2019 Toyota Sienna SE Premium AWD
Class: Minivan
Miles driven: 1234
Fuel used: 54.3 gallons
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 296-hp 3.5-liter |
| Engine Type | V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Real-world fuel economy: 22.7 mpg
Driving mix: 15% city, 85% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 18/24/20 (city/highway/combined)
Fuel type: Regular Gas
Base price: $44,865 (not including $1045 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Carpeted floor mats ($239), mudguards ($149), wireless headphones ($100), door edge guards ($79)
Price as tested: $46,477
Quick Hits
The great: All-climate traction thanks to class-exclusive all-wheel drive
The good: Generous passenger/cargo/cabin-storage space, ride quality
The not so good: A few minor controls are difficult reach from driver’s seat
More Sienna price and availability information
CG Says:
With the meteoric rise of crossovers – some midsize ones offering seating for up to eight – the minivan market isn’t what it it used to be. Nor is the number of minivan offerings. Yet there remains no better box for toting people or cargo.
One benefit of crossovers for this chore is that you can get any of the biggies with all-wheel drive, something that’s becoming increasingly popular in the snow states. Yet only one minivan offers it – and it’s this one.
And when you think about it, that seems kind of odd. The purpose of a minivan is to be able to carry large loads of people and/or cargo, and when all that attendant weight is added to the back, it transfers weight off the front wheels. And since — in all other minivans — those are the drive wheels, well … see “snow states” comment above.
But that’s not all the Sienna (which also comes in front-drive form) has going for it.
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If you take away the space factor – the most notable elements being a huge cargo hold and true adult seating space in the third row, all offered by every current minivan – it partially becomes a question of features. In that vein, the test Sienna SE Premium came with all the expected elements, including those of the high-tech safety variety, though few really stand out from the crowd aside from the CD player – which is becoming increasingly rare in any type of vehicle – and the absence of Android Auto (though Apple CarPlay is in attendance). Niceties include the ability to mix AM/FM/satellite stations in the “Favorites” buttons, though the tuning knob is a bit of a stretch.
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Cabin storage space is notable. There’s a good-size glovebox, large console box, a huge floor tray under Aux/USB/12-volt plugs (made possible by a shifter moved to the dashboard), two console cupholders augmented by two more small ones that pop out from the dashboard, a left-side dash bin, and map pockets with cupholders in the doors.
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Visibility is generally good, though less so to the right front due to a thick roof pillar. Third-row headrests fold to clear the view straight back, which is aided by a rearview camera. Some interior padding is thin on touchpoints like the door tops, and though there’s no console cover to use as an armrest, there are fold-down ones on the insides of the front seats.
Our tester exhibited a really nice ride, and the 3.5-liter V6/8-speed automatic combination provided good power and response. However, the brake pedal felt a bit squishy to one of our test drivers.
Although Toyota is usually near the top sales-wise of most segments in which it competes, the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica are the biggest sellers among minivans, with the Dodge Grand Caravan, Ford Transit Connect, and Kia Sedona being far behind. But for those needing all-wheel drive and find midsize crossovers too confining, Toyota has a solution … actually, the solution.
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2019 Toyota Sienna SE Premium AWD
