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Toyota Sienna Minivan derived from best-selling Camry sedan
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SHEBOYGAN, Wisc. -- On the beeline path of I-43, which runs along western shores of Lake Michigan and links Milwaukee to Sheboygan, the new Sienna minivan from Toyota maintained a steady clip in the fast lane.
Even at legal freeway speed, the accelerator held obvious power, with more juice readily available beneath the driver's foot, thanks to a lively V6 engine borrowed from Camry, Toyota's popular mid-size sedan.
A stiff platform, also derived from Camry, felt substantial and created an expansive passenger compartment outfitted with three rows of seats and enough room for everyone in an extended family to travel in comfort.
Secure in a contoured bucket seat, driver gripped a small steering wheel and from time to time eyed an array of instruments, including the big tachometer at center left.
External noise stemming from wind and road, always difficult to prevent from intruding into the cabin of a vehicle in motion, seemed muted and controlled, creating an interior situation which remained as quiet as you'd expect from a fine luxury car.
And everywhere handy features appeared for convenience and comfort -- including up to 16 cupholders.
Clearly, with Sienna Toyota has figured out how to take the alluring properties of best-selling Camry and repackage them in the practical format of a minivan.
That's why I'm calling Sienna the Camry of minivans.
The theory goes like this: Sienna drives with the responsiveness of a Camry, the interior has the tone and caliber of features found in Camry, many of the components also show up on Camry, and it's as quiet as a Camry.
Sienna even comes off a production line that runs parallel to Camry at Toyota's second assembly plant in the Kentucky hills at Georgetown.
Overall, Sienna represents a first-class design which merits a close inspection in light of popular competitors. In an expanded Toyota line of products badged with 1998 labels, Sienna replaces the former Previa minivan with more conservative exterior styling and a more practical plan.
Sienna also sheds some of the bulk of Previa and increases the horsepower as well as interior space.
It behaves like a mannerly sedan.
Built upon Camry's front-wheel-drive platform stretched for nine more inches, Sienna's wheelbase of 114.2 inches measures somewhere between the distances of short and long versions of minivans by other automakers.
Thus, Sienna can maneuver nicely with an agility usually found only in smaller minivans, yet the interior volume of 143 cubic feet means there's more space inside for people and gear than the shorter versions provide and that room roughly compares to longer competitors.
Trim levels run from a price-leader 3-door Sienna CE to the mid-level LE with more content aboard and choice of three or four doors. The top model, 4-door Sienna XLE, carries captains chairs and fittings of luxury.
All four of Sienna's versions draw from the proven powertrain of Camry. The 3.0-liter V6, rigged with twin cams and four valves per cylinder, produces a lustful 194 hp.
Sienna's engine combines with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On the tip of the column shift lever, a button allows driver to lock out fourth overdrive gear.
Punch it to downshift when exiting a freeway or descending a hill and you'll have good control.
More equipment lifted from Camry shows up at wheels with the independent front suspension system that relies on MacPherson struts, coil springs, gas-charged shock absorbers and an anti-roll bar. Hardware mounts to a subframe to reduce vibrations and ease the ride quality.
In the rear, a torsion beam suspension adds gas-filled shocks for a smooth stance.
Power assistance for rack and pinion steering feels firm and quick to respond yet also effortless to turn.
Sienna's unibody superstructure includes extra supports at critical stress points, plus built-in crumple zones and sturdy braces inside doors. Designers built into this framework all of the safety assets found on a Camry, and the resultant package was subjected to the same type of crash tests that Toyota's passenger cars must endure.
For brakes, front discs and rear drums connect to an anti-lock system that's standard for all models.
Sienna's core concepts came out of Toyota's California design center in Newport Beach, and the minivan's overall exterior styling and interior comfort features reflect mainstream values which appeal to American tastes.
The exterior treatment seems rather subdued in the absence of flashy adornments. A typical minivan's rectangular boxy lines have been softened and rounded in a pleasing contemporary shape, with sharply sloped nose and windshield and a low roofline. A bottom wrap of cladding forms the visual statement of a broad base that looks like it's rooted to the ground.
Inside, the layout provides two bucket seats with adjustable height feature in front of a middle split bench or twin captain's chairs and the rear split bench.
Seatbacks in second and third rows fold forward and each seat may be unlocked and tumbled to remove when additional cargo space is needed.
Also, backs of second row seats contain built-in trays with cupholders so rear riders can use these folded seatbacks as tables.
This modular seat plan creates a flexible compartment that's quick to convert for people and cargo.
Above the entry-level Sienna CE, all editions stock a secondary rear air conditioning system for comfort.
The base unit includes intermittent wipers, a tire pressure monitoring system and fine cloth fabric upholstery. With Sienna LE more power equipment applies for windows and locks and mirrors, plus privacy glass. The ultimate trim, XLE, uses power front seat controls heated mirrors, a roof rack and keyless entry system.
Leather upholstery, power sliding door, a moonroof and 6-speaker stereo with CD deck appear on the list of options.
1998 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 1998 TOYOTA SIENNA Specs |
| Description: |
Compact minivan |
| Model Options: |
Compact minivan |
| Wheelbase: |
114.2 inches |
| Overall Length: |
193.5 inches
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| Engine Size: |
QOHC 3.0-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
Front |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
18/24 mpg |
| Price: |
$ 19,000 to $ 28,000 |
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