itself seems sort of a solid decision among minivans. The 3.5-liter V-6 provides adequate muscle, and the throttle solution and transmission calibration supply a prompt downshift when you are really shopping for power.I adore the assumption of the sliding second-row bucket seats for after you carry adults - not children - in the second row, but as Eric notes, they are doing not flip, fold, or tumble to make way for cargo. Short of hunting down the seats altogether, your best choice is to move the seat backs as far forward as potential, until they virtually touch the front seats.Evan McCausland
2011 Toyota Sienna XLE
Base price (with destination): $35,315
Price as tested: $42,211
Standard Equipment:
3.5-liter V-6
6-speed automatic transmission
Active torque management AWD system
4-wheel disc brakes
18-inch wheels
VSC with TRAC, ABS and brake assist
Dual power sliding side doors
Power tilt/slide moonroof
Cruise control
Leather seats
Heated front seats
Tri-zone climate control
Power windows/locks/mirrors
AM/FM/MP3 CD player with 6 speakers
Options on this vehicle:
XLE premium package -- $6225
Dual view entertainment center
Wireless headphones
Voice-activated touch screen
Navigation system with backup camera
JBL AM/FM/MP3 4-disc CD changer
10 speakers
XM satellite radio
USB power with iPod connector
Bluetooth connectivity
Push button begin
Carpet floor mats/door sill protector -- $324
Roof rack cross bars -- $185
Wireless headphones -- $82
Cargo internet -- $51
First aid kit -- $29
Key options not on vehicle:
Sienna Restricted -- $7755
Rear seat entertainment -- $1999
Remote engine start -- $529
Fuel economy:
(city/hwy/combined)
16 / Twenty-two / 18 mpg
Engine:
Size: 3.5L DOHC VVT-i V-6
Horsepower: 266 hp @ 6200 rpm
Torque: 245 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Drive:
All-wheel
Transmission:
6-speed automatic
Curb weight: 4735 lb
Wheels/tires:
18-inch aluminum wheels
235/55R18 Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires
Additionally though the legal FJ Cruiser is the legal stale model in Toyota's lineup, it has got continue to amusing to slap on a recent package which appeals to the off-road enthusiast crowd. About that 
I haven't got access to a worthy rock trail to actually take a appear at the prowess of the present Trail Teams package, but on hand is not every one or any denying the decision cluster adjustments the visual character of the FJ from a cute retro-character to a badass off-road crawler. The ones beadlock-look rims tend to be lovely neat shopping, though are the powder-coated rock rails, the blacked-out grille trim and hood, and the overall shortcoming of the cheesy white roof.I'm told that production of the Trail Teams model is restricted, but if Toyota sells of the this batch, there is a bunch of excellent news for FJ enthusiasts:apart from the cosmetic touches, you are still ready to build a clone. Simply order an FJ Cruiser with the off-road package, and you immediately be afflicted by the Trail Team's locking rear diff, A-TRAC traction management, and enhanced suspension thrown into the combo. Dive into the TRD portions catalog, and you'll be ready to locate exactly the same wheels, rock rails, and myriad other off-road goodies.I'd caution against adding those features if you are planning on spending more previous point on-road compared to off, though. The increased ride height and bigger tires are great for four-wheeling, but the additional road noise and body roll are not enjoyable if you are relegating the FJ Cruiser to tarmac duty.
This particular paint aggregate is therefore, so cool. Really displays off the FJ at its better.This is a purpose-built approach to life vehicle and is still as cool because it had been when it came back out a couple of years ago. Take into account, also, that Toyota is simply not currently known for creating uncommon niche automobiles, and it is a miracle the FJ even exists. For somebody who really likes to off-road and carry out the entire out of doors adventure factor, the FJ is perfect, as long because you can measure with the back half of doors. But after you achieve in, grab the do something positive about, and swing it open, it is simple enough for three rear-seat passengers to climb aboard.The interior styling scheme -- all chunky, blocky, unfashionable shapes -- has aged rather smartly. I appreciated the small rearview camera screen that appears in a very corner of the heart rearview mirror.As for its on-road behavior, I had to changed into two individuals from my own home to the Detroit airport in a hurry, and the FJ easily speeded up to Ninety mph and cruised surprisingly well, with a reasonably comfortable ride.
The FJ Cruiser isn't always almost as fun as a Jeep Wrangler, but it is still to be kind of enjoyable. On my commutes to and from the department, I took a gravel-road detour where I found some pretty massive dirt puddles. Yes, I enjoyed obtaining the FJ prepped for a potential photo shoot.Dirt and grime, nonetheless, can not canopy up the undeniable undeniable reality therefore the FJ has sloppy guidance, a coarse ride, poor body control, terrible outward visibility, and small usable shipment space. Worse nonetheless, you cannot comfortably drive with the windows open at speeds of more than purely Thirty mph or so, lest you buy blasted in the ear with wind. Whereas all Jeep Wranglers supply multiple features for open-roof driving, the new-age FJ offers none. This holds a travesty, as we have a tendency to pointed out once we told the overall story of our Four Seasons FJ Cruiser.Bead-lock wheels?! I utilized to be excited once i first saw these on the FJ, but of course they are definitely fakes, and Toyota decisions them "beadlock-style." You would suppose they had be real for the $6700 price of the Trail Teams option package.
Yes, the FJ Cruiser is kind of old, but it's a unprecedented gem as one of the couple of Toyota product with passion infused in the planning and engineering. With the Trail Teams package, this FJ Cruiser appearance the phase even more by ditching the roof rack, white roof, and Crayola paint colour for an extraordinarily military-like monotone tan paint job. And even though those beadlocker wheels are frauds, they give the impression of being a lot more at home on this off-roader than the customary seventeen-inch wheels.I disagree with Rusty's assessment that the FJ Cruiser delivers a rough ride. Whereas it's no Porsche Cayman, the line manners are appropriate for an everyday driven vehicle. That Toyota has allowed the sizeable quantity of travel between the wheels and body comes by artwork. Keep of installing active dampers or air is derived, you're doubtless not journeying to notice something more confident on the road and more capable on the trail. Rumors (strongly) counsel that the FJ Cruiser are so going to be dead soon. I is enough to imagine Toyota has little incentive to back it around as it sells in so few markets and fewer than 7000 have been sold in the first five months of 2010. For off-road enthusiasts who do not own one yet, though, a fashionable FJ would be a brilliant vehicle to possess. Not only is it something cool to park within your driveway these days, I be expecting it will only become more fascinating once production ends.