"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
06/21/2016 at 14:39 • Filed to: family hauler
1
6|
"yitznewton" (yitznewton)
06/21/2016 at 14:39 • Filed to: family hauler | 1
| 6 |
We had a new loaner Sienna for a couple days while ours was undergoing surgery. Both ours and the loaner are LE trim, second from bottom. AMA.
Pros
The interior is generally evolved forward from the 2nd gen. The LE trim includes an 8-way power driver’s seat including lumbar.
Driver/passenger/rear auto climate control is reasonably easy to figure out
Braking performance was excellent, minimal nose dive for the size, and stable under heavy braking.
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Auto up/down on all four windows.
Driver’s seat fold-down tray has been replaced with a fixed console, which limits bottles rolling around - a legit hazard in the 2nd gen.
I found the Bluetooth stereo reasonably easy to operate. The rear windshield wiper was smartly moved under the spoiler, with the effect of protecting it from snow, etc. Manual shifting mode for the 6-speed auto is available on the console and traction control can be deactivated, for hoonitude.
Cons
Throttle response was wonky, I suspect either because of hamfisted traction control, or fuel saving measures. Very little with the pedal to the floor until 2800, and then an explosion of power. The 2nd gen is pretty linear; no traction control on ours.
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The 8th seat is a weird vestigial limb that packs into a niche in the back, and can be inserted into the 2nd row when needed.
Electric power steering is super-duper light at parking speeds, which is nice, but unnaturally heavy with zero feedback at other speeds.
The horn button is nowhere within 3 inches or so of the steering wheel rim, due to buttons and just weird design, forcing you to stretch or move your hands in order to beep.
The transmission, like the 2nd gen, can get confused in passing situations, downshifting two gears instead of one.
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And, it’s still ugly.
Meh
Seats, including third-row, are pretty similar to the 2nd gen; the stowing mechanism does seem a bit better sorted than the 2nd. Power sliding doors may be a bit slower than the 2nd, and hopefully better engineered, because it’s one of the few Achilles’ heels of this car.
I’m quite pleased with our 2nd gen, and I would not complain about having a 3rd gen Sienna should the need and opportunity arise.
Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
> yitznewton
06/21/2016 at 15:08 |
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The throttle thing isn’t just you or that particular van. All the 3rd gens do it and it sucks. Steering also sucks. Transmission with the V6 has no idea how much power the engine actually has and loves to bounce up and down the revs. Headrests suck. It’s hideous, but at least it has some character which the 2nd gen lacked so badly. By the time the heater starts working in the winter you already have frostbite. Want heat on the floor if you’re behind the front seats? Forget it. Scratchy hard plastic (OK, not a deal-breaker for me. It’s durable, and that should count in a minivan, but seeing as everyone else gets sh*t for using it, Toyota should too). The rear seat armrest pockets get INSANELY hot inside on a longer trip. Don’t keep anything heat sensitive in them.
Plus points:
POWER. Seriously, they shift.
Feels solid.
Center buckets slide lever is on the side, not in front. HOW BRILLIANT IS THAT
Instrumentation is clear.
Rear wiper configuration. Try and freeze THAT wiper, winter.
All in all, it’s a minivan. That said, (and you’ll find this hard to believe) I preferred our old 2002 Pontiac Montana.
Sam
> yitznewton
06/21/2016 at 15:22 |
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We had one as a rental over the weekend for a road trip. Freaking great compared to driving a compact or even a mid sized. Captains chairs 4 lyfe.
ttyymmnn
> yitznewton
06/21/2016 at 15:36 |
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Horns should never be anywhere except the center of the steering wheel. There is no time to hunt for a button in a panic situation.
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yitznewton
> ttyymmnn
06/21/2016 at 15:49 |
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Oh it’s in the center; I’m just used to being able to hit it with a thumb without major stretching.
DynamicWeight
> yitznewton
06/21/2016 at 16:38 |
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All cars should have all windows be auto up/down. There is no excuse. Such a stupid thing to skimp on.
Nibby
> yitznewton
06/25/2016 at 23:14 |
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Seems a lot of Toyotas have that super light steering that gets heavier on higher speeds.
The Sequoia we have... the steering wheel moves so fluidly, sometimes it’s hard to believe it is connected to anything. Good write up.