Five years ago Honda redefined the standards by which all future minivans would be judged. No longer was it enough to build a front-wheel-drive box of a vehicle with dual-sliding doors and seating for seven. Now said vehicle needed to make intelligent use of the space inside, providing spacious and comfortable accommodations for its passengers, reconfigurable second-row seating (that is, captain's chairs that could slide together or scoot fore/aft) and a third-row seat that folded into the floor — allowing parents to transition between hauling passengers and cargo at a moment's notice, while sparing them the hassle of carting around heavy seats.
The driving experience didn't go unnoticed by Honda's engineers, either, as the Odyssey showed up with 210 horsepower (which increased to a class-leading 240 in 2002) and responsive handling characteristics which together made it feel quick and nimble for a van of its size. Add in a few well-placed cupholders and storage areas and the company's strong reputation for build quality and long-term durability, and it's not hard to understand why consumers have bought every van that Honda has built since 1999. And with annual sales right around 120,000, every automaker with a minivan in its lineup has felt the effects of the Odyssey's success.
Until this year, no one had seriously challenged the Odyssey's place at the top. A redesigned line of Chrysler minivans arrived for 2001, but although they have a few advantages, they fall short of the Odyssey's family-friendly package overall. Kia released the Sedona in 2002 — it's a solid but not particularly innovative minivan that sells for bargain prices. However, three new minivan offerings have hit the dealers for 2004 — a fully redesigned Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest and a heavily freshened (but not totally redesigned) Ford Freestar (formerly Windstar).
Already the Sienna seems to be the front-runner of this group, and for the first time since 1999, our editors have found a minivan that they like as much as, if not more than, the Odyssey. A full road test of a Sienna yielded favorable impressions of Toyota's new family hauler. Larger than its predecessor, the new van offers considerably more interior space and feels as roomy inside as an Odyssey or long-wheelbase Chrysler minivan. Additionally, a standard 60/40-split third-row seat and a choice of either twin captain's chairs or a 40/20/40 bench in the second row give it the most flexible seating of any minivan on the market — for the moment anyway. Among the other positive attributes we noted were a smooth drivetrain, a quiet ride, high-quality interior materials and a full range of available amenities — DVD-based navigation and entertainment systems, adaptive cruise control, a rear backup camera, you name it.
Nevertheless, a week of testing rarely provides us with enough time to get to know a vehicle as intimately as an owner would. Recall that we spent two years each with a 1999 Odyssey and a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, during which time almost every editor on staff drove each van for at least a month and put it through the daily rigors of family life. Ultimately, we were left with the feeling that the Honda was as close to ideal as a family vehicle, and that the Dodge, while enjoyable to drive, was neither the most practical nor the most reliable minivan on the market. We're anxious to see how the Sienna will fare in similar testing conditions. And just to keep things interesting, we'll also be adding a 2004 Quest to our long-term test fleet in the coming months.
There were several ways to go when it came time to choose a Sienna. As in the past, Toyota is offering CE, LE and XLE trim levels, but the company has added a new higher-line XLE Limited trim level to go after well-to-do buyers who might otherwise consider a luxury SUV. Buyers also have the option of getting all-wheel drive and/or eight-passenger capacity via the 40/20/40 second-row bench seat. The average buyer can get a safe, well-equipped minivan by going with the CE or LE and selecting a couple options packages.
But since we want to be able to report on the widest range of available features (without going nuts on price), we opted for an XLE. Standard equipment on this model includes a 3.3-liter V6 with variable valve timing (Toyota's VVT-i) rated for 230 hp and 242 pound-feet of torque paired with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission. Also standard are 16-inch alloy wheels, antilock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist, and trailering preparation (the Sienna can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds). All doors are power-operated, including the liftgate, and the second-row windows power down as in a Mazda MPV. Inside, the XLE offers an eight-way power driver seat (the front-passenger seat is manual), a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker JBL stereo with a CD player and rear-seat controls, a removable center console, a trip computer and faux wood accents.
