"This is how all Siennas should drive -- maybe how all minivans should drive."
Or so we wrote in our first drive of the 2011 Toyota Sienna SE. Afterall, the SE is the driver's Sienna with SE specific wheels and tires, springing and damping rates, and its own sport calibrated electric-assist power steering.
Sounds good, right? We thought so, too. So much so that we bought one for our long term fleet. On the road our Sienna is confident and capable; something you'd be fine piloting your family up and down even the twistiest mountain road.
But with the kid seats removed and a professional test driver at the helm, what's the sporty Sienna SE do at the track?
Vehicle: 2011 Toyota Sienna SE
Odometer: 1,544
Date: 12/13/2010
Driver: Mike Monticello
Base Price (with destination and tax): $30,750
Options: Predawn Gray Mica; SE Preferred Package ($1,545 -- includes power rear door; tri-zone CFC-free automatic climate control; roof rails; fixed center console; rear window sunshades; AM/FM/MP3 CD player with six speakers, XM radio with 90-day trial subscription, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod connectivity and Bluetooth music streaming; vacuum fluorescent display; steering wheel audio and voice-command controls); Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof With Sunshade ($850); Carpet Floor Mats/Door Sill Protector ($324); Towing Prep Option ($220 -- includes 3,500-pound towing capacity); Roof Rack Cross Bars ($185).
Price as tested: $34,684
Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed automatic
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, port-injected, V6, gasoline
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,456cc (211 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 6,500
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 265 @ 6,200
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 245 @ 4,700
Brake Type (front): 12.9-inch ventilated disc with two-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 12.2-inch solid disc with single-piston sliding calipers
Steering System: Electric power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, MacPherson strut, coil springs, antiroll bar
Suspension Type (rear): Semi-independent, torsion beam, coil springs, antiroll bar
Tire Size (front): P235/50R19
Tire Size (rear): P235/50R19
Tire Brand: Michelin Primacy
Tire Model: Primacy MXV4
Tire Type: All Season
Wheel Size: 19-by-7 inches front and rear
Wheel Material: Alloy
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,461
Test Results:
Accleration
0 - 30 (sec): 3.0 ( 3.2 with T/C on)
0 - 45 (sec): 5.0 ( 5.4 with T/C on)
0 - 60 (sec): 7.7 (8.1 with T/C on)
0 - 75 (sec): 11.1 (11.6 with T/C on)
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 15.7 @ 90.6 ( 15.9 @ 89.4 with T/C on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 7.4 ( 7.7 with T/C on)
Braking
30 - 0 (ft): 32
60 - 0 (ft): 124
Handling
Slalom (mph): 56.3 stability dynamic (55.0 on)
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.77 stability dynamic (0.75 trac on)
Db @ Idle: 42.9
Db @ Full Throttle: 72.0
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 65.5
Comments
Acceleration Comments: The hard-revving V6 produces enough power that wheelspin can be excessive when using pedal overlap with traction control and ESC off. Shifts in sport mode were reasonably quick. There's a surge in power at about 5,000
Braking Comments: Pedal was moderately firm and stayed consistently so throughout. but there's too much rear brake bias, the slight lockup of which would cause the Sienna's tail to step out slightly each time.
Handling Comments: Skid pad: Some measurable difference with trac-on / trac-off, but barely. The ESC is too intrusive to get a good idea of the SE's ultimate grip. Steering tells me nothing about grip level and only offers unrelated, unnecessary weight. Slalom: Complete disappointment that the SE version cannot shut off ESC. it probably matters not a bit because the dampers are so soft that it flops over and threatened to spin on the first 60-mph trial run. Steering is gooey and syrupy for no good reason. Doesn't even feel sporty to me.
DLu says:
03:16 PM, 01/ 2/11
Note to self -- get the RX-8 for handling fun, leave the wife and kids happy and vomit-free in the Sienna.
06scooby says:
03:47 PM, 01/ 2/11
That's pretty quick for a mini-van...
isend2c says:
04:06 PM, 01/ 2/11
7.7 Seconds to 60??? That's faster than a lot of other cars. It'll even shame some sporty cars (I4 Eclipse, V6 Tib, Forte SX)
jefe2000 says:
05:24 PM, 01/ 2/11
Regarding the Handling Comments: folks, it's a minivan. Did you really expect anything else?
revaholic says:
05:43 PM, 01/ 2/11
Why don't you guys consistently post videos of track tests done of non-sporty cars? I would be interested in seeing this thing move around the track!
emajor says:
06:19 PM, 01/ 2/11
"Complete disappointment that the SE version cannot shut off ESC." Why the hell would you ever want to turn off the stability control on a minivan?
