For 15 years Chrysler dominated the minivan market. This began to change—and fast—once Honda and Toyota introduced equally large front-wheel-drive minivans. Honda was first, in the 1999 model year. For five years the much larger second generation Odyssey was the “hot” van. Then in 2004 Toyota introduced an equally large second generation Sienna. It almost instantly supplanted the Odyssey as “the one to get. Honda countered with a redesigned Odyssey in 2005, and that same year Chrysler added Stow 'n Go seats to its vans. I compared the trio in my review of the 2005 Sienna.
There have been additional changes since. Toyota updated the front-end styling of the Sienna for 2006, then made a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 standard for 2007. For 2008, Chrysler has totally redesigned its vans. The Odyssey receives minor tweaks for 2008, but that van hasn't been introduced yet. So this review compares the 2008 Toyota and Chrysler vans.
Styling
I didn’t like the styling of the Toyota back in 2005. The revised front end looks less French, and more than anything like a big smile. I still don't care much for it. The new Chrysler's have artlessly blocky front ends, but I mind them less than the overly round, droopy nose on the Sienna. I continue to have much less to say about the sides of the van.
Inside the Sienna’s design is more successful. The look is upscale, and the materials are the best you'll find in a minivan, making the Toyota's the nicest interior in the segment. The top-of-the-line Town & Country Limited attempts a similar ambiance with large amounts of fake wood and fake aluminum trim, and succeeds more than other Dodges and Chryslers. But the Chrysler's materials look and feel cheaper. The T&C's switchgear especially cannot compare to that in the Toyota.
This said, I won't go as far as others and say this is the Lexus of minivans. All of that wood trim is still the plastic sort.
Accommodations
Driving the Toyota Sienna right after driving the new 2008 Dodge Caravan, I was struck by the difference in the view forward from the driver's seat. The new Chrysler minivans have a tall, SUV-like front end. In contrast, the hood of the Sienna slopes steeply down from the windshield. The Chrysler's instrument panel is also much taller relative to the driver's seat. As a result, while the view forward in the Chrysler resembles that in an SUV, with the hood visible, that in the Sienna could not be more van-like. The hood is not at all visible from the driver's seat, and the instrument panel is out of the primary field of vision. The view forward could not be more open.
Some people like the visibility this provides, others feel more secure if they can see the structure of the vehicle ahead of them. Either way, you're clearly driving a minivan in the Sienna, which carries some emotional baggage for many people these days. In the Chrysler you can pretend you're driving something else.
The Sienna's front seats are wonderfully comfortable, at least in the XLE. Compared to the Chrysler's and especially the Honda Odyssey's they are much more luxuriously padded. You sink into them just the right amount, and their shape perfectly fit at least this backside. Very nice. Good for trips.
The second- and third-row seats are similarly most comfortable in the Toyota. Second-row comfort in the Chrysler depends on which seats you get. Though the Stow 'n Go seats have been improved, they continue to feel undersized and overly firm. The new Swivel 'n Go seats are much larger and cushier, and approach the Sienna's captain's chairs in comfort.
Better yet, the Chrysler's Swivel 'n Go seats can be spun around to face the third row, and a table can be set up between the rows. While the distance between the rows is a bit tight for adults, kids will fit just fine. Add in the option of two video screens each of which can play something different, and the Chrysler is easily the most suited for transporting children on long trips.
On paper the Sienna offers considerably more total legroom than the Town & Country. In reality, the difference did not feel so large. The Chrysler benefits from a third row seat cushion that angles upward to maximize thigh support and ample room for feet under both the first and second rows--a lack of foot room was a problem in the 2007.
The Toyota feels roomier, but not by a large amount. The upright side windows in the redesigned Chrysler increase interior volume more than is apparent from the specs, since shoulder room is measured at shoulder height. At eye level, the 2008 Chrysler is much wider than the 2007.
Both minivans are loaded with innovative storage areas, consoles, and such. But if you get the top-line Sienna, with a power passenger seats, you lose two nifty features: a bin beneath the front passenger seat and a folding function to that seat. If you want these two features, you’ll have to save some money and buy the LE.
To enable the Stow n’ Go seats back in 2005, Chrysler ditched the ability to move the console to the second row—an idea Toyota borrowed for the Sienna. On the other hand, the Chrysler gained two large underfloor compartments, which continue in the 2008. When these are not being used to store the second-row seats--and the Swivel 'n Go seats are too large to fit in them anyway--they can be used to store other things.
The second row console also returns to the Chrysler for 2008--sort of. There's still only a removable console between the front seats, but the top portion of it slides back towards the second row, ferrying food between the rows and supplying cupholders to them both.
Both vans have a good amount of room behind the third row, but the Toyota appears to have the most. Folding and stowing the split third-row bench is pretty simple in both minivans. This year, Chrysler matches Toyota in offering a power-folding seat option, but I personally see little point to it.