To this we added Package #19. As you've likely noticed, Sienna option packages can be confusing because there are lots of them and they're all numbered — making it difficult to differentiate between them. In any case, this large package set us up with 17-inch wheels; leather upholstery; a rear DVD entertainment system (with two pairs of wireless headphones); a DVD-based navigation system; second- and third-row side sunshades; a moonroof; and seat-mounted side airbags for the front occupants and side curtain airbags for all three rows. The price of this package is an incredible $7,040, resulting in a total MSRP of $36,605. Oddly enough, though, our well-equipped van still has rear drum brakes. Rear disc brakes are available on the Sienna XLE, along with stability control, but none of the packages that contain these items are available with Package #19.
When we sent Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed out to purchase our Sienna in June 2003, he was once again in the position of buying a high-demand car that was in short supply. This added up to a near-MSRP True Market Value price. In fact, TMV was only $70 under the sticker price. We sent queries for price quotes to four Los Angeles area Toyota dealerships. The responses were interesting.
One dealership didn't respond at all. The second dealership said it didn't have our color choice (Silver Shadow Pearl) and option package. It recommended we go to a larger dealership with a bigger inventory. The third dealership called us and gave us an earful: "Baby, you can't just call and say 'I want a Sienna this week.' You're going to have to order this van and wait six weeks. And, oh yeah, it's going to be at least $500 over window." The fourth dealership e-mailed us back to say, "We have your van and we'll sell it to you at sticker."
Later, we found out that we got the van we wanted, in the color we wanted, because a deal had fallen through. Someone ordered the Sienna, but when it arrived the buyer decided not to go through with the purchase.
Our salesman at Longo Toyota, in El Monte, Calif., was Internet Sales Manager Aaron Misajon. He told us that the van had all the equipment we were shopping for, but it also had running boards which cost $600. We told him we didn't want the running boards and, furthermore, our TMV price was $70 under MSRP. He eventually agreed to reduce the price by $200 and we closed at $36,405. The Sienna was delivered to our offices the next day. The only hitch: the dealership forgot to include the headphones for the DVD player. When we called them, they said they would be shipped ASAP.
"Once again we learned the importance of shopping around," Phil reported. "If we had gone to only one dealership, we might have believed the saleswoman who said we would have to pay over-sticker prices and 'wait six weeks for delivery, baby.' As it was, we got lucky and found nearly the exact van we wanted at nearly TMV prices. By using the Internet to solicit bids, a car shopper can cast a wide net."
Already several editors have managed to squeeze in some quality time behind the wheel, and two of them, Editor in Chief Karl Brauer and Road Test Coordinator Kelly Stennick, are parents of small children — and therefore in a position to begin testing the family-friendliness of our newest acquisition.
A third driver, Road Test Editor Erin Riches, is not a parent but was able to bring a general familiarity with the Sienna's competitors to her assignment. She also has a long commute (66 miles per day) and thus had ample time to consider the Sienna's desirability. "When you don't have a family, a minivan isn't the most appealing form of transportation if only because you're trying to uphold a certain cool, detached, forever-in-my-20s image," Erin wrote in her notes. "Yet for freeway commutes, there's an advantage to driving a vehicle that's invisible to other motorists and the highway patrol rather than one like our 350Z that's always looking for a fight.
"What's more, the Sienna is evidence that the minivan has progressed to a point where it's at a minimal performance disadvantage compared to most other vehicles. The 3.3-liter V6 provides excellent low- and midrange acceleration for quick maneuvering. And although the ride at first seems much too plush for the Sienna to be much of a handler, those who drive more aggressively will find it quite capable around the occasional hard turn or cloverleaf entrance ramp. Sure, there's some body lean, but underneath it, there's reassuring grip (likely enhanced by our Sienna's 17-inch wheels). And the steering is excellent — a responsive rack and a small-diameter wheel combine to make the van extremely easy to deal with in parking lots and at highway speeds."
