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TOYOTA SIENNA

All-Wheel-Drive Exclusive: Toyota Sienna

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The 2019 Toyota Sienna is the only minivan with available all-wheel drive.

The last time the industry sold 1 million minivans was in 2006, just ahead of the recession and during the early days of crossover utility vehicles. Today, just under 500,000 units are sold in the U.S. annually, as manufacturers such as Ford, GM, and Nissan no longer participate.

But the segment is not dead and we may also see some stabilization as the remaining players battle it out. These models include the Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and the Toyota Sienna.

Toyota is the second best-selling model in the segment, surrounded by Fiat Chrysler’s two entries. The Grand Caravan maintains its top position as a volume leader — you’ll find it frequently available in rental fleets, hence its sales leadership.

2019 Toyota Sienna Overview

Toyota offers the 2019 Sienna in seven trims. Most notably, it is the only model available with all-wheel drive. Like its competitors, the Sienna is front-wheel drive with room for seven or eight.

The base L model starts at $31,315. It is followed by the LE ($34,135), LE with Auto Access Seat ($40,060), SE ($37,465), XLE ($37,465), XLE with Auto Access Seat ($43,600), and the Limited ($44,210). Models equipped with the access seat feature a power-rotating lift-up seat on the second row, passenger side. Choose all-wheel drive and your cost rises by $1,505 and your seating capacity drops from eight to seven. Add $1,060 for the destination charge.

As with most any model, Toyota offers package options with the Sienna, but not with every trim. The base “L” trim does not have a package. The LE offers the LE Preferred Package ($955), which adds a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and a keyless entry system with push-button start and remote illumination entry. Move up to the SE model and you’ll find a Moonroof with Sunshade Package option ($850). You’ll also find an SE Preferred Package ($3,815), which builds on the LE and moonroof packages. Here, you’ll also find a 10-speaker JBL audio system, navigation, Wi-Fi, and other tech features.

Choose the XLE model and you’ll find a Navigation Package ($1,410). Among the tech upgrades here are additional USB ports and rear parking assist. The top Limited trim offers a Premium Package ($3,520), which adds high-intensity discharge headlamps and rain-sensing wipers.

A Matter of Style

Minivans share a common layout marked by a sloped hood, long slab-sided bodies, and a rear liftgate. Variations on the theme typically mimic what the automakers offer elsewhere. Indeed, the Sienna’s front fascia matches well with other Toyota products dating back a few years, but it doesn’t have the extreme cutouts or pronounced creases found on the Camry or the C-HR.

The Sienna’s front end is not unlike the previous-generation Avalon with its narrow upper-grille and oversized lower grille. Signature lines connect the headlamps and the tail lights with rocker panel sculpting evident. The dual rear sliding doors move all the way to the back when open. The rear liftgate rises well above head level.

All models come with alloy wheels. Most trims include projector-beam halogen headlights. Among the upgrades are LED daytime running lights, fog lights, heated side mirrors, power sliding doors, and designer wheels.

Inside, the cabin is cavernous, offering room for eight or for seven with the second-row seat replaced by Captain’s chairs. The latter is the arrangement you’ll find with all-wheel drive models and some trims.

Toyota arranges the Sienna’s dashboard by facing the bulk of it forward and towards the passengers. The instrument panel and center display blend with the stick shift lever located on the upper part of the stack and to the left of the cabin controls. A huge open storage area splits the front seats along with an equally large storage compartment between those seats.

Our all-wheel-drive test model had the second-row captain’s chairs, which offered comfort rivaling the front row. Dual armrests, seat maneuverability, and ample legroom make these seats the ideal choice. If you don’t need space for eight, this is the option you want — the rear-seated passengers will be pleased as well with more room to maneuver. On top trim Limited models, the middle seats recline and incline seat extenders and footrests.

Standard features include cloth seats, three-zone climate control, full power accessories, and a tilt-and-telescoping steering column. The list of upgrades includes imitation leather or genuine leather seats, power front seats, heated front seats, second- and third-row sunshades, a heated steering wheel, and a power-controlled third-row seat.

Storage space is everything with minivans and supplies another reason why these models have staying power. The Sienna’s second- and third-row seats fold down/forward, but they also may be removed, supplying 150 cubic-feet of storage capacity. You’ll go well beyond yard sales finds to bring home your estate largesse.

Safety & Technology

Toyota equips the Sienna with a six-speaker audio system, a 7-inch touch-screen display, Siri Eyes Free, a CD player, Bluetooth, and USB ports. You also get the Scout GPS Link app, which supplies directions. But it isn’t as dependable as Apple CarPlay, which is now standard. Unfortunately, Google Android Auto compatibility is not yet possible.

