I still can’t believe that auto journalists were most excited about a minivan at the LA Auto Show. Yes, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was the big “wow” at this year’s show.
Why was there so much buzz about this minivan and why should you definitely consider buying one?
When the 2011 Toyota Sienna comes to dealerships in February, this minivan will be one of the coolest vehicles on the road with its rolling second row living room, rather sexy exterior, high quality interior materials and advanced safety technologies.
So, here’s the big deal about the 2011 Toyota Sienna: the second row captain’s chairs have a foot rest that makes the seats like a rolling recliner. Finally! I’ve been asking car companies for a recliner-like chair for years. Plus, Sienna engineers added a wide format flat screen that splits into two screens when desired.
Do reclining seats and a wide format flat screen TV make the 2011 Toyota Sienna truly a rolling living room? YES! (I know my six- and 17-year old daughters will think so!)
Ian Cartabiano, studio design manager at Toyota’s Calty Design Center in Newport Beach, Calif., says the rolling living room was “there from the beginning of the concept.”
Cartabiano says this lounge-type seating is not new. “In Japan, minivans there have had lounge seating for quite some time,” he says. He further explains that, in Japan, there are no negative stigmas regarding vans. In fact, minivans are looked upon as luxury vehicles and not necessarily for families either.
So why hasn’t any vehicle in America been outfitted with lounge seating? Is it a safety concern?
No, says Cartabiano. “These products have existed for a long time in Japan and they have been thoroughly tested,” he says. In fact, they are not called reclining seats in the auto industry, but “long side second row seats.”
Unfortunately, Toyota did not let auto journalists inside the 2011 Toyota Sienna at the LA Auto Show. And, Calty’s Design Research Center, which is located right in my own neighborhood, did not have one for me to check out.
Cartabiano says these long slide second row seats “move pretty far back,” making for a superbly roomy cabin. The center console, so says Cartabiano, also moves back with the seats, making a table between the two second row captain’s chairs.
I can’t wait to road test the 2011 Toyota Sienna to check out the entire interior. Cartabiano says the Sienna was designed with high quality materials such as two-toned leather seating surfaces and “nice” stitch patterns.
From looking inside the Sienna at the LA Auto Show, I noticed the dashboard definitely has more “artistic flair,” as Cartabiano describes. I’m not sure, however, if this artistic approach – such as a long wooden swoosh – works well for the Sienna. “We took the utilitarian uses and added beauty,” says Cartabiano.
And if all of this wasn’t good enough, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was designed, engineered and built (in Indiana) right here in America. “Truly, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is an all-American product that works hard to increase interior space efficiency,” says Cartabiano, “and the driving dynamics feel way more in control and nicely balanced.”
One reason performance has improved on the 2011 Toyota Sienna, says Cartabiano, is the car’s increased aerodynamic efficiency. “We tried hard to wrap a beautiful skin around a big box,” says Cartabiano, who was the Sienna’s head exterior designer. “We focused on getting it more sculptural with more flair.”
After viewing the 2011 Toyota Sienna at the LA Auto Show, I certainly agree. I was blown away by the second row cabin, but the exterior had me wowed too.
The sleek windows and “s” curve onto the rear glass as well as the absence of the usual big ugly sliding door gash makes the 2011 Toyota Sienna a good-looking vehicle.
The front grille, says Cartabiano, is “bold, luxurious and a little controversial.” Does the front grille of the 2011 Toyota Sienna look more high end? I think so.
Now, don’t get me wrong. The 2011 Toyota Sienna still looks like a clunky minivan. However, the exterior is rather special and does masquerade as a large luxury vehicle rather than a boring minivan.
The 2011 Toyota Sienna will be available with two engines: a 3.5-liter 266 hp V-6 or a 2.6-liter 187 hp, four-cylinder engine. The EPA estimates the 2.7-liter Sienna will achieve mileage ratings of 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The V-6 is estimated to deliver 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
The 2011 Toyota Sienna comes in five trim levels: Sienna, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. All-wheel drive technology is available only on the V-6 model and in the LE, XLE and Limited models. The Sienna can also be configured with seven or eight passengers.
What about safety? Although not yet tested by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, the 2011 Toyota Sienna was built chock full of the latest safety features. Standard safety equipment includes seven air bags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist with traction control and electric power steering.
A pre-collision system and vehicle dynamics integrated management (VDIM) is an available option on the Limited trim level. Toyota says “the VDIM system coordinates brake control with the engine output and steering inputs, allowing all the control and safety systems to cooperate seamlessly.”
And if all that isn’t enough, Toyota added its new Safety Connect™ telematics system (standard on Limited and optional on XLE only). Toyota says its Safety Connect™ system offers four safety and security features: Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assistance Button (SOS), and Roadside Assistance. A complimentary one-year trial subscription is included.
Still considering a 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan? I bet you are! BRAVO, TOYOTA!!