Karl agreed with Erin on the potency of the engine. "My wife, Stacie, thought the Sienna actually felt faster than our Honda Pilot," he said. "The Pilot has more peak horsepower, but the Sienna is 'typical Toyota' in that it has excellent low-end torque, which makes it feel quick. Even at highway speeds, where Hondas often feel much quicker [than comparable Toyotas], the Sienna felt as fast as the Pilot." At the same time, our top editor wasn't ready to gush over the van's handling:
"This van does not handle as well as the Odyssey," he wrote in his notes. "Stacie referred to it as a 'turtle,' because she said it felt like she had a 'big shell' on her back when she drove it (a sensation that neither the Pilot or Odyssey ever gave her). If you haven't driven an Odyssey or Chrysler minivan very much, you'll never notice the Sienna's wallowy nature, because it's still a good handling minivan…but it's not as good as the Honda or Chrysler. Ditto for the steering. Once again, the Sienna's steering feels tight and responsive, but the Chrysler and Honda vans have better weighting and, combined with the superior body roll control, they inspire more confidence when going around corners quickly."
Of course, the Sienna continues to be a great choice for those who want the most comfortable ride in all of minivan land. The softly cushioned driver seat generally added to comfort levels during hour-long commutes, Erin felt. "Though the seat bottom could stand to be a tad longer, the telescoping steering wheel adjustment offset that minor shortcoming — I could sit just about any way I wanted to behind the wheel."
"The seats in the Sienna felt fine for the most part," Karl said, "but on a longer road trip (about three hours), both Stacie and I both noticed lower backaches. This never happened to us in the Pilot on our recent cross-country trip (with several 12-hour driving days). On a return trip of just under three hours, I didn't notice this as much so it's possible that you just have to be more conscious of how you're sitting in the Sienna's seats to avoid backaches."
As Karl and Kelly are known to travel with considerable kiddie paraphernalia, both weighed in on the issue of storage in the cabin. "By far the best minivan on the market in terms of storage compartments," Karl jotted in his notes. "Truly amazing in fact. I liked the large bin at the bottom of the center stack, because it was perfect for putting my CD case in, making it easy to grab when it was time to swap the in-dash CD (a common requirement since there's room for only one). I also thought the small pockets underneath the front door armrests were really cool (once I discovered them, which was pretty late in the month, because they were so unexpected)."
"So many storage places, I couldn't remember where I put things," Kelly said. "I was constantly opening little doors trying to find my sunglasses, or garage door remote. Eventually, I got organized."
A packrat of sorts, Erin also found room for her odds and ends, though she still prefers the Odyssey's folding center tray (between the front seats) to the removable (but bulky) console in the Sienna and Grand Caravan.
After a family road trip, Karl shared this storage-related anecdote: "I discovered an interesting trait when unloading the Sienna's cargo area after a three-hour drive. The metal tie-downs that are in the middle of the cargo area were very hot. I would assume they got heated up by their proximity to the exhaust system, though this is sheer speculation. Whatever the cause, they were hot enough to potentially burn my fingers if I grabbed them and held on. Something to keep in mind depending on what kind of cargo you are carrying or if you even plan on letting children play in the cargo area, especially if you did this immediately after a long drive."
As in other Toyotas, the Sienna has large climate and stereo controls. Erin found them easy to use, even the climate controls which govern three temperature zones. However, she wasn't all that enthusiastic about the JBL sound system. Her complaints centered on sound quality, which seemed flat for a 10-speaker system regardless of the type of music or tonal adjustments. "In contrast," said Erin, "the Infinity system in our '01 Grand Caravan had a nice kick to it and was just as suitable for adult music as it was for Raffi CDs."
Our editor in chief mostly agreed with her assessment. From his logbook: "The system didn't impress me overall. The bass response didn't feel as tight as it should have been, considering the JBL emblems all over the speakers and a specific subwoofer in the rear (plus a center channel speaker designed to enhance the surround effect). I never did a super critical analysis of the system, but on several occasions during casual (but high-volume) listening I thought it sounded a bit shallow and even detected a bit of buzz. Maybe one of the speakers is damaged."
Kelly also noticed a hissing from the left front speaker, and during a road trip to Sacramento with her three-year-old daughter, Emma, both driver and passenger were annoyed by the sound system's schizophrenic volume adjustment. Kelly explained, "The stereo and DVD entertainment system volume aren't in sync; when you switch from DVD to FM, the volume blares loudly. " On more than one occasion, this abrupt change in volume was enough to rouse Emma from slumber.
