Road Beat: Toyota Sienna, Stellar Performance

Minivans are not supposed to be hot rods or even quick. They are for hauling the family with comfortable seven to eight passenger seating (there isn’t a bad seat in this house) while still having massive cargo capacity. Or they are for going to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s and God help your credit card. I was actually able to put 12-foot-long baseboard inside this massive shipping container.

Sienna for 2019 isn’t much changed from my last go around nearly four years ago except for two items, a revised 3.5L V-6 and a new eight speed automatic. It may not sound like much, but the changes are huge when it comes to performance and fuel economy, hence the reference to a hot rod.

Basically, there are no changes to the exterior in shape and size. It still remains a full-size minivan on a long 119-inch wheelbase and a 201-inch length. It is beamy at 78 inches and stands 70 inches tall with the roof rails. Its shape is pleasant, at least it doesn’t look like a hearse like its competition.

While engine displacement remains the same at 3.5L with a DOHC, 24 valve configuration, horsepower is up by 30 to 296 hp at the same 6,600 rpm. Peak twist is also improved by 18 pounds to 263 pounds at the same 4,700 rpm. Toyota now uses a more efficient direct injection system which allows for higher compression and consequently more power and on less fuel. It drives the front wheels (or all the wheels if you choose AWD) through a new eight speeder cog-swapper. This new powertrain was introduced in the 2017 model year.

Performance is as Toyota puts it “Rockin” and they are not kidding. Zero to 60 mph acceleration will pin you to the seat and smoke the tires in a minivan record of 6.42 seconds, the quickest time ever recorded by a minivan and besting my prior Sienna by a full second. It even bests the prior minivan drag champ the Honda Odyssey by well over half a second. A quick stab of the throttle will spin the front wheels as throttle response is instantaneous. Soccer moms are going to love this minivan.

Passing performance is also improved with 50-70 mph acceleration times of 3.86 seconds on a level highway and just 5.92 seconds up a steep (6-7 percent) grade. Rockin’ is an understatement. The only media puffing by Toyota is it can literally blow off the competition. What’s even more amazing is that the last Toyota Sienna was no slouch to begin with.

Another huge benefit is in fuel economy with all EPA numbers improving by an mpg or two. EPA numbers are 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined. In reality you can expect an mpg or two more as the Sienna averaged 29.1 mpg in a two-way highway run at 70 mph with the engine spinning just 1,750 rpm. In my 200-mile round trip to Carson City in aggressive driving the Sienna average 25.3 mpg and the trip from South Lake Tahoe to Placerville average 39 mpg. 20-23 mpg would be reasonable in rural country driving. A 20-gallon fuel tank will give you a range well in excess of 500 miles. Co-efficient of drag is a low 0.30.

Handling is not like you would expect from a minivan. Sienna does the twisties quite effectively in spite of its slow steering of 3.44 turns lock to lock. That’s where the negatives end if that even is a negative. Everything else is way positive. Tires are big 235/55 meats mounted on 18X7 inch alloys. Turning circle is a tight 37.5 feet and that slow steering is at least accurate with good feel. Stability is enhanced with a track of 67 inches at each end. Sienna will surprise you as it did me. It’s handling sure surprised other wanna be racers in the American River Canyon.

With Sienna’s long wheelbase ride quality is very good and very quiet. Smooth is another word that comes to mind as is quiet. It’s extremely compliant and well controlled.

Safety is part of the Toyota name with Toyota Safety sense. This loaded Limited had most if not all the acronyms and features (including lane departure assist) you would expect including one of my favs, auto high beam dimming. Brakes are big and powerful. Headlights are good.

In my Limited tester was an interior bathed in leather with a well laid out instrument panel with tach and speedo flanking an info center/trip computer. The center stack is easy to use and storage space abounds with compartments and cubbies everywhere plus an upper and lower glovebox.

Second and third row seating is spacious and comfortable in both rows with excellent leg room. Cargo volume is huge with 118 cubic feet behind the second-row seats in their most forward position. Remove the second row and there are 150 cubes behind the first row. There are over 87 cubes behind the second row and over 23 cubes behind the third-row seating. It’s enormous. Did I mention the top quality of every appointment in this Sienna?

Pricing for my FWD Limited is $43,735 plus $995 for the train/truck from Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana assembly plant. I had only one option a floor mat, door sill package for $330 bringing the Monroney to $45,060. It’s a lot of vehicle and utility for the money and then you get free hot rod performance to intimidate those at the traffic light grand prix.

Specifications
Price $30,000 to about $47,000e going to love this minivan.
Engine
3.5L DOHC 24 valve with VVT-i V-6 296 hp @ 6,600 rpm
263 lbs.-ft. of torque @ 4,700 rpm
Transmission
Eight speed electronically controlled automatic
Configuration
transverse mounted front engine/front wheel drive/all wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 119.3 inches
Length 200.6 inches
Width 78.1 inches
Height 70.7 inches
Weight 4,615
GVWR 5,760 pounds
Track (f/r) 67.7/67.7 inches
Ground clearance 6.5 inches
Turning circle 37.4 feet
Steering lock to lock 3.44 turns
Fuel capacity 20 gallons
Wheels 18X7 inches
Tow capacity 3,500 pounds
Co-efficient of drag 0.308
Cargo capacity 150.0 cubic feet (behind first row)
Performance
0-60 6.42 seconds
50-70 3.86 seconds
50-70 uphill 5.92 seconds
Top Speed Faster than a speeding freight train
Fuel economy 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined (FWD), Expect 20-23 mpg in al country driving and 29 mpg at constant legal speeds on the highway.