The Chrysler remains the only minivan where the second row seats can be stowed beneath the floor. But this year you must choose between this useful function and the larger seats that swivel. You cannot get both features in the same van. Then again, you can't get either feature in the Sienna.
On the Road
Back in 2005 I felt the 215-horsepower 3.3-liter V6 provided as much acceleration as I'd care to have in a minivan. But others offered more powerful engines, so for 2007 Toyota replaced that engine with a 266 horsepower 3.5 liter. The Sienna remains lighter than other minivans, including the new Chryslers, by at least a couple hundred pounds. So the 2008 is quick, especially for a minivan. And it'll likely get quicker still, because the 2008 still uses a five-speed automatic. The next time the Sienna is revised, it will no doubt get a six-speed.
With the Chrysler, the lower trim levels are paired with the 175-horsepower 3.3-liter and 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6s from last year's van. Though the 3.8 is behind the curve in terms of technology and peak power output, it actually does a decent job of moving the new minivans around town thanks to the short initial ratios of the six-speed automatic it's now paired with.
But the 3.8 starts to feel winded once over 40 miles-per-hour. Here the 251-horspower 24-valve 4.0-liter standard in the T&C Limited has a clear advantage. The Toyota's engine feels smoother and more refined, and combines with the Sienna's lower curb weight for quicker acceleration, but the difference is not substantial. Either van is plenty quick for the way vans are typically driven.
The Toyota Sienna's dynamic weakness continues to be handling. It is more softly sprung than the Chrysler, and much more softly sprung than the Honda Odyssey. In turns it leans readily and understeers with a passion. I’m aware that minivans tend to be driven very casually, but back in 2005 I found the sponginess of the Toyota’s suspension unsettling, and I found it at best a little improved in 2008. Very light steering also doesn’t help.
Chrysler aimed for suspension tuning between the Honda and the Toyota. My sense is that, in T&C Limited trim at least, the tuning falls closer to the Toyota than the Honda. The steering is not so light and the ride less floaty, but the Honda is easily the most sporting of the three.
On the other hand, the Toyota has perhaps the smoothest quietest ride of any minivan, but the new Chrysler comes close. I might even prefer the lesser amount of float in the Chrysler. But the Toyota still provides more of the silent slickness that people generally identify with sister brand Lexus, especially over patchy pavement at relatively slow speeds.
Toyota Sienna Price Comparisons and Pricing
As it often does after the first few years of a design, Toyota offers "Extra Value Packages" on the Sienna for 2008. These substantially reduce the total price of a loaded van. Partly as a result, when both are similarly loaded up a Sienna Limited lists for about $1,100 less than a Town & Country Limited. The Chrysler has roughly $1,600 in additional features, including the stowing seats and second entertainment system. So adjusted for features the Chrysler is about $500 less. But then Toyota dealers have wider margins, and will use them to provide big discounts when this is necessary to sell a car. So in the end the prices are pretty close.
When comparing the Sienna to an Odyssey Touring, the Toyota in XLE trim starts out $1,100 more than the Honda. But the Toyota includes about $1,700 in additional features, and so when adjusted for these undercuts the Honda by about $600.
Prices change frequently, and differences will vary based on feature level. To quickly generate these and other comparisons with the specific features you want, visit my Web site, www.truedelta.com. (It's the only site that provides true "apples-to-apples" price comparisons.)
TrueDelta's page for the Toyota Sienna:
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Sienna.php
Last Words
The new Chrysler minivans are packed full of innovative features that no one else offers. They also feel roomier than the vans they replaced, ride better, feel more solid, and accelerate more quickly.
So the advantage of the Sienna is not what it was in these areas. But the Sienna is still the best minivan going in terms of interior materials, ride smoothness, quietness, and (for want of a better term) "premium feel." If these are higher on your list of priorities than interior versatility or kid-friendly features, then the Toyota Sienna is probably still the best minivan for you.
A Note on Toyota Sienna Reliability
I cannot practically cover reliability within the context of this review. However, many people are interested in such information, so I've started collecting my own data. Results, once they are available, will be posted to my site, www.truedelta.com, with updates every three months.
Unlike other sources, TrueDelta will clearly identify what difference it will make if you buy a Sienna rather than another vehicle by providing "times in the shop" and "days in the shop" stats (among others). You will be able to specify the number of years, annual miles, and types of repairs to include in Toyota Sienna reliability comparisons.
Before I can report results, I need data on all cars--not just the Sienna--from people like you. To encourage participation, those who help provide the data will receive
free access to the site's reliability information. Non-participants will have to pay an access fee.
For the details, and to sign up, visit www.truedelta.com.
A link to this website and alphabetized links to
my other vehicle reviews can be found on my
profile page.
Some of my reviews of related vehicles:
Dodge Grand Caravan review
Honda Odyssey review
Kia Sedona review
Nissan Quest review
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