Introducing the 2011 Toyota Sienna

Cast your mind back a decade or so and North America was absolutely full of minivans. Then all of a sudden, the fashion police took aim and they disappeared from our roads in droves.

Not to worry, because the industry quickly introduced us to the Crossover era!

But what on earth is a “Crossover”? I’m still trying to figure that one out! Most appear to be slightly smaller versions of the SUV or, they’re some kind of quasi-station wagon on steroids. The latter I thought had already fallen foul of the automotive fashion Nazis years ago!

However, are any of these crossover vehicles truly a substitute for a proper passenger carrying van and should so-called fashion experts be dictating what we as individuals should drive? After all, it’s been said that I look quite dapper in a suit, but I’d be rather foolish to wear one whilst changing the oil in my car.

Oh sure, some crossovers boast of being able to carry 7 or 8 passengers, but unless you’re vertically challenged or an ex Soviet Union gymnast, it’s not typically royal box seating in the third row.

You see, minivans, love them or loathe them, did manage to do one thing particularly well, and that was to carry lots of people around in comfort, which is probably why our European cousins actually call them “People Carriers”.

Fortunately for us, not all manufacturers jumped ship on the minivan buyers. In fact, with so many bailing out of the market, those who continued to produce the vans gathered up a few new followers.

One company which stayed faithful to the minivan buyer was Toyota, and its all-new 2011 Sienna lineup is what we’re going to be looking at today.

The new 2011 Toyota Sienna may well be the third generation, but quite possibly this will prove to be the most significant to date. The company’s design team has really pulled out all the stops to sharpen the vehicle’s image and to tempt potential purchasers with plenty more than they might first expect from a minivan.

From the outside, it’s hard not to notice that the new Sienna appears considerably sportier than its predecessor, whilst at the same time conveying a somewhat classier look. Much of this is due to the vehicle’s new low slung appearance which has been achieved by some rather careful body design. Another factor contributing greatly to this is the choice of 17 /18 inch wheels (The Sports Edition actually boasts 19 inch rubber).

In fact, although car-like is a term seldom associated with minivans, I’m actually tempted to make use of that description anyway because the new Sienna is certainly heading in that direction.