There wasn’t much to complain about when it came to the 2007 Toyota Sienna. Cargo space was plentiful, fuel economy was fairly strong, and available all-wheel drive gave it the edge over the competition. Not surprisingly, Toyota didn’t change the formula much for the 2009 Sienna. The only major additions are optional 17-in. wheels and standard dynamic cruise control for the XLE trim.
The Sienna is the only minivan in class to offer an all-wheel-drive option. Available on LE, XLE, and Limited trims, the system employs a center differential to distribute torque 50/50 front and rear and varies in cost between models: $3170 for the LE, $2760 for the XLE, $2760, and $2200 for the Limited.
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Underhood is Toyota’s 3.5L DOHC V-6 that—with the help of variable valve timing—produces 265 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a five-speed transmission, the powertrain is good for 17/23 mpg city/highway. Opt for all-wheel drive, and the added drivetrain mass drops mileage to 16/21 mpg city/highway. This mileage puts the Sienna right in the middle of the competition: Nissan’s Quest returns 16/24 while Chrysler’s Town & Country and Honda’s Odyssey get 16/23 and 17/25, depending on the trim level.
When looking at the numbers, Toyota’s Sienna is clearly a strong player in the minivan segment. And those who enjoyed the practicality, economy, and utility of last year’s edition can expect more of the same for 2009.
The Toyota Sienna continues to be one of the most comfortable and utility-oriented family vans in its segment. It offers the only all-wheel drive (AWD) option among family vans on the market. For 2009, the Sienna gains optional 17-inch alloy wheels and additional option package changes for the LE model.
All Sienna models are equipped with a standard versatile 60/40 Split & Stow 3rd Row(tm) bench seat that folds flat into the floor. Either side of the seat can be stowed separately with a low-effort, one-hand operation. With the entire rear seat stowed and the second-row seats removed, four-by-eight-foot sheets of plywood can be loaded flat onto the floor. The Limited FWD model offers a power-operated third-row version that makes switching from carrying passengers to cargo even easier. Sienna is assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (TMMI) in Princeton, Ind., with more than 90 percent of its content sourced from North American suppliers. Both the engine and the transmission are assembled at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing powertrain production facility in West Virginia.
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