- minivan 132,515
- 6,500 high price
- Dedham, MA
-
- autoshopper.com
- minivan 132,515 gasoline gold automatic
2004 toyota sienna review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The new class leader?. introductionthe toyota sienna is all new for 2004. Bigger and better than last year's model, it's the first in a parade of redesigned minivans and may be the new class leader. It's considerably larger than last year's model, and about $1,000 cheaper. Its v6 engine has been bored out for more power and now produces 230 horsepower, while a new five-speed automatic improves response and fuel economy. All come with the new v6 engine and the new five-speed automatic transmission. All are equipped with anti-lock brakes (abs) with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, which help the driver stop quickly and maintain control. The all-wheel-drive xle has a base msrp of $36,930. numerous option packages are available for all grades. safety features: a new latch system (lower anchor with tether for children) is used in all second-row seating positions to accommodate new-design child seats. Front side and side curtain srs airbags covering all three seat rows are standard on the xle limited, optional on all other grades. Before designing the new sienna, chief engineer yuji yokoya drove the previous sienna all over north america, through mexico, canada, and the u. S., through every state, every province, some 53,000 miles. A short, slight japanese man, yokoya-san was often accompanied by program manager john jula, a tall, burly american. An odd couple, they couldn't have been more different in stature, appearance, and temperament. But they shared a seriousness of purpose, a devotion to designing the best minivan ever created, and a strong sense of humor. Working with designers and engineers from around the world, they ferreted every weakness and shortcoming of the old (1998-2003) sienna and addressed it with this new sienna. the biggest shortcoming of the old sienna was its lack of interior roominess. Yokoya saw families buried under luggage. He also determined it needed to be quieter so families could more easily converse on long drives. He wanted better seats. And he wanted to improve stability at high speeds, especially in cross winds and on crowned roads. the all-new 2004 toyota sienna is substantially larger, wider, taller than the previous-generation model. Its wheelbase is 5 inches longer and the track is 4 inches wider than last year's model. Stretching 200 inches over a 119-inch wheelbase, the new sienna is the same size as the biggest minivans on the market: the honda odyssey, dodge grand caravan, chrysler town & country, ford windstar, and the long-wheelbase versions of the chevrolet venture and pontiac montana. everything on the sienna is big and bold: big headlamps and big taillamps light up the night and give the sienna presence in the dark. Black pillars, instead of body-colored pillars, make the new sienna look even larger than its considerable dimensions. A big windshield, big wipers, and wiper-mounted washer nozzles designed for snow belt improve driver visibility. the sienna presents a sleek appearance by minivan standards, enhanced by its steeply raked windshield and the black pillars. The slot for the sliding doors is cleverly hidden, offering a cleaner look. There's lots of room for passengers and cargo. Fold the second- and third-row seats flat and the sienna can carry 4x8 sheets of plywood. getting in and out of the sienna is easy. The power sliding doors are smooth and quiet and move more quickly than in the past, helpful for impatient passengers. Manual sliding doors and manual rear hatch on the le and ce models have a quality feel as well. the rear side windows lower partly, though not below the center of gravity of a toddler, and feature anti-pinch protection designed to reduce chance of injuries to small hands and fingers. A nice feature is the availability of sunshades for the second- and third-row seats, which filters strong sunlight better than privacy glass. up front the driver sits before a smooth, organic dash. Toyota says it splurged on the seats, which are designed to offer comfort for a variety of body shapes over long periods of time. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes. The ce comes with a nice cloth interior, though the door inserts are plain. Le features nicer cloth, nicer door inserts, and other trim. Two glove boxes are provided and a big center console holds 12 cds. Armrest compartments can each hold six cds and there's a spot for a small cell phone just to the right of the shifter. The dry cleaning hooks look big enough to accomodate a load of dry cleaning. In back are hooks for holding grocery bags. There's comparably good legroom and it feels roomy and airy with good room next to the passenger's head. That's impressive given that the sienna is fitted with side-curtain type airbags; they do not intrude into rear headroom as much as other designs. When not needed, the second-row seats tumble forward, presenting a friendly seat bottom to cargo or pets. The second-row seats are easy to remove and reinstall, though the captain's chairs weigh 49 pounds each. seven. Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Power Mirrors✔ Heated Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Cloth Interior✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Changer✔ Cruise Control✔ Alloy Wheels
6,500 Dedham, MADedham, MA at autoshopper.com