I’ve never considered myself a “minivan” type. Even after having two kids, I scoffed at minivans, saying I could never see myself behind the wheel of one, that driving one would cement my status as a full-on soccer mom.
And then the team at Toyota USA graciously offered to let us test drive the 2015 Toyota Sienna … and I’m singing a totally different tune.
Here’s what I loved about it:
- The way it drove. I drive a Passat normally, so I did feel like I was driving a tank at times in the Sienna, but wow, was it a smooth ride! I thoroughly enjoyed my highway miles in it.
- Visibility. Again, I was surprised by how well I could see out the front window. The front windshield felt so open! And the rear camera made backing up and –yes– even parallel parking a breeze.
- Middle row bucket seats (with climate control!). Ohhh, how I loved being able to separate my kids in the backseat so they’re no longer within arm’s reach of each other. A bonus? Being able to adjust the temperature for them in the back, since they’re always hot when I’m cold, and vice versa. The seats also slide back and forth, too,
- Comfort. From the cushy leather seats to the spacious interior (Raven didn’t know where to lay down, there were so many options) to the entertainment options (DVD! XM satellite radio with a hair metal station!), it was like a house on wheels (don’t get me started on how much my kids LOVED that DVD player). And the 7-inch front touch screen was pretty sweet.
- Convenience. Given that I commute 30-45 minutes each way, having a well-organized front seat area, where everything is within easy reach, makes me happy. And the Sienna came through, with their four front cupholders (perfect for me and my ginormous coffee cup, smoothie cup, and water bottle that I have each morning) and an area by the middle dash to stash my bag for quick access.
- Flexibility. The third row can fold down for extra storage. Yay!
Plus, it’s perfect for driving around all your friends for a moms’ night out…
…or taking your family on a #SiennaSundayFunday quick family road tip to the Connecticut Science Center.
However, there were a few things I wasn’t thrilled with, namely the fuel economy. Yowsers. The Sienna gets up to 18 miles/gallon in the city, and up to 25 miles/gallon on the highway (which is pretty generous, in my opinion), so if you’re doing mostly in town driving, it may not be so bad. But it doesn’t mesh well with our lifestyle, considering my round trip work commute is 60 miles each day and Dr. G’s is even longer. I had to refuel after just three days of commuting, whereas I can go nearly 10 days with my Volkswagon Passat TDI. So that’s was kind of a bummer.
But even with that being said, I think I would definitely consider renting the Sienna for a long family car trip because there was so denying how well it drove and how safe and comfortable it was for an active family of four.
Do you drive a minivan?
Disclaimer: I was provided a Toyota Sienna 2015 to drive for a week and received additional compensation for this post, but in no way did it influence or shape my opinion. Trust me, it wasn’t going to be easy to get me to come around on the world of minivans. All thoughts, words, and photos are (as always) my own.