Also the cause of some disappointment was the Sienna's flip-down "kidview" mirror, a parent-friendly feature borrowed from the Windstar. "It allows me to see if a kid is in the seat, but not much more," said Kelly. "Sometimes I couldn't tell if Emma was awake or asleep by looking in that mirror."
Karl made extensive use of the navigation system this month and offered a comparison to the one Honda uses in the Odyssey and Pilot: "The navigation system in the Sienna has an advantage over the Honda in terms of graphical design. The screen looks more upscale than the Honda's. However, you have limited control over the system when the Sienna is in motion and there's no 'joystick' control for moving the on-screen cursor around. I found both traits annoying in comparison to the Honda, and for these reasons I still prefer to use the Honda navigation system."
"Occasionally, the nav system's map display would show me exiting on a freeway ramp, while I continued straight down the freeway," Kelly noted. "Sometimes it took many seconds to correct itself."
Even with the handful of complaints this month, all three editors felt that the Sienna was still quite desirable overall and a top pick among 2004 minivans. "Between the cargo storage bins and abundant cupholders, this minivan basically rules the class, despite the few nits I have to pick (less than stellar handling and a navigation system that can't be used while the vehicle is in motion)," said Karl. "Add in features like a rear camera, a power rear liftgate and AC power outlets and I'm ready to buy. I'd even take mine in silver, just like our test vehicle."
Slightly dampening our enthusiasm is the safety recall already issued for the 2004 Sienna. During 40-mph frontal offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the impact was evidently strong enough to damage the test vehicle's fuel tank and cause a leak (you might remember a similar issue with the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan). Toyota is replacing fuel tanks free of charge on all Siennas (at least those built before the recall was issued in August). We contacted our local dealer, Sheridan Toyota in Santa Monica, Calif., and a service advisor ordered a replacement tank for us straightaway. We've been notified that the part has come in and plan to have it installed as soon as possible.
Shopping for a minivan in the next year? Check back again to find out what it's like to live with a Sienna before you buy.
Current Odometer: 4,936
Best Fuel Economy: 22.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 12.5 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.5 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None
The driving experience didn't go unnoticed by Honda's engineers, either, as the Odyssey showed up with 210 horsepower (which increased to a class-leading 240 in 2002) and responsive handling characteristics which together made it feel quick and nimble for a van of its size. Add in a few well-placed cupholders and storage areas and the company's strong reputation for build quality and long-term durability, and it's not hard to understand why consumers have bought every van that Honda has built since 1999. And with annual sales right around 120,000, every automaker with a minivan in its lineup has felt the effects of the Odyssey's success.
Until this year, no one had seriously challenged the Odyssey's place at the top. A redesigned line of Chrysler minivans arrived for 2001, but although they have a few advantages, they fall short of the Odyssey's family-friendly package overall. Kia released the Sedona in 2002 — it's a solid but not particularly innovative minivan that sells for bargain prices. However, three new minivan offerings have hit the dealers for 2004 — a fully redesigned Toyota Sienna and Nissan Quest and a heavily freshened (but not totally redesigned) Ford Freestar (formerly Windstar).
Already the Sienna seems to be the front-runner of this group, and for the first time since 1999, our editors have found a minivan that they like as much as, if not more than, the Odyssey. A full road test of a Sienna yielded favorable impressions of Toyota's new family hauler. Larger than its predecessor, the new van offers considerably more interior space and feels as roomy inside as an Odyssey or long-wheelbase Chrysler minivan. Additionally, a standard 60/40-split third-row seat and a choice of either twin captain's chairs or a 40/20/40 bench in the second row give it the most flexible seating of any minivan on the market — for the moment anyway. Among the other positive attributes we noted were a smooth drivetrain, a quiet ride, high-quality interior materials and a full range of available amenities — DVD-based navigation and entertainment systems, adaptive cruise control, a rear backup camera, you name it.
