Toyota’s Sienna has been Canada’s best-selling import branded minivan for five straight years, and at least as impressive it’s

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

outsold one of the two domestic minivan brands by a wide margin for the last 11 years. What makes it so popular? One look at its attractive styling followed up by a test drive will explain it all.

Before I get into the looking and driving portion of this review, I used the term “import branded” instead of “import” because the Princeton, Indiana-built Sienna is more chicken noodle miso than purely Japanese. In fact, you can’t even buy the Sienna in Japan let alone in any other market outside of North America. Instead, global markets get too many van variations to list in every size and shape imaginable. Subcompact, compact, mid-size and full-size MPVs are still incredibly popular all over the world despite vans with side-sliders giving way to car-based crossovers

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

here in North America. A few trips to Asia over the last year and a half have made this quite clear to me, Toyota’s entrants wearing Innova, Noah, Previa, Estima, HiAce, Alphard, Vellfire and even Isis nameplates (they may want to rethink that last one), with many of these available everywhere else Toyota sells vehicles (which is pretty much everywhere). I spent time in a full-size Toyota HiAce in April of this year and was amazed at how upscale it was, but then again few vans can compete with a nicely equipped Sienna XLE.

That’s how my latest Sienna tester was equipped, the third Sienna I’ve driven this year.

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

First for 2015 was the sportiest minivan available in our market, the reworked Sienna SE, and while its exterior styling and upgraded performance was every bit as enticing as the previous iteration, I was beyond impressed with what Toyota did with the interior. Next in line was a Sienna LE AWD that I reviewed recently, surprisingly well equipped for its just over base trim level and again kitted out with an especially impressive cabin for the price. This time around I received a nearly loaded XLE AWD, only missing the top-line Limited package.

With an astonishingly long list of true luxury accoutrements including a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment display, a wide-angle reverse camera to go along with clearance and backup sensors, 10-speaker JBL audio, a rear seat BluRay entertainment system with a 16.4-inch wide dual-screen monitor, 120-volt accessory

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

power, HID headlamps with automatic high-beam, driver seat memory linked to upgraded auto-dimming, reverse auto-tilting and power-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals and puddle lamps, premium leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and dual power moonroofs, the $7,320 Limited package turns a wonderfully luxurious XLE AWD into a truly opulent do-all conveyance, ideal for anything from an executive’s mobile office to its main mission, comprehensive comfort and utility for ultimately pampered families.

You might snicker when I say ultimately pampered, but as far as I’m concerned you can’t enjoy a truly luxurious lifestyle without a minivan in your garage. Load up any SUV currently offered and it won’t even come close to what you can fit into a

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

Sienna. I don’t know about you, but in most areas luxury equals size. I know, I know, we’ve all heard the adage the best things come in small packages, but I’ve never met an honest woman who won’t admit that size matters even more in a velvet covered ring box. Along with any minivan’s commodious interior are side-sliding doors, easily the best way to get into and out of second and third rows when parked next to other cars. It’s hard to look elegant getting your clothes caught up on door parts while squeezing through the narrow opening a regular hinged door provides in a crowded parking lot. No problem in a minivan, even those in the very back climbing in and out with ease. What’s worse, I’ve had to park outside in the rain in the nether regions of shopping mall parking lots in order to find a space large enough to open the doors of particularly wide luxury crossovers,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

resulting in a grumpy and unkempt looking rain-soaked family. How is that luxury? Such convenience is combined with a car-like ride and handling, strong V6 performance, plus almost every amenity available in the car industry and some exclusive to the van sector.

The European markets get it. The Asian markets get it. Almost every market gets it but we North Americans that have stigmatized this most convenient and dare I say luxurious type of vehicle. Fortunately, some automakers like Toyota have stayed true to the minivan segment, improving their offerings over the years while we straighten out our priorities and hopefully finally realize minivans are the automotive ideal.

The Sienna is one of the best examples of automotive idealism, its best-selling import

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

brand status no accident. Just one look is all it takes to see it’s got style, my tester’s appropriately named Attitude Black Metallic paint helping to add contrast to the chrome grille, jeweled headlamps, circular fogs, 18-inch alloys, chrome trimmed door handles, and elegantly penned taillights. Most of the items just mentioned complete the list of 2015 exterior upgrades, the revised Sienna getting a new headlamp cluster design with an optional strip of LED daytime running lights, whereas turn signals are now integrated into the mirror housings on top-line trims, and the taillight lens design has been modified.

