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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 14, 2010 · 22 $ any Castrol oil change package Coupon required. Expiry: May 16, 2010 Code: 5558 8 OFF 345 Speers Rd. (at Dorval), Oakville 905-842-9299 Valid at all GTA locations. Toyota Sienna gets new look, more tech for 2011 By Neil Moore Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine I've brought home a lot of sports cars, premium sedans and luxo SUVs over the years ­ vehicles that I thought would impress my wife as quickly as I could announce, "Hey honey, look what I'm driving this week!" "Hmmm, that seems nice..." she'd reply. "Hurry up and get in; dinner's getting cold." The 2011 Toyota Sienna, however, worked like peanut butter in a mousetrap. Frances has never been much of a minivan person, but when I first pulled in, something drew her to the driveway, where after a quick walkaround and a couple of minutes in the passenger seat, she pronounced, "I like it." Then after a 10-minute trip to the bank she announced, "I want one." And that's before she even found out about all the goodies, like the widescreen rear entertainment system, two-panel moonroof and second-row "lazyboy" captain's chairs with built-in ottomans. Now in its third generation, the all-new 2011 Toyota Sienna is a quantum leap from the egg-shaped Previas of the past, and more recently, the well-made but stodgy first- and second-generation Siennas. The new models ride on the same wheelbase as before, but are wider and slightly shorter, with a distinct and high shoulder line, and pronounced fender flares that give it a bolder, sportier profile. Wraparound, trapezoidal headlamps are angled higher than the grille, and contribute to a more confident front presence. From the side, the hidden door slider (embedded below the rear side window), doesn't take away from its otherwise clean sheet metal. As minivans go, I find the new Sienna the most handsome in its segment, and if one could deem any of these domestic haulers `athletic', this would be it. Toyota has even added a little testosterone to the minivan mix with a special Sport Edition. It is even more striking from the front and includes side skirting that visually lowers the vehicle. And in rear, the smoked tail lamps are a nice touch. The vehicle rides on big 19-inch alloy wheels, and benefits from a lower, sport-tuned suspension. This eight-passenger SE (avail. early May for $36,600) is part of a Sienna lineup that includes a base V6 model ($28,900), LE fourand six-cylinder models ($27,900 and $32,500), the seven-passenger XLE Toyota Sienna Minivan 2011 At A Glance BODY STYLE: Full-size minivan DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, front wheel drive or all wheel drive ENGINE: 3.5 litre, 24-valve DOHC V6 (266 hp and 245 lb/ft of torque) FUEL ECONOMY: four cylinder FWD 10.4/7.5 L/100km (city/hwy); as tested V6 FWD 11.5/8.1 L/100km (city/hwy) PRICE: base V6 ($28,900), LE fourcylinder $27,900, XLE with Limited Package (as tested) $48,150 not including freight and delivery WEBSITE: www.toyota.ca angle rear camera with integrated back-up guides, dual moonroof, push button start, smart key, power folding (auto-dimming) heated mirrors with puddle lamps and integrated signals, rear entertainment system, 19-inch alloys and more. That's a lot of content, even for a premium vehicle, but you need not spend a fortune for a reasonably well-equipped minivan. The base vehicle includes such standard items as cruise control, tri-zone manual climate control, power windows with auto up/down and jam protection, AM/FM CD player with four speakers, satellite radio ready, power locks, keyless entry, three 12V outlets and more. Standard safety includes ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, vehicle stability control and traction control. There is one four-cylinder model, available in LE trim, powered by a 2.7-litre engine that produces 187 hp and 186 lb/ft of torque. It is rated at 10.4/7.5 L/100km (city/hwy) and is expected in dealer showrooms in early May. I didn't get a chance to drive the four, but was impressed with the power of the 3.5litre V6. It delivers a solid 266 hp and 245 lb/ft of torque and will tow up to 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg). This engine is also fuel efficient and is rated at 11.5/8.1 L/100km (city/hwy). Both engines are mated to a quiet and smooth shifting electronically controlled six-speed transmission with sequential shift. There's much more that can be said about the 2011 Sienna ­ check out the company web site for more details. Or better yet, take one for a spin. If you've never been a fan, the 2011 Sienna may change your mind about minivans. The Toyota Sienna is dramatically revised for 2011, with bold new styling, a four-cylinder option and loads of available technology. ($38,700), and two AWD models (LE $35,350 and Limited $49,100). All Siennas now benefit from an interior that is wider and more than two inches longer, with seats that have greater travel. The front seats move further rearward and the second row captain's chairs (in sevenpassenger models) can slide 23 inches, allowing you to create a "walk in" aisle, which is good for installing child seats and provides enough legroom to seat a couple of Toronto Raptors. Or you can bring them forward so the kids are within easy reach. Numerous storage bins, cupholders and cubbies have been strategically placed throughout. A conversation mirror is built into the overhead sunglass holder. Inside, the new Sienna is Lexus-like in its fit, finish and materials. My tester for the week was the topline front-drive XLE with Limited Package ($48,150), which was richly appointed in beige and taupe soft touch materials with woodgrain trim. It also includes premium leather seating surfaces (power-adjustable and heated in front, with driver's memory), woodgrain and leather-wrapped steering wheel (tilt/telescopic with audio controls), and a dual-panel moonroof, bathing the spacious interior in abundant natural light. A sliding centre console with storage and multiple cupholders can be shared between front and second-row passengers. And also at the XLE level are the aforementioned second-row reclining captains chairs, with pullout footrests. These loungers set the stage for my seven-year-old son and I to sit parked in our driveway watching Spiderman 3 on the 16.4inch widescreen. This DVD entertainment package, available in Limited trim, came with a couple of wireless headphones and jacks for conventional headphones in the third row, but the sound from the premium 10-speaker JBL audio system was so good, we chose not to use them. With this system, you can even hook up an external DVD and watch two separate movies in split screen mode. Great for keeping two kids entertained on your next road trip. When you're not doing home theatre, the second-row seats can also be removed to maximize cargo space. Drop the 60/40 thirdrow seats flat into the floor, and you now have roughly four feet by eight feet of space and 4.25 cubic metres of capacity. Still, there's plenty of cargo room even with all the seats in place. With the reclineable third row up, there's a deep well in back and enough space for five golf bags or four large suitcases. In addition to the features above, the XLE trim level includes backup camera, clearance and back-up sensor, rear window sunshades, USB port with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, dual power-sliding doors, power rear door and more. And with the Limited Package ($9,450) you get the previously mentioned 10-speaker JBL sound system with four-disc CD changer, voice-activated navigation and wide