Toyota Sienna 1998 - 2003 review
 Toyota Sienna 2003 (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.) |
 Toyota Sienna (photo: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.) |
Available as a front-wheel drive only, the Sienna offered Camry's 3.0 liter V6 engine with four-speed automatic transmission.
The Sienna's offered comfortable car-like handling and very smooth ride. It actually even felt like the Camry on the road, just a bit heavier.
The engine was very smooth and quiet and offered decent power.
Inside, the 1998-2003 Sienna felt very comfortable and functional although it wasn't very roomy. The instrument panel was very simple and easy to read; user-friendly controls were conveniently placed.
Second-row bench seats or captain's chairs could be folded and a third-row seat, although it was 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.
The engine
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The Sienna was offered with the 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 enigne (model
1MZ-FE). Models from 1998 to
2000 had 194 hp. Starting from the 2001 the engine
power has been increased to 210 hp by using VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing) technology.
The 1998-2003 Sienna engine has a timing belt that must be replaced at regular intervals.
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Strengths
- Good crash test ratings
- Car-like handling
- Fairly reliable
- Interior quality and comfort
- Standard ABS
Weaknesses
- 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).
- Third row seat is heavy to remove.
Overall
The 1998-2003 Sienna was very comfortable minivan with car-like handling and smooth, soft Camry-like ride.
It was fairly reliable, although lack of maintenance could easily lead to problems.
Check next generation, 2004-2009 Toyota Sienna review.
What to look for buying a used Sienna
It's definitely worth to check used car history records. A history report may uncover problems that you may not be aware of such as previous accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, rental use, etc.
Follow this link: How to check used car history
- Check the service records if available; it's very important to verify that the car was properly maintained and the oil changes were done regularly.
- Check if the timing belt has been replaced.
- If the "check engine" light is on, make sure to assess the problem before buying a car - in worst cases it could be very expensive to fix.
- If you see the blue smoke coming from exhaust at start-up or while driving, avoid such vehicle.
Learn more what to look for when buying a used car
Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition.
Some models may be costly to insure. Check the insurance quotes first.
As a last step prior purchase, I definitely recommend to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic of your choice.
Maintenance tips
Few tips how to keep your engine in a good shape:
- To keep your engine in a good shape, change the engine oil regularly using only good quality oil.
- Synthetic oil offers extra protection for your engine.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine, it may cause serious damage to the engine.
- Don't use front end covers - some of them make more restriction to the air flow causing the engine to run with higher temperature.
- Change the automatic transmission fluid regularly using the right fluid type (I recommend using original Toyota fluid).
- It makes sense to replace the water pump when you change the timing belt.
- Whenever your engine is serviced, ask to check the PCV valve and clean it if necessary.
Clogged PCV causes increase in the amount of carbon deposits (sludge) inside the engine.
- Use original Toyota parts, they are reasonable priced.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- Have your car inspected, at least once a year, in a garage on the lift (e.g. when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g. brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the vehicle must be on the lift.
Check more car maintenance tips
Toyota Sienna short specifications (2003 LE model)
Dimensions | Length: 194.2 (4933 mm) Width: 73.4 (1864 mm) Height: 67.3 (1709 mm) Curb Weight: 3,932 lbs (1784 kg) |
Seating capacity | 7 |
Towing capacity | standard/available: 2,000/3,500 lbs. |
Drivetrain | Front engine, front-wheel drive |
Engine | 3.0-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 with VVT-i 210 hp @ 5,800 rpm 220 lb.-ft. @ 4,400 rpm |
Transmission | 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) |
Brakes | Power-assisted ventilated front disc, rear drum with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) |
Fuel Economy | city: 19MPG (12.4 L/100km) hwy: 24MPG (9.8 L/100km) |
Fuel tank capacity | 20.9 US gal (79 liters) |
Links
SaferCar.gov - compare crash test ratings.
Fueleconomy.gov - compare fuel economy ratings.
Insurance quotes - compare insurance quotes before buying a car.
Used car history - check used car history records before buying a car.
If you want to know more about your car
If you want to find more technical information about you car such as repair manual with diagrams (vacuum line diagram, electrical diagram, etc.), specification, fluids type, maintenance schedule, component location, and so on, there is a website which for a small fee allows you to browse all such an information for almost any car model on-line. You also can find recalls, service bulletins, price for certain parts and labor and a lot more extremely useful information about your car. I tried this service
many times and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone. To learn more visit this page:
Where to find technical information about your car
by Vlad Samarin