Nevertheless, a week of testing rarely provides us with enough time to get to know a vehicle as intimately as an owner would. Recall that we spent two years each with a 1999 Odyssey and a 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan, during which time almost every editor on staff drove each van for at least a month and put it through the daily rigors of family life. Ultimately, we were left with the feeling that the Honda was as close to ideal as a family vehicle, and that the Dodge, while enjoyable to drive, was neither the most practical nor the most reliable minivan on the market. We're anxious to see how the Sienna will fare in similar testing conditions. And just to keep things interesting, we'll also be adding a 2004 Quest to our long-term test fleet in the coming months.
There were several ways to go when it came time to choose a Sienna. As in the past, Toyota is offering CE, LE and XLE trim levels, but the company has added a new higher-line XLE Limited trim level to go after well-to-do buyers who might otherwise consider a luxury SUV. Buyers also have the option of getting all-wheel drive and/or eight-passenger capacity via the 40/20/40 second-row bench seat. The average buyer can get a safe, well-equipped minivan by going with the CE or LE and selecting a couple options packages.
But since we want to be able to report on the widest range of available features (without going nuts on price), we opted for an XLE. Standard equipment on this model includes a 3.3-liter V6 with variable valve timing (Toyota's VVT-i) rated for 230 hp and 242 pound-feet of torque paired with a smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission. Also standard are 16-inch alloy wheels, antilock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist, and trailering preparation (the Sienna can tow a maximum of 3,500 pounds). All doors are power-operated, including the liftgate, and the second-row windows power down as in a Mazda MPV. Inside, the XLE offers an eight-way power driver seat (the front-passenger seat is manual), a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker JBL stereo with a CD player and rear-seat controls, a removable center console, a trip computer and faux wood accents.
To this we added Package #19. As you've likely noticed, Sienna option packages can be confusing because there are lots of them and they're all numbered — making it difficult to differentiate between them. In any case, this large package set us up with 17-inch wheels; leather upholstery; a rear DVD entertainment system (with two pairs of wireless headphones); a DVD-based navigation system; second- and third-row side sunshades; a moonroof; and seat-mounted side airbags for the front occupants and side curtain airbags for all three rows. The price of this package is an incredible $7,040, resulting in a total MSRP of $36,605. Oddly enough, though, our well-equipped van still has rear drum brakes. Rear disc brakes are available on the Sienna XLE, along with stability control, but none of the packages that contain these items are available with Package #19.
When we sent Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed out to purchase our Sienna in June 2003, he was once again in the position of buying a high-demand car that was in short supply. This added up to a near-MSRP True Market Value price. In fact, TMV was only $70 under the sticker price. We sent queries for price quotes to four Los Angeles area Toyota dealerships. The responses were interesting.
One dealership didn't respond at all. The second dealership said it didn't have our color choice (Silver Shadow Pearl) and option package. It recommended we go to a larger dealership with a bigger inventory. The third dealership called us and gave us an earful: "Baby, you can't just call and say 'I want a Sienna this week.' You're going to have to order this van and wait six weeks. And, oh yeah, it's going to be at least $500 over window." The fourth dealership e-mailed us back to say, "We have your van and we'll sell it to you at sticker."
Later, we found out that we got the van we wanted, in the color we wanted, because a deal had fallen through. Someone ordered the Sienna, but when it arrived the buyer decided not to go through with the purchase.
Our salesman at Longo Toyota, in El Monte, Calif., was Internet Sales Manager Aaron Misajon. He told us that the van had all the equipment we were shopping for, but it also had running boards which cost $600. We told him we didn't want the running boards and, furthermore, our TMV price was $70 under MSRP. He eventually agreed to reduce the price by $200 and we closed at $36,405. The Sienna was delivered to our offices the next day. The only hitch: the dealership forgot to include the headphones for the DVD player. When we called them, they said they would be shipped ASAP.
"Once again we learned the importance of shopping around," Phil reported. "If we had gone to only one dealership, we might have believed the saleswoman who said we would have to pay over-sticker prices and 'wait six weeks for delivery, baby.' As it was, we got lucky and found nearly the exact van we wanted at nearly TMV prices. By using the Internet to solicit bids, a car shopper can cast a wide net."
