Journalism Teacher Takes Siernna to the Test

SINGING TO SHOW LOW IN A SIENNA

2011 Toyota Sienna SE 3.5L

By Melanie Droz

Taking the 2011 Toyota Sienna to Show Low for the weekend proved to be a great idea. Bringing along 7 students for a Student Council convention was even better.

With the ability to fit 8 passengers and 1 driver, the Sienna was roomy enough for all of us to fit in one vehicle. It was also practical enough in terms of cost by providing 18 city mpg and 24 highway mpg. Taking just one car only cost each passenger $8. for gas. However, the 7 excited teenagers cost me a headache that lasted most of the trip between their singing, laughing, cell phones and texting alert signals.   They never stopped talking.
               
Speaking of cost, the 2011 Toyota Sienna starts with a MSRP of $30,550.  However, we drove the SE 3.5 L model that lists for $33,518. The price tag seemed well worth it considering the safety of the van and the precious cargo.  The Star Safety System comes standard with the Sienna and includes enhanced VSC with TRAC, ABS with EBD and brake assist.

Although I wanted to stop several times and have some of them walk to the hotel at some point during the trip, the child-protector sliding door locks in the Sienna prevented me from doing that while driving. However, the dual power sliding side doors made it much easier to pile the kids in and out of the minivan every time I had to drop them or pick them up at the convention.    The student council students are great kids but even the best of teens x 7 is a lot.

The power rear door was also a convenience when I went antique shopping while the kids were at the convention. I was able to easily open and close the rear door to put some great buys in the cargo area. Because I bought so much, we were forced to use the roof rail in order to keep all of their bags on the way back. We were lucky to have it.  We must have looked like the Brady Bunch bus on the way back to Phoenix.

The comfort of the 2011 Toyota Sienna SE was the most appealing feature of the minivan for me.  Although the kids laughed at the first sight of traveling in a minivan, they fell in love with the 4-way passenger captain chair, the 2nd row removable captain chairs with stowable center pass seat, the tri-zone air conditioning, the rear window sunshades and the XM radio. I was also a fan of the 8-way power driver captain chair, multi-info display, backup camera, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls and the push button controls.  

Despite the stress I felt from traveling with so many loud teenagers, all of the amenities of the Sienna made the trip worth it.   Toyota has made this minivan practical and economical.  I don't know what the stigma is with minivans, I want one at some point in my driving career and the Sienna has it all.

For more go to www.toyota.com