Toyota Sienna 1998 - 2003 review
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Overview
Toyota Sienna 2003 (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.) |
Toyota Sienna (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.) |
The Sienna was introduced in 1998 replacing the discontinued Previa. The Previa was excellent, long-lasting minivan. The only problem, the Previa was designed for Japanese market with only a four-cylinder engine available. Since the engine in the Previa was placed underneath the car, there was no way to install a V6 in it. As a solution for the North American market, Toyota came up with the Sienna, which is basically the V6 Camry dressed in a minivan's body.
Available as a front-wheel drive only, the Sienna offered the Camry's 3.0L V6 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Sienna offered comfortable car-like handling and a very smooth ride. It actually even felt like the Camry, just a bit heavier.
The engine was very smooth and quiet and offered decent power.
Inside, the 1998-2003 Sienna felt very comfy and functional, although it wasn't as roomy as Honda Odyssey. The instrument panel was very simple and easy to read; user-friendly controls were conveniently placed.
The second-row bench seat or captain's chairs could be folded; a third-row seat, although it's pretty heavy, could be removed for extra cargo space.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) were standard, Traction Control System was available on late models.
The 1998-2003 Sienna received five stars for both the driver and the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash tests.
• Overview
• Engine
• Pros and Cons
Page 2
• Overall
• What to look for buying a used Sienna
• Maintenance tips
• Specifications
• Resources
The engine
The Sienna was offered with the 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine (model 1MZ-FE). Models from 1998 to 2000 had 194 hp. Starting from 2001, the engine power has been increased to 210 hp by using Variable Valve Timing (VVT-i). This is a good engine, but it must be maintained very well if you want it to last. The 1998-2003 Sienna engine has a timing belt that must be replaced at recommended intervals.
Pros
- Good crash test ratings
- Car-like handling
- Fairly reliable
- Interior quality and comfort
- Standard ABS
Cons
- Front cup holders placed almost at the floor - a little inconvenience.
- The engine is very sensitive to the oil quality or oil change intervals.
- Since it's basically the Camry with minivan's body, some components (transmission, front end, etc.) may not be strong enough to withstand heavy load.
- Not as roomy as some of the competitors (Dodge Caravan, Honda Odyssey).
- The third row seat is heavy to remove.
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