Toyota seems to endow their SE versions with accurate and weighted steering, but forget about adding feel.
124ft from 60mph is quite good for a vehicle this size.
igeekone says:
06:24 PM, 01/ 2/11
These are really impressive numbers for a big and heavy vehicle. As an every day minivan, I would be joyous to drive it.
church123 says:
08:12 PM, 01/ 2/11
I think some of the disappointment probably stems from the fact that this is supposed to be the "sporty" version of the Sienna. Obviously, what that should mean in a minivan is probably open to very broad interpretation.
That said, this SE model returned results in line with the XLE they tested, but was 2 mph slower through the slalom. Kind of backwards. And both are slower through the slalom than the Odyssey, which doesn't have a sport model.
I don't think any of it will matter to 99% of minivan owners, but hey, it _is_ a track test.
powell_jr says:
04:40 AM, 01/ 3/11
That is impressive. "Wheelspin can be excessive" had me cracking up.
bodyblue says:
04:56 AM, 01/ 3/11
Regal drivers had better watch out! Gonna get your ass handed to you by a mini van!
DLu says:
05:48 AM, 01/ 3/11
I read that the gearing for the AWD allows maybe a 0.3 sec faster sprint to 60 ... no green-light races for me tho (don't want to see what that does to the baby in her rear-facing seat!)
rod_stewart says:
05:55 AM, 01/ 3/11
LMAO @ bodyblue
You mean Regal TURBO drivers had better watch out! Inside Line got 8.4 secs to 60 in that turd. Sienna cooks it by over half a second.
As for drivers of the regular Regal, they better watch out for the Cruze LOL.
-Rod
mkvgti says:
06:16 AM, 01/ 3/11
toyotas version of sport is sometimes just a different set of shocks. The rav4 sport has only different front suspension. Maybe the sienna sport has footballs acting as air suspension to qualify as sport edition.
ed124c says:
08:33 AM, 01/ 3/11
I would trade some of that acceleration for better Slalom/Skidpad numbers. Mediocre acceleration would not normally be a detriment in a minivan, but poor handling can kill you.
Let's put the acceleration into perspective-- being faster than the Regal CXL Turbo is not a great achievement.
ptcdawg says:
09:38 AM, 01/ 3/11
If Buick wants to change their image with younger buyers, they could start with making a "EURO SEDAN" that will out run a Toyota Van.
bodyblue says:
09:45 AM, 01/ 3/11
"Let's put the acceleration into perspective-- being faster than the Regal CXL Turbo is not a great achievement.
"
Ok I give you that one.
mroh11 says:
11:11 AM, 01/ 3/11
i dont see why 0-60 is important in a minivan.... who ever stomps it at a stop sign or light and goes WOT. I guess its just a perk to say a minivan is quicker than a smaller car. With this kind of vehicle i can say 40-60 or some other highway passing speeds are more reasonable to take into consideration. it always bothers me when people think economy cars and larger vehicles should have under 8 sec. 0-60 times, when the people who drives these things prob. never hit that time.
"Let's put the acceleration into perspective-- being faster than the Regal CXL Turbo is not a great achievement." this is the right kind of thinking.
bodyblue says:
11:28 AM, 01/ 3/11
"i dont see why 0-60 is important in a minivan"
It is just one way to measure power....stick a full load of people in it and head into the mountains ....that is the real test.
eldaino2 says:
11:22 AM, 01/ 4/11
As expected. I bet the odyssey will be more involving, slalom faster, grip about the same and break worse.
berber5985 says:
12:52 PM, 01/ 4/11
I thought it was interesting however that the Sienna outhandles the the Grand National of old days. I know that's not entirely impressive, but for what was the performance sports car of the 80's, it's amazing a van can outhandle it. Just wanted to point that out.
DLu says:
03:25 PM, 01/ 4/11
If you live in a real city, sometimes getting onto the highway with a full load would be less sphincter-tightening if you have a little extra something down there at the bottom of the pedal travel. ;)