Already several editors have managed to squeeze in some quality time behind the wheel, and two of them, Editor in Chief Karl Brauer and Road Test Coordinator Kelly Stennick, are parents of small children — and therefore in a position to begin testing the family-friendliness of our newest acquisition.
A third driver, Road Test Editor Erin Riches, is not a parent but was able to bring a general familiarity with the Sienna's competitors to her assignment. She also has a long commute (66 miles per day) and thus had ample time to consider the Sienna's desirability. "When you don't have a family, a minivan isn't the most appealing form of transportation if only because you're trying to uphold a certain cool, detached, forever-in-my-20s image," Erin wrote in her notes. "Yet for freeway commutes, there's an advantage to driving a vehicle that's invisible to other motorists and the highway patrol rather than one like our 350Z that's always looking for a fight.
"What's more, the Sienna is evidence that the minivan has progressed to a point where it's at a minimal performance disadvantage compared to most other vehicles. The 3.3-liter V6 provides excellent low- and midrange acceleration for quick maneuvering. And although the ride at first seems much too plush for the Sienna to be much of a handler, those who drive more aggressively will find it quite capable around the occasional hard turn or cloverleaf entrance ramp. Sure, there's some body lean, but underneath it, there's reassuring grip (likely enhanced by our Sienna's 17-inch wheels). And the steering is excellent — a responsive rack and a small-diameter wheel combine to make the van extremely easy to deal with in parking lots and at highway speeds."
Karl agreed with Erin on the potency of the engine. "My wife, Stacie, thought the Sienna actually felt faster than our Honda Pilot," he said. "The Pilot has more peak horsepower, but the Sienna is 'typical Toyota' in that it has excellent low-end torque, which makes it feel quick. Even at highway speeds, where Hondas often feel much quicker [than comparable Toyotas], the Sienna felt as fast as the Pilot." At the same time, our top editor wasn't ready to gush over the van's handling:
"This van does not handle as well as the Odyssey," he wrote in his notes. "Stacie referred to it as a 'turtle,' because she said it felt like she had a 'big shell' on her back when she drove it (a sensation that neither the Pilot or Odyssey ever gave her). If you haven't driven an Odyssey or Chrysler minivan very much, you'll never notice the Sienna's wallowy nature, because it's still a good handling minivan…but it's not as good as the Honda or Chrysler. Ditto for the steering. Once again, the Sienna's steering feels tight and responsive, but the Chrysler and Honda vans have better weighting and, combined with the superior body roll control, they inspire more confidence when going around corners quickly."
Of course, the Sienna continues to be a great choice for those who want the most comfortable ride in all of minivan land. The softly cushioned driver seat generally added to comfort levels during hour-long commutes, Erin felt. "Though the seat bottom could stand to be a tad longer, the telescoping steering wheel adjustment offset that minor shortcoming — I could sit just about any way I wanted to behind the wheel."
"The seats in the Sienna felt fine for the most part," Karl said, "but on a longer road trip (about three hours), both Stacie and I both noticed lower backaches. This never happened to us in the Pilot on our recent cross-country trip (with several 12-hour driving days). On a return trip of just under three hours, I didn't notice this as much so it's possible that you just have to be more conscious of how you're sitting in the Sienna's seats to avoid backaches."
As Karl and Kelly are known to travel with considerable kiddie paraphernalia, both weighed in on the issue of storage in the cabin. "By far the best minivan on the market in terms of storage compartments," Karl jotted in his notes. "Truly amazing in fact. I liked the large bin at the bottom of the center stack, because it was perfect for putting my CD case in, making it easy to grab when it was time to swap the in-dash CD (a common requirement since there's room for only one). I also thought the small pockets underneath the front door armrests were really cool (once I discovered them, which was pretty late in the month, because they were so unexpected)."
"So many storage places, I couldn't remember where I put things," Kelly said. "I was constantly opening little doors trying to find my sunglasses, or garage door remote. Eventually, I got organized."