While the exterior of this 2015 model looks much the same as last year’s Sienna, changes to the interior are night and day. The updated van’s instrument panel has been totally redesigned, the upside-down Nike swoosh (or rather right-side up Puma

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

swoosh) now eliminated to make way for what I think is a more appealing design overall. Toyota has visually combined the primary gauge package with the centre stack by covering both with a premium-like padded and stitched shroud and then surfacing both areas below in the same matte black before integrating a new steering wheel design in front of a two-dial tachometer and speedometer bisected by an available 4.2-inch colour multi-information display. Toyota trims the rims of each dial with a rich looking thick black lacquered bezel that imbues a designer wristwatch vibe, while plenty of chrome and satin-silver interior trim adds splashes of brightwork for that luxurious experience I spoke of before.

The aforementioned leather-like soft touch contrast stitched experience extends over to the upper glove box lid (there are two) while the door uppers get the same

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

treatment, plus each door insert is comfortably padded in leatherette that melds into the armrests up front. Nicely textured harder plastics make up the majority of surfaces throughout the rest of the cabin, par for the minivan course, but the plastic used on the lower dash and doors is especially attractive, while authentic looking woodgrain spans the dash along with both front and rear doors.

Luxury isn’t complete without sizable technology, so therefore each and every 2015 Sienna sold in Canada gets a big new centre console-mounted touchscreen display audio system. Even base models get a 6.1-inch interface, and it’s one of the

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

nicest I’ve ever seen no matter the price or vehicle segment. The infotainment touchscreen consists of a single glossy piece of high-quality black plastic featuring an elegant set of circular dials in the same high gloss black at each side. All remaining “buttons” are touch-sensitive with beautiful blue backlit lighting for graphic design that’s as appealing as it’s functional. Yes, Toyota has really outdone itself with this interface. It’s filled with Toyota Apps and a useful standard backup camera. As mentioned it can be upgraded to a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen display in Limited trim featuring capacitive switches that allow driver and front passenger to swipe items “on” and “off”.

Just because my tester didn’t include the Limited package doesn’t mean it was devoid

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

of premium features, the $41,730 (plus $1,730 for freight and pre-delivery prep) Sienna XLE AWD’s standard equipment list including items pulled up from the $31,040 base model and some shared with $46,225 Limited FWD trim (which incidentally gets all of the same equipment as the XLE AWD model’s Limited package, minus AWD), but only one completely exclusive feature, a fixed woodgrain console box. You can guess which trim loans its eight-way powered driver’s seat and four-way powered passenger seat, although the leather covering my XLE’s cabin isn’t quite as soft and supple as that used in the Limited, but plenty nice just the same. The ideally comfortable and supportive front seats are heatable with folding armrests to boot, while those in the second row get individual captain’s chairs. All will enjoy the three-zone independent automatic climate

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

control, interestingly grandfathered up from base trim, while the auto-dimming rearview mirror is a top-tier feature. Unusual amongst the non-premium set are powered windows with auto up/down all-round, just another sign of the Sienna’s uncommon luxury, while sunshades are fitted to the rear door glass and the panes at the very back can be powered outward vent-style via a switch up front.

While on the subject of glass, the XLE gets extra sound deadening from acoustic windshield glass, the tilt and telescopic multifunction steering wheel is leather-wrapped, aforementioned woodgrain trim and chromed inner door handles spiff up the look, and proximity-sensing access with a pushbutton for the ignition tidies up appearances while making entry and exit more convenient. There’s also illuminated entry with fade-out lighting and the mirrors are power adjustable and heatable,

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

of course, while an illuminated front cupholder helps you locate where to put your drink back when driving at night and an overhead console with storage for your sunglasses is ultra-convenient during the day. A handy conversation mirror is included in that overhead console, as are the garage door opener and powered tilt and slide moonroof controls plus switches for the powered dual sliding side doors and powered liftgate, not to mention the front reading and centre dome lights.

The infotainment system just below gets AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA capability along with Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, plus USB inputs, satellite radio, navigation, SMS- and email-to-speech technology, advanced voice recognition, and more, while it’s also one of the easiest of such systems to use I’ve experienced.

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

The simple act of setting up a new phone is a near instantaneous process with automatic downloading of your smartphone’s phonebook.

