One of the world premieres at the ongoing LA show is the new Toyota Sienna MPV. Our part of the world may be more familiar with Sienna the actress than Sienna the minivan because the latter, now in its third generation, is a US specific model bulit in America for Americans. Its rival is the US market Honda Odyssey, which is bigger than the JDM model we get here – some of you of may know it as the Honda LaGreat.
Toyota promises a sedan-like drive for the Sienna, besides offering comfort and cargo space required of a minivan (that’s what Americans call their MPVs). The new car is much more dynamic looking than its predecessor, and incorporates much of Toyota’s new MPV design language, as seen on its Japanese market people carriers. To these eyes, the Sienna looks much like the new Wish from the front three-quarter view and resembles the current Estima from the rear. What do you think?
Two engines are available: a 266bhp 3.5-litre V6 or a 187bhp 2.7-litre four-cylinder. Both powerplants have Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), roller rocker arms and an Acoustically Controlled Induction System (ACIS) that changes the length of the air-intake pipe to supply more torque on demand. A six-speed automatic gearbox with sequential shift is the only transmission available. The Sienna is unique in its segment by having AWD as an option, useful in winter.
The Sienna’s rear-seat Dual View Entertainment Center is a Toyota first. It uses two side-by-side displays to create a joint 16.4-inch widescreen image from a single source – the two individual screens can be used seperately with different inputs, of course. With displays combined, it can be easily seen from the third row, and is controllable from any seat via remote control.
Buyers can choose between seven or eight-seat cabin configurations. In the former layout, the second row captain chairs slide by almost 60cm, creating legroom for the longest legs and for easy ingress/egress. They can be pushed forward close to the front row – useful for parents with young children or for good access to the last row. An illuminated sliding center console can be shared between the front seats and second row passengers.
It doesn’t look like a box on wheels and has the makings of a perfect family car, but sadly the left-hand-drive only Sienna is not making its way out of North America anytime soon.
More pictures after the jump.
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
wide skrin ?.
1st..
ugly piece of s%*t..
future ALZA replacment… hehehe
its a bit bulky, by the way its for the American only……
who is Sienna the actress ?
Sienna Miller… GI Joe
http://goremasternews.files.wordpress.com/2009/08…
A bigger size of Estima. Hope this model will come to Malaysia.
camry front, pajero sport rear.
we call it the gang bang van, luv the dual display for dual adult simultaneously..
lol…
if you can drive a left hand drive car, why not..
love the wide screen lcd..so nice..
luxury indeed.nice
very solid. Honda Insight wannabe front end.
nice but i prefer alpahrd or estima….this is for the americans..
ada kat malaysia x?
It looks more like the extended version of Toyota Venza
Cool!!!
seriously fugly!
it looks nicer than alphard.interior looks better than estima ..bring it to Malaysia
this is the American version of the VELLFIRE?
at least they give the 2.7L engine rather than the under=powered 2.4L installed in our Alphard and Estima.
Is this sienna share the same platform and chasis with Kluger?
ALZA front…
All New Wish rear…
hmm…isnt this camry lights?
A good proportinate between Alpahrd and Wish.
US specific? My cousin bought one in Riyadh.
The Sienna is Alphard size spacious but lower sprung and less boxy. If I were to consider an Alphard I would prefer the Sienna. I rented a 3.5 Sienna two years back and drove about 1000 miles in it with my entourage of 6 over 2 weeks. Its a comfortable high speed cruiser. As i was cruising along the desert road to Las Vegas the roadside speed warning sign lit up "80 mph". Didnt even feel the speed of the thing. Nice.
hmm..looks nice..half million price here
i'd have an estima…thanks
I have a honda oddysey USA model 3.5 v6.. the interior kills off Toyota sienna …. Sienna looks cheap….even the new model looks like Asia honda city grill…
look nice..same my wife name
the price starts from RM82k to the most expensive one RM130k..but u have to get it in the usa..In Malaysia it would be..tripled