My husband loves minivans. I, on the other hand, don’t share the same level of enthusiasm. We like to joke that I would

Conservative even for a minivan, the Sienna is nevertheless a great family hauler. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

have no problem getting one as long as I got to drive the sports car! We’re an odd couple, plus he’s a lot less vain than I am. But after driving the 2010 Toyota Sienna LE FWD, I started to understand why he is so fond of them.
 
What helped me warm up so much to the idea of a minivan was the fact that the Sienna drove more like a car than a van. That hasn’t always been the case with my previous experience. Whether I was driving around town or on the highway, the Sienna’s front independent, MacPherson gas struts and rear torsion beam suspension was soft enough to feel comfortable in but stiff enough to still give it a good edge while cornering. It was also so easy to maneuver in, felt peppy and was super easy to park. Visibility in it was great and, although it is a ‘big’ vehicle, it didn’t feel ‘big’ to drive. Not to mention it delivers good power thanks to its 3.5L V6 engine and 5-speed automatic combo, the former of which produces 266 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque.
 
Performance

Wide, long and roomy, the Sienna is set up for loads of people and all their stuff. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

is one thing, but what I liked most about the Sienna is its interior spaciousness. Gone are the days when you have to physically take out the third row of seats to fit larger items inside. Instead, the third row of seats folds flat into the floor, making it even more convenient to place items inside.
 
To add even more stuff, the second row seats fold down and tuck up nicely against the back of the driver and passenger side seats. All it takes is the pull of a couple levers and you’re on your way. Trust me, it was so effortless. After transporting over twenty chairs, three five-foot long tables, four side tables and more (all in one trip), I’m a believer that this van is not only people friendly but stuff friendly, too. It also accommodated large crates of glassware, large bags of linens and, of course, groceries. A party just wouldn’t be the

Simple, plain interior could use a little more pop! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

same if I didn’t have any of the above or a van to transport them to and from my house in!
 
Making the Sienna even sweeter was the Value Package ($2,070) that added the convenience of a power liftgate. This feature was such a lifesaver when my hands were totally full and I needed to open the trunk. Plus it impressed my mom that I could open it with the click of a button! The Value Package also adds leather seats, heated front seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, plus more. Value Package aside, the Sienna LE FWD comes with such standard features as 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), an Advanced Traction Control System (TRAC), cruise control, power rear doors with jam protection, and more.
 
With

Second row seating is really accommodating and comfortable. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

all the people and gear I hauled around, the Sienna still managed to get pretty good fuel economy. It uses an estimated 11.7L/100km in the city and 8.1L/100km on the highway. Filling up the tank at the pump wasn’t necessarily cheap, but definitely not out of hand.
 
And speaking of not-necessarily-cheap-but-not-out-of-hand-prices, the Sienna LE FWD has an MSRP of $33,990. With the Value Package the MSRP pops up to $37,550, which includes the $1,490 freight and delivery charge.
 
Where I think the Sienna could use some improvements is with its interior and exterior styling. That’s not to say that this minivan doesn’t look ok, because it does. It just needs a serious style makeover to keep it on par with such vehicles as the Honda Odyssey and Nissan Quest. While I didn’t mind the

Wow! Try that in an SUV... impossible. Vans still rule! (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

minimalist-looking interior because it is so user-friendly, it could use a little sprucing up. Perhaps some chrome trim or some cool backlighting colours would do the trick. The metal accents it has right now aren’t as bold as I would like. And on the outside, well, some edgier lines would definitely give this minivan more road presence. The P215/65R16 tires with 16” aluminum alloy wheels are a good touch, but the Sienna needs a little more to make it look great.

Overall, I was really surprised at how much I liked the 2010 Toyota Sienna LE FWD. Not only was it super handy to haul stuff around, it also felt great to drive. A lot of the time, I even forgot I was driving a minivan because of its car-like characteristics. Maybe the Sienna is just what was needed to convert me from sports car to mum-van. Well, maybe not just yet!

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J002) Standard Pearl Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(0070) Blizzard Pearl Paint