A packrat of sorts, Erin also found room for her odds and ends, though she still prefers the Odyssey's folding center tray (between the front seats) to the removable (but bulky) console in the Sienna and Grand Caravan.
After a family road trip, Karl shared this storage-related anecdote: "I discovered an interesting trait when unloading the Sienna's cargo area after a three-hour drive. The metal tie-downs that are in the middle of the cargo area were very hot. I would assume they got heated up by their proximity to the exhaust system, though this is sheer speculation. Whatever the cause, they were hot enough to potentially burn my fingers if I grabbed them and held on. Something to keep in mind depending on what kind of cargo you are carrying or if you even plan on letting children play in the cargo area, especially if you did this immediately after a long drive."
As in other Toyotas, the Sienna has large climate and stereo controls. Erin found them easy to use, even the climate controls which govern three temperature zones. However, she wasn't all that enthusiastic about the JBL sound system. Her complaints centered on sound quality, which seemed flat for a 10-speaker system regardless of the type of music or tonal adjustments. "In contrast," said Erin, "the Infinity system in our '01 Grand Caravan had a nice kick to it and was just as suitable for adult music as it was for Raffi CDs."
Our editor in chief mostly agreed with her assessment. From his logbook: "The system didn't impress me overall. The bass response didn't feel as tight as it should have been, considering the JBL emblems all over the speakers and a specific subwoofer in the rear (plus a center channel speaker designed to enhance the surround effect). I never did a super critical analysis of the system, but on several occasions during casual (but high-volume) listening I thought it sounded a bit shallow and even detected a bit of buzz. Maybe one of the speakers is damaged."
Kelly also noticed a hissing from the left front speaker, and during a road trip to Sacramento with her three-year-old daughter, Emma, both driver and passenger were annoyed by the sound system's schizophrenic volume adjustment. Kelly explained, "The stereo and DVD entertainment system volume aren't in sync; when you switch from DVD to FM, the volume blares loudly. " On more than one occasion, this abrupt change in volume was enough to rouse Emma from slumber.
Also the cause of some disappointment was the Sienna's flip-down "kidview" mirror, a parent-friendly feature borrowed from the Windstar. "It allows me to see if a kid is in the seat, but not much more," said Kelly. "Sometimes I couldn't tell if Emma was awake or asleep by looking in that mirror."
Karl made extensive use of the navigation system this month and offered a comparison to the one Honda uses in the Odyssey and Pilot: "The navigation system in the Sienna has an advantage over the Honda in terms of graphical design. The screen looks more upscale than the Honda's. However, you have limited control over the system when the Sienna is in motion and there's no 'joystick' control for moving the on-screen cursor around. I found both traits annoying in comparison to the Honda, and for these reasons I still prefer to use the Honda navigation system."
"Occasionally, the nav system's map display would show me exiting on a freeway ramp, while I continued straight down the freeway," Kelly noted. "Sometimes it took many seconds to correct itself."
Even with the handful of complaints this month, all three editors felt that the Sienna was still quite desirable overall and a top pick among 2004 minivans. "Between the cargo storage bins and abundant cupholders, this minivan basically rules the class, despite the few nits I have to pick (less than stellar handling and a navigation system that can't be used while the vehicle is in motion)," said Karl. "Add in features like a rear camera, a power rear liftgate and AC power outlets and I'm ready to buy. I'd even take mine in silver, just like our test vehicle."
Slightly dampening our enthusiasm is the safety recall already issued for the 2004 Sienna. During 40-mph frontal offset crash testing conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the impact was evidently strong enough to damage the test vehicle's fuel tank and cause a leak (you might remember a similar issue with the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan). Toyota is replacing fuel tanks free of charge on all Siennas (at least those built before the recall was issued in August). We contacted our local dealer, Sheridan Toyota in Santa Monica, Calif., and a service advisor ordered a replacement tank for us straightaway. We've been notified that the part has come in and plan to have it installed as soon as possible.
Shopping for a minivan in the next year? Check back again to find out what it's like to live with a Sienna before you buy.
Current Odometer: 4,936
Best Fuel Economy: 22.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 12.5 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.5 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None
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