Helpful with a large minivan, the XLE gets backup sensors to aid parking, while variable intermittent wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, and an intermittent rear wiper that completely hides away when not in use by tucking up neatly underneath the rooftop spoiler is standard Sienna kit. I mentioned the fog lamps aren’t standard, and they’re certainly welcome because without them you get black plastic imitation caps that make it obvious something is missing, while some of the details about the grille I mentioned earlier are unique to upper trims, especially the silver insert.

All

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

Siennas get four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake-force distribution and emergency brake assist, plus Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control, and Smart Stop Technology (SST) that limits engine power during braking. A full assortment of airbags includes a driver’s knee blocker, while active front headrests with whiplash protection enhance upper body safety. The result is a 5 Star rating from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) and the highest Top Safety Pick + rating from the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The XLE adds an anti-theft system to the mix, as well as blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, and all-wheel drive.

That last item is a Sienna exclusive, no other minivan available in North America offering grip at all four corners. That’s odd, really, but literally more power to Toyota

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

as the Sienna provides ultimately convenient and therefore ultimately luxurious minivan usability to those who require all-weather traction. I’m one of those, being an avid skier, and can attest to the benefit of telling the park warden that my vehicle has all-wheel drive and therefore doesn’t need chains, the applying of which is one of my least favourite motoring activities especially when its cold and sleet is beating against hands and face. Traveling with all-wheel drive aids confidence mid-winter too. I’ve taken to the road, family aboard, during seemingly sunny winter days that turn into near overwhelming white-outs as the highway starts to climb into the mountains, and believe me traction is the last thing you want to worry about when you’re just trying to see far enough into the distance not to run into a slower moving vehicle.

With a standard DOHC, 24-valve 3.5-litre V6 featuring dual variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) that produces 266 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque there

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

will be many slower moving vehicles, its smooth shifting six-speed automatic positively engaging for quick sprints to highway speed and beyond. The gearbox isn’t the only smooth Sienna attribute, its ride thoroughly comforting yet impressively capable through the curves, partially thanks to 18-inch rims on meaty 235/55R18s. I’m not trying to say the Sienna will satisfy you to the same level as a sport sedan, but compared to most SUVs it’s a first-rate canyon carver.

Another Sienna bonus is fuel-efficiency, the front-drive version good for a new five-cycle EnerGuide fuel economy rating of 13.0 L/100km in the city, 9.5 on the highway and 11.4 combined, while the as-tested AWD model achieves 14.4 city, 10.2 highway and 12.5 combined.

Now

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

that we’re talking numbers we’d better touch on one of the key benefits of minivan ownership, ultimate passenger and cargo capacity. The Sienna can be had in standard seven-occupant trim as tested or with an optional eight-passenger layout in certain trims, the captain’s chairs replaced with a 40/20/40-split second row bench. The third row splits 60/40, and when not filled with comfortably lounging passengers can be lowered right into the floor to increase cargo volume from a sizable 1,107 litres (39.1 cubic feet) to 2,466 litres (87.1 cubic feet), while a whopping 4,248 litres (150.0 cubic feet) of building material sized cargo can fit inside if the second row is completely removed.

This last point brings up my only serious complaint, the captain’s chairs are large, awkward and heavy, and pulling them from their mounts and then carrying them somewhere

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

to store is either a two-person job for smaller men and most women or a hero’s effort followed by a trip or two to the chiropractor. For large loads I recommend tumbling the middle seats upward and sliding them as far forward as possible, but I must admit this process and the end result is nowhere near as effective as the ability to drop the second row below the floor. Unfortunately this option is not available in the Sienna. My other complaint was more of a strange phenomenon never experienced in any other vehicle I’ve tested (and believe me there have been thousands). When listening to the radio, Vancouver’s 1130 AM news station was playing in the background of the 1040 AM sports channel, but the opposite wasn’t true. These stations aren’t affiliated, so I’m not sure what the ghosts in the machine were up to, but it was pretty spooky stuff.

Such

Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press

issues wouldn’t scare me off Toyota’s Sienna, mind you. It’s amongst the most attractive vans on the market and now with its new interior is a class leader for style, refinement and technologies, plus the availability of all-wheel drive makes it the ultimate family companion no matter the weather conditions. So if you’re in the market for true luxury, do yourself a favour and let go of personal image issues, you’re above that nonsense anyway, right? Successful people don’t care what other people think, but rather understand real luxury (and true value) when they see it. Ultimate convenience equals ultimate luxury, and the Sienna XLE AWD is hardly short on real luxury either.
©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)