Minivans are a part of American culture these days with soccer moms toting youngsters all across town and families driving them on weekends for getaways or outings. Toyota has been either #1 rated or #2 for the last few years with their Sienna minivan. The Toyota Sienna compares strongly against the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, Kia Sedona, Nissan Quest, Dodge Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country. The Sienna offers great gas mileage, excellent crash test ratings, predictable reliability, and owners that are totally satisfied. I was lucky enough to drive a new Sienna that my father in law bought and when I visited him in California, my family was able to use the car for the weekend and I definitely fell in love with it.
The 2008 Sienna is a complete minivan with DVD systems to keep the kids occupied, flexible seating arrangements for everyone to be comfortable, and it's very economical. The Sienna comes in the CE ($24340), LE ($25865), XLE ($29525), and the Limited ($35465). The available rear seat DVD entertainment with the 9-inch display is a lifesaver if you have little kids. The 3-zone automatic climate control keeps everyone feeling comfortable and the three row side curtain airbags will ensure the safety of your passengers. Toyota has consistently improved on the Sienna over the years and safety and convenience are the things we notice the most. Fuel economy is matched only by the Honda Odyseey amongst other minivans (both get 19 mpg overall). The 14 cup and bottle holders may be a bit overboard, but if you have kids you know that they can always come in handy while traveling long distances. The Sienna AWD XLE 7 passenger van is roughly $32285 and the minivan of choice by many car review experts and magazines. The interiors are well thought out with adjustable chairs, 60/40 split & 3rd row stow seat, and MP3 player capability. The 3.5 liter, 266 HP engine provides enough power to accelerate up to speed and the smooth ride makes for easy traveling. The ride is very quiet and it handles better than most. I was impressed with how easy it is to move in and out of the isles (unlike our SUV) and the overall roominess was pecfect for my wife, myself and our 2 kids. Storage space is a little lacking compared to a Tahoe, but it's much easier to configure the seats and make more space available. You can find all the latest on the 2008 Toyota Sienna online at http://www.toyota.com/sienna/.
Toyota Sienna Reviews:
Buying a car is no small task as pricing for a quality vehicle still costs upwards of $30,000. You want to make sure your purchase is based on sound information and so doing research is key. We always like the yearly buying guides that Consumer Reports puts out with reliability rankings, crash test results, and owner satisfaction surveys that tell you what customers think of their car. Consumer Reports (CR) has consistently ranked the Sienna #1 or #2 for obvious reasons, but most importantly for it's reliability and fuel economy. The only knock against this years Sienna was that the 'options packages are confusing'. If that is the only drawback, that's saying something about the minivan. Edmunds.com, in their review, mention the durability, "long term dependability", and the safety record of the Sienna minivan. No one wants to buy a family car knowing it's not safe or reliable. With improved airbags and a strengthened side structure, it's safer than it's ever been. Edmunds does mention that the handling could be better and the interior needs more ergonomic details. Carreview.com is another site that features Sienna reviews that are informative and well researched.
Used Toyota Sienna:
The Sienna holds its value fairly well even as it ages in your garage. The reliability of the Toyota makes it a sought after used minivan as used car buyers are looking for something they can depend on day in and day out. You can find used Toyota Siennas online at Ebay Motors or search your local area on sites like Craigslist.org. Even your local Toyota dealer will have used Siennas, although you may pay a premium for a purchase from the dealer versus going through a private party. Some sample pricing is below (data from Edmunds.com):
2007 Toyota Sienna $20,504 - $31,671
2006 Toyota Sienna $18,175 - $29,035
2005 Toyota Sienna $16,275 - $25,947
2004 Toyota Sienna $15,073 - $23,727
2003 Toyota Sienna $11,903 - $13,988
2002 Toyota Sienna $10,136 - $12,096
2001 Toyota Sienna $8,914 - $10,732
2000 Toyota Sienna $7,087 - $9,124
Reliability and Repair History:
The Sienna has a reputable repair history with very few issues over the years. 2003 was perhaps the only year that repair problems arose with brake, suspension, body hardware, and power equipment issues on some vehicles. Almost all other years have proven to be a solid purchase with few repairs necessary over the years. Many sites we visited say the 2005 and newer models are very dependable. Consumer Reports rates Toyota Siennas as having better than average new car predictability and the same goes for the used models. From what we could read on Toyota forums online, the vast majority of Sienna owners are happy with their purchase and mention zero or few repairs.
