Minivans have fallen victim to the whims of fashion.
By objective standards they have more "utility" than some so-called sports utility vehicles (SUVs), yet they have largely tumbled out of popularity with suburban moms - who, it should be noted, do rule the world.
FAST FACTS
› Model: Sienna Limited Premium AWD› Exterior color: Parisian Night Pearl› Interior color: Toasted Walnut› Engine: 3.5-liter, V-6› Horsepower: 296› Transmission: 8-speed automatic› Fuel economy: 24 mpg highway, 18 mpg city› Local Dealer: Capital Toyota, North Georgia Toyota, Toyota of Cleveland› Price (as tested): $49,610
Never mind that minivans like the Toyota Sienna offer more interior room and a better ride than some SUVs, the mom squad has voted. These lacrosse/soccer/cheerleader mothers have gotten hooked on the elevated seating of SUVs, and become sold on their all-wheel drive capability.
Toyota has attempted to keep its Sienna relevant by offering an all-wheel-drive variant, albeit at a $2,540 premium. After a week in a dreamy, top-of-the-line Sienna Limited Premium with all-wheel-drive we are sold. If we were packing up the kids for a week at the beach, the is the Test Drive vehicle from the last year I would pick.
And we're betting most Chattanooga moms would, too, if they'd just give the Sienna (or the Chrysler Pacifica, or the Honda Odyssey) a chance.
I think the kids would be sold, as well. With its five USB ports and Barcalounger-like second row seats, the Sienna is a teen's dream. The only thing better would be a thick curtain to divide their first-class compartment from the front seats, were presumably, the parents will ride.
A quick check of our nearest dealership, Capital Toyota on Lee Highway, turned up 19 Siennas in digital inventory.
WHAT IS IT? The Toyota Sienna is a seven- or eight-passenger mini-van with enough cup holders and USB ports to accommodate a large family or a small soccer team. Sienna sales peaked at 163,000 in 2006. Last year, Toyota sold about 111,000 Siennas and about 215,000 Highlander SUVs (two vehicles which presumably share the same customer base).
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WHAT DOES IT COST? Prices typically range from about $32,160 for a base L-trim model, to $49,610 for our top-of-the line Sienna Limited Premium tester with all-wheel-drive.
WHAT WE LIKED: Our log book compliments the quiet cabin, the silky 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the expansive shoulder room, the comfy captain's chairs in the second row and the safety-enhancing all-wheel-drive system.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Generic exterior styling, average fuel economy, slow-acting front defroster and sneaky acceleration that often had us testing the speed limit without trying. (For some of you, we realize, the acceleration might be in the plus column.)
DRIVING IMPRESSIONS: The Sienna could be renamed the Serene. It's quiet and doesn't so much motor along, as it floats. Steering is light and the eight-speed transmission goes about its work without fuss. We weren't able to test it in bad weather, but the Toyota all-wheel-drive system has impressed us in the past. The Sienna has the feel of a vehicle that, well-maintained, can easily top 200,000 miles.
COOL FEATURES: The Sienna Limited comes with a full suite of safety-tech features, including lane-departure alert, smart-stop technology, and a radar-based cruise control system. It also has a three-zone climate system, premium leather-trimmed seats, a JBL sound system and a rear-seat DVD system.
BOTTOM LINE: Nothing beats a minivan for hauling a family in quiet comfort; and the Toyota Sienna might be the most highly-evolved in the species.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/mkennedycolumnist.