The Swaggerwagon (Top Ten Tuesday)
Back when I reviewed the Honda Odyssey I knew I would also be reviewing a Toyota Sienna. And that time came very recently. I want to state at the outset of this post that I will not be comparing the vehicles. I think it is only fair to give you my Sienna review independent of my Odyssey review; after all, when I reviewed the Odyssey I didn’t compare the Sienna to it. I do know that many of you are very interested in what we finally landed on purchasing and I have every intention of sharing that with you in the near future. For now. Here are some features of the Toyota Sienna that really caught my eye as a grocery shopping mama.
1. Sweet Media Campaign!
My husband says I am easily swayed by packaging, media campaigns and commercials alike. Perhaps he is right. When I announced that I was trying to choose a minivan Kelly, our Whole Foods Writer, sent me this:
[youtube ql-N3F1FhW4 nolink]
Have you ever seen such a clever campaign? I am sorry, but without even reviewing the vehicle, I was in love. I mean, who doesn’t want to be THOSE parents?
2. Wide Screen/Double Screen Video
The Sienna, or at least the 2011 version we drove, included a DVD system that also allows you to split the screen so that one person can watch video and the other can play a video game or watch the movie in wide-screen. My children aren’t into video game systems (unless you count my iPhone) so we didn’t use this part of the feature but we did watch many a Veggie Tales video during our intimate week with this vehicle.
3. Lots of Room
This mini-van does have lots of room. The front captains chairs are also on a sliding system so you can easily move them forward and back to accommodate getting in and out of the vehicle easily. It also provides lots of leg room and a less likely chance that my seat is going to be kicking by a meddlesome toddler (not that that ever happens).
4. Cup Holders, How I Love Thee
If I can’t count 4 cup holders without craning my neck a vehicle doesn’t get far in my book. I know, that is like the cheesiest thing considering I should be more concerned with how the car runs but, hey, I am being real here. The Sienna clearly passed my cup holder test!
5. Handling/Steering
As noted above my inclination is towards cup holders not the engine and drive train but I could clearly see that there was a difference in the Sienna. The steering wheel was so easy to maneuver and turn. The turn radius was amazing. It was easy to whip the van in and out of tight grocery store parking lots and to get wherever I needed to go. This is honestly the first minivan I have driven that drove more like a car than a van.
6. Review Backing Camera
This model had the rear backing camera and I still find that to be a nice feature. I fear backing out of my driveway and running into one of the many kids that like to tour the neighborhood in their bikes. And then there are all those crazies people going in and out of the grocery parking lot.
7. Navigation
I will say that navigation is not something I have ever had in a car but have seriously considered after driving mini-vans that come with them. I do have to admit that for some reason this minivan’s navigation system perplexed me. I think it has something to do with the way the navigation was tied in with the DVD system that kept throwing me for a loop. And causing unnecessary yelling from the peanut gallery. Yes, there was a manual BUT when you are riding with two toddlers you don’t necessarily have time for a manual. I just thought it could be a little more intuitive, but it was very helpful.
8. Eighth Seat
No, I didn’t not plan for the 8th seat to be number 8, just happened. But before reviewing this vehicle I didn’t know there was an 8th seat option with the Sienna, now I know that there is. And what is really nice about the 8th seat is that there is a compartment for it on the side of the trunk so that it can fasten into the back without taking up cargo space if you are not using it. I LOVED that!
9. Grocery Storage
You can CLEARLY fit a month’s worth of groceries and more into the trunk. That, my friends, is a must. :)
10. What do you think?
What about those of you that own a Toyota Sienna, what are your favorite features?
What I really had planned on doing is taking a picture of our family with the Sienna BEFORE our review and then again at the end but this time looking MUCH cooler. Yea, despite the fact that this mini-van can put the Swagger into your life, the truth is it still doesn’t eliminate the crazy that goes along with this phase! So for now, you will just have to imagine how cool we looked riding in our Swaggerwagon.
This post is linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh Amanda.
Last summer, I traded my 2003 Honda Odyssey for a 2011 Toyota Sienna. The only thing I miss about the Odyssey is that the middle row of seats was easier to remove than those in the Sienna. I like the split folding rear seat in the Sienna (didn’t have that in my old Odyssey). The Sienna has a different driving feel. In my old Odyssey, I felt bloated and like I was hauling around a lot of “junk in my trunk.” OK, I’m a 40-something mother of 2, I do have bloat and junk in my trunk — but I don’t want to be reminded of it when I’m living in my van!
My kids (ages 11 and 14) like that the rear windows go down in the Sienna.
I have a Sienna. I love the cup holders too! :-)
This summer we test drove both the Odyssey and the Sienna. In the end we chose the Odyssey and are super happy with our decision. The biggest thing for us was the way the center seats came out and all I could imagine was those tracks becoming full of crap. Then I’d have to figure out a way to clean them out!
My husband and I are considering a Sienna for our next vehicle. We have 2 kids and plan to have atleast 4 and likely more so this review sort of helped to solidify my lean towards the sienna. I really like the 8th seat option and storing. I didn’t not know that. I also want the van so I can make our own swagger video…lol. But it might be too late by then we wont need the van until baby #4 is on the way and baby #3 isn’t even being considered at this point :)Thank you for the review, very helpful and informative…now where can I find the odyssey review, just for kicks..
Well, If I had seen the video before we bought the Sienna, we might not have bought the van, but…. now that we have it I love it! We had (and still have) a 2000 Honda Odyssey – which I loved. I don’t like the tracks which the middle seats slide on as I’m sure they will get full of “crap” but I like the way they do slide. I love the heated outside mirrors, heated front seats and cup holders and power outlets everywhere! Also the 60/40 split in the back seats. I was starting to have trouble fliping down the back seat in my Odyssey. It was just too heavy for me anymore, but this one is much easier! Also with the change this year in the body style for the Odyssey it looks too much like a Hearse and I was not going there! Especially since I live next door to 2 mortuaries! It’s just terribly ugly! I never thought we would buy anything other than a Honda as we have owned them for years! We bought the 7 passenger XLE without the nav system. We’ve only had it for a little under 2 months – just rolled over 1000 miles and so far it’s great! Handles like a dream in the wind too! Has a great turning radius for those tight spaces too…. I’m really impressed!
I love everything about my very used 2006 Toyota Sienna AWD. We test drove and drove again the 2011 models…..I was in absolute LOVE LOVE LOVE with everything… it was like mom heaven on wheels. And I agree with all of your comments above….. I could have died and gone to mini-van heaven in the 2011!…However in the end we purchased a used 2006 ( 164,000 miles and counting) with all the bells and whistles. I have not once regretted our decision. Our 4 boys ages 10-4 totally trash it out every single day with their Gatorades and sucker sticks…..It has traversed from IA to PA and back and again from IA to WY and back…gone through muddy roads, hit light poles, and withstood this mom’s driving! This is by far our best vehicle purchase and when we decide to take the plunge into a new vehicle…it WILL be a Sienna again…. LOVE LOVE LOVE this Van!