Upgrades include HD Radio, satellite radio, a 120-volt power outlet, additional USB ports, and a premium audio system. Toyota also offers a Blu-Ray disc entertainment system beginning with the XLE trim, which includes dual screens, an app suite, and two 120-volt power outlets.

On the safety front, Toyota “brings it” with its standard suite of bundled equipment. Under the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) umbrella, you’ll find automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection.

Available options include a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, a rear parking assist sonar, and a bird’s eye view camera. Upgrades in headlight technology accompany the top-trim model. In all, Toyota’s standard safety package leads the segment, although its competitors offer similar technologies.

On the Road

There isn’t a minivan on the market with performance credentials, despite what some manufacturers might suggest. Typically, what you have is a vehicle with a V6 engine delivering just under 300 horsepower. That’s a far cry from the original minivan models, for vehicles that are equal in size to today’s three-row midsize crossovers.

Powering the 2019 Sienna is a familiar 3.5-liter V6 gas engine. This one makes 296 horsepower and 263 foot-pounds of torque, best-in-class numbers. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends power to the wheels. Besides carrying a full load of people and their stuff, the Sienna possesses a 3,500-pound tow rating.

It takes a moment to get used to the transmission’s location on the center stack. Activate the ignition, move the shift lever to drive, and the Sienna moves forward with ease. The engine delivers ample energy and, under hard acceleration, its full power becomes evident. The transmission is paired well here too as it moves between gears with ease.

This model’s light steering will please most drivers. The Sienna stays planted and offers a comfortable ride. You’ll have to make allowance for this vehicle’s wide turning radius and top-heavy feel, the latter especially obvious when cornering. No surprises here — the Sienna keeps up with the competition and supplies an alternative to the similar Highlander crossover.

Auto Trends Recommends

We like that Toyota offers an all-wheel-drive Sienna. Choose this option if you live wherever winter conditions weigh in. Otherwise, the front-wheel-drive arrangement should work well for most consumers.

Start your search beyond the base model and all-wheel drive becomes available. Choose the SE with the SE Premium Package and you’ll enjoy many of the amenities that families desire. Priced from $41,280 before discounts, this model may supply everything you want in a family hauler.

2019 Toyota Sienna Specifications

  • Sticker price from $32,375 (includes $1,060 destination charge)
  • Price as tested: $45,223
  • Seats seven or eight
  • Engine: 3.5-liter V6 gas
  • 296 hp @ 6,600 RPM
  • 263 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4,700 RPM
  • 8-speed automatic transmission
  • Wheelbase: 119.3 inches
  • Length: 200.6 inches
  • Width: 78.1 inches
  • Height: 68.9 inches
  • Passenger volume: 164.4 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 39.1/87.1/117.8 (150.0 with 2nd row seats removed) cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: 3,500 pounds
  • EPA: 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined (FWD)
  • Regular gasoline
  • Fuel tank: 20 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 4,655 to 4,750 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Good, except marginal or acceptable small overlap front
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 36 months/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 60 months/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 60 months/unlimited miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Princeton, Indiana

See Also — Toyota FJ Cruiser: One and Done

Photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.

PHEV Minivan: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

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The industry’s first-ever hybrid minivan has arrived.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The all-new Chrysler Pacifica is now joined by a plug-in hybrid available in two trims:
Premium and Platinum.

Chrysler arrived late to the hybrid game releasing 2009 MY Dodge Durango Hybrid and Chrysler Aspen Hybrid models in the summer of 2008. Sharing the two-mode hybrid system developed jointly with GM, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, the Chrysler duo were discontinued a few months later as Chrysler’s survival was in doubt.

But Chrysler was far from done with vehicle electrification, an important way for manufacturers to meet ever-rising fuel economy requirements. Models such as the all-electric Fiat 500e were developed for California, but as for the type of model with potentially wider appeal — a hybrid — nothing followed. Until now.

Introducing the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid puts Fiat Chrysler back in the electrification limelight and does so in a significant way. This is no ordinary hybrid either. Instead, Chrysler went directly to a plug-in version, skipping the standard hybrid completely. Therefore, when you read “Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid” this actually means “Chrysler Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid.”

The Pacific Hybrid hit the market nearly a year after the all-new Pacifica arrived, replacing the previous Chrysler Town & Country. Both the Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid are 2017 MY vehicles, despite the late start for the hybrid. Yes, the Dodge Grand Caravan is still being produced, but it is based on the previous generation minivan. The Pacifica/Pacifica Hybrid represent today’s engineering and technology — the here and now.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Hybrid Energy Drive

The two models are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with the hybrid operating on the more efficient Atkinson cycle. An electrically variable transmission works in tandem with a pair of electric motors to send power to turn the front wheels; one of the motors does double duty as a generator. Electricity is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack located under the second-row seats and is tapped at various times in the drive cycle.

