New Sienna A Winner

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Minivans. They're the Rodney Dangerfield of the auto industry.

Despite having ample room for passengers and cargo, easy ingress and egress and often times luxuriously appointed cabins, they suffer a reputation as the world's pre-eminent rug-rat mobile.

With the exception of its new sport SE trim, the third-generation Toyota Sienna doesn't try to change the paradigm and gladly says, “I'm for soccer moms.”

The revamped '11 minivan goes on sale in February, with SE and 4-cyl. models arriving a few months later.

The new Sienna comes in five grades: the new SE, plus returning Sienna base (renamed from CE), LE, XLE and Limited. And it improves on its predecessor in exterior styling, fuel economy, roominess and amenities. Its only fault is substandard interior materials.

Minivans are at a 25-year volume low. As 2009 came to a close, only 400,000 units had sold in a sector that once accounted for 1 million units annually.

With many brands having axed minivans from their portfolio (Chevy, Ford and Hyundai included), Toyota sees an opportunity. Its research finds Gen Y buyers aren't shunning minivans and suggests the segment soon will top annual volumes of 500,000 units.

Although minivans are difficult to style, Toyota has done a good job making the '11 Sienna look neither blobby nor boxy, with the right balance of curves and hard edges.

The grille, with blade-like bars and rimmed in chrome on all but the base model, is especially fetching. Sport-grade SE Siennas have a unique grille featuring a blacked-out diagonal egg-crate design.

Proportionally, the Sienna appears more wagon-like than the current model, due somewhat to designers slicing 0.8 ins. (2 cm) in width from the previous generation and widening the front track.

There are two engines to choose from: a 2.7L 4-cyl. and carryover 3.5L V-6. Both are all aluminum, with dual independent variable valve timing with intelligence.

The 4-cyl. has a wealth of technology meant to reduce noise, vibration and harshness and improve fuel economy, including a variable-length intake manifold, which boosts low- and mid-range torque by allowing for higher gear ratios.

The topography in Dana Point, CA, isn't suited for a 7- to 8-passenger vehicle with a 4-cyl. And, despite its 187 horses, the 2.7L grumbles as it climbs.

In other models, such as the Venza, the 4-cyl. is more than adequate. With its relatively quick torque peak in the Sienna — 186 lb.-ft. (252 Nm) at 4,100 rpm, the engine is a fine choice in flatter regions.

The 266-hp 3.5L V-6 is a better bet for the locals. It too provides solid torque and an aggressive tip-in, even in non-SE grades, allowing suburban soccer moms to unleash their inner Danica Patrick.

As expected, shift busy-ness is prevalent through the hills, but all gear changes are smooth and well-timed from each of the two engines' unique 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Toyota pegs mileage for the '11 Sienna at a best-in-class 26 mpg (9.0 L/100 km) highway with the 4-cyl., which is offered with front-wheel drive only. Toyota is the only OEM offering a 4-cyl. in a traditional minivan in the U.S.

Ward's was unable to test for fuel economy in our 4-cyl. LE Sienna, which lacked a mileage computer.

Real-world fuel economy in three V-6 models fell short of estimated averages just once. A FWD top-grade Limited returned 17.5 mpg (13.4 L/100 km), below the 20 mpg (11.8 L/100 km) average.

But coasting down a tall mountain helped push mileage in a FWD SE to 31.6 mpg (7.4 L/100 km).

In FWD V-6 form, the Sienna matches the Honda Odyssey's 20-mpg average on models with cylinder deactivation.

Toyota again is offering optional all-wheel drive and projects a 10% take-rate. Toyota switches to an active torque control AWD system, with an electro-magnetic coupling, from the previous Sienna's Torsen-type.

The new system uses sensors telling it when to kick on and send power to the rear wheels, improving fuel economy.

The SE, available only with the V-6, shockingly lives up to the hype. Sienna chief engineer Kazuo Mori, a sports car enthusiast who keeps getting assigned minivan projects by Toyota, released his frustrations by creating a performance grade to appeal to buyers who might otherwise shun a minivan.

A Sienna SE won't be confused with a Lexus IS-F, but it does track nicely through the corners and has almost zero body lean, even in the mountains.

The Sienna rides on the current model's platform and keeps MacPherson-strut front and torsion-beam rear suspensions. The SE's suspension is lowered, and rack-and-pinion electric power steering, standard on all Siennas, is specially tuned.

Unfortunately, the interior keeps the Sienna from achieving an A grade.

If held up against Chrysler Group LLC's minivans, the '11 Sienna's interior is above average. But it trails the current Honda Odyssey in material quality.

The interior of the LE Sienna, the lowest-priced trim available for testing, is spartan, with no center console between the front seats; small, color-keyed front door handles; and fuzzy fabrics.

Hard plastic trim abounds, and cubby lids and drawers wobble. Some glaring fit-and-finish issues are noted in our pre-production testers as well, including sharp edges on dash trim. A piece ringing the shifter was askew in some models.

Unfortunately, stepping up to the XLE and Limited versions nets buyers few interior-material upgrades. But a center console is standard.

The SE Sienna has the best-looking interior: mostly dark, with smooth, black-and-gray dot-dash-patterned cloth seats. The edges of the SE's front seats are trimmed in black leather.

Functionality is a huge part of why people buy minivans, and the Sienna doesn't disappoint. A purse holder is standard and placed between the front seats, and there are 10-12 cupholders depending on seating configuration.

The second-row seats in 7-passenger models slide along a 26-in. (65-cm) track, making it easier to reach the third row or allowing more room to stretch out in the second.

The Sienna's much-publicized footrests, standard on XLE AWD and Limited trims, rate so-so. They are manual, and extend up easily enough, but strong legs are needed to shove them back down.

Also, even with second-row seats slid all the way back, feet crumple against front-row seatbacks when footrests are fully extended.

But all seating positions, even the usually dreaded third row, are comfortable. In Limited models, the third-row seat is offered with power operation.

Second-row seats are removable. The middle-row seat in 8-passenger models weighs just 13-14 lbs. (6 kg) and stows in the cargo area. The captain's chairs weigh about 50 lbs. (23 kg) and with the footrests are 75 lbs. (34 kg) apiece.

All Siennas include Toyota's Star Safety suite of technologies, which includes electronic stability control. The '11 Sienna's ESC is enhanced, integrating engine output with braking and steering control for improved cornering and stopping performance.

Limited grades offer an optional pre-collision system and Toyota's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, which has electronically controlled braking and hill-start assist control.

While there are head restraints at all of Sienna's seating positions, only front-seat units are active. And the head restraint in the middle second-row seat in 8-passenger models doesn't extend up far enough to adequately protect taller passengers.

Standard are seven airbags, including a driver's knee airbag.

Toyota expects full-year sales at 100,000 units. The outgoing model finished 2009 with 84,064 deliveries, behind the No.1 Odyssey and both Chrysler minivans.

The LE trim is expected to account for about half of '11 Sienna sales. The XLE is seen taking 25% of the mix, with the Limited at 10% and the base and SE grades together accounting for 15%.