The advantage of a plug-in hybrid over a standard hybrid is electric-only range, something the former provides, but the latter doesn’t except in short spurts, typically of up to one mile. And not all hybrids can do much more than an electric-only crawl around the lot as you look for a parking space.

Chrysler says the Pacific Hybrid has a 33-mile electric-only range when the minivan is fully charged. But that range isn’t precise — certain variables such as air temperature can weigh in. I was able to charge the vehicle several times — all but once at public charging stations — and the feedback listed on the dashboard showed range times of 37, 40, 37, and 35 miles. The lower number was reached when daytime temperatures at the end of my week stayed below 50 degrees or about 30 degrees lower than when I started.

It soon became a game to see how far I could drive without the engine kicking in. Like other PHEVs, the engine doesn’t wait until electricity has been depleted to activate. Under hard acceleration and whenever extra power is needed, the V6 comes alive and works concurrently with the motors to move the minivan. When the extra power isn’t needed, the engine shuts off — as long as there is juice left in the batteries.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

A Matter of Style

Unlike some hybrid versions of standard models, the Pacifica Hybrid looks nearly identical to the gas model. The chief differences include the charging port located between the front left wheel and the roof pillar as well as hybrid badging placed here and there. You’ll find some color differences too — mine came in a handsome silver teal.

Inside, floor mats with “hybrid” spelled out are evident too. And the instrument panel has its own information about charging and energy use. At the top of the dashboard you’ll find a four-light arrangement — the more lights activated when charging, the closer you are to a full charge.

You’ll find room for seven inside the Pacifica Hybrid — the gas model offers room for eight or seven. The difference here is that Chrysler offers second-row captain’s chairs for two and doesn’t make the three-row bench seat available. The reason is simple: the Chrysler second- and third-row seats folds into the floor in the gasoline model, but only the third-row seat does that in the hybrid. For beneath the floor in the second row is where Chrysler stores the battery pack — that seat storage area has been repurposed for hybrid means.

As for the cabin in its entirety, the hybrid offers excellent room all around and supplies numerous cup and drink holders, cubbies, and other storage areas to go with it. A long list of standard features include keyless entry with push-button start, power-sliding side doors, full power accessories, multi-zone climate control, and second-row sunshades. A panoramic sunshade is available ($1,795).

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Safety and Technology

In all things crashworthiness, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid claims the highest marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The IIHS awarded the Pacifica Hybrid a Top Safety Pick+ rating, while the NHTSA assigned a 5-star rating to the minivan.

Looking beyond the expected assembly of seat belts, traction and stability control, crumple zones, and electronic brake force distribution, the hybrid offers more than 100 standard and available safety features. Lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front and rear park assist, a rearview camera, and adaptive cruise control are also included or available.

A UConnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch screen and available navigation headline the tech items. You’ll also get an assortment of apps, USB and auxiliary audio ports, satellite radio, and HD radio. A six-speaker audio system is standard.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Price Comparisons, Tax Credits

At first glance, there is a huge price difference between base minivan models. The 2017 Pacific starts at $28,595 (plus $995 destination) and the Pacifica Hybrid begins at $41,995 (plus $1,095 destination).That’s a difference of $13,400, but it doesn’t explain what you’re getting for the money.

What you have here is a hybrid that comes better equipped than any of the lower grades of the gas model. For example, the Hybrid Premium edition ($41,995) is priced $4,100 more than the Touring L Plus, while the Hybrid Platinum costs $2,500 more than the Limited.

Those are the price points you’ll want to compare, but consider this: the hybrids are eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit in addition to whatever state and local incentives apply. Straight away your net costs come in lower for the hybrid and for families who wanted well-equipped models in the first place, here you go.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Parting Thoughts

Chrysler already raised the bar among minivans when the gasoline Pacifica rolled out in spring 2016. The hybrid places a bow on top of this model and flexes Fiat Chrysler’s green credentials. With 32 mpg fuel economy (22 mpg for the gas model), the Pacifica Hybrid is as efficient as a compact car.

You can expect other FCA models to get the PHEV treatment too, perhaps the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Durango or both.

You’ll want to compare this minivan with the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and the Nissan Quest, before quickly realize that there’s nothing like the Pacifica Hybrid available. That seems surprising given Toyota’s dominance of the hybrid market, but the Sienna — unlike the similar-sized Highlander SUV — is absent one. Advantage Chrysler.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine. All rights reserved.