more about this model
Pros High-quality interior, powerful V6 engine, luxurious ride, carlike handling.
Cons Reconfiguring seats requires some effort, slow remote door operation.
The Toyota Sienna has undergone a full redesign for the 2011 model year, and this all-new minivan looks to unseat our perennial favorite in this class -- the Honda Odyssey. This Sienna replaces the outgoing second-generation model -- which enjoyed a seven-year run -- attempting to remedy all of its predecessor's shortcomings, which included lifeless handling and a lack of entertainment options. The 2011 Toyota Sienna has successfully exorcised these demons.
While minivans have never focused on delivering sporty performance, the 2011 Sienna has made a sizable leap forward in terms of handling. The new Sienna feels much sharper and composed on the road, while maintaining its focus on passenger comfort. The Sienna also makes headway with its thoroughly modern interior and myriad amenities to make long road trips seem much shorter.
With this in mind, the 2011 Toyota Sienna is poised to wear the minivan crown -- even if only for a while. In a recent comparison test, the new Sienna edged out its aging nemesis, the Honda Odyssey, but we expect Honda to fire back with a full redesign later this year. Other minivans in the market include the Dodge Grand Caravan and nearly identical Chrysler Town and Country, but we tend to shy away from these choices because of substandard build quality and interior materials. The Kia Sedona represents the value leader in this segment, but it can't touch the Toyota when it comes to quality.
Performance Our 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited test vehicle was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission driving the front wheels. A new 2.7-liter inline-4 is standard on base and LE trim levels, and all-wheel drive is available on the higher V6-powered trims.
The V6 produces 265 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the Sienna to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. Acceleration is quick for a minivan, as the Sienna bests its Odyssey rival by almost a full second. In braking tests from 60 mph, the Sienna required 127 feet to come to a complete stop, and the distance grew slightly after repeated runs. Despite this, the brake pedal felt consistently firm and confident. The electric power steering, however, tended to feel disconnected and numb.
Considering that our Toyota Sienna tester weighed in at a robust 4,586 pounds, handling was surprisingly carlike. It buzzed through the slalom cones at 60.6 mph and circled our skid pad pulling 0.77g. While it's unlikely Sienna owners would push this minivan to its performance threshold, these numbers are an indication that it can swerve away from trouble with confidence. More importantly, the Sienna navigates city streets and crowded parking lots with considerable ease.
Comfort One of the main reasons the 2011 Toyota Sienna -- and indeed, all minivans -- exists is its ability to comfortably shuttle large amounts of passengers and cargo from place to place. In this area, the Sienna is a top performer, as its cabin ably isolates occupants from the harshness of the outside world. Wind and road noise are reduced to almost cryptlike silence, while the suspension abates the majority of pavement bumps as well as most luxury cars do. Some concrete seams and larger potholes are more noticeable when the Sienna is empty, making the rear wheels feel a bit jittery.
The front seats are accommodating for a wide variety of body types, thanks to plenty of adjustments, headroom and legroom. The Limited's two second-row seats are the real scene stealers, though, as they look and feel like expensive first-class seats in a jumbo jet. Besides a reclining seatback and folding footrest, these seats also slide fore and aft with considerable travel. In full La-Z-Boy mode, passengers up to 5-foot-8 should be able to enjoy these uncommonly comfortable seats. Unfortunately, taller folks' legs will be too long to enjoy the full footrest extension. An optional center seat is available, though it is considerably smaller and less comfortable.
Farther back, the 60/40-split folding third row offers seating for three passengers. With the second-row seats slid forward, legroom is plentiful, but headroom is the limiting factor for the rearmost seats. We suggest that any adult passenger of average height or taller fight for a seat in the first two rows.
Function It is clear to us that the 2011 Toyota Sienna's designers and engineers really sweated the details. Drivers are treated to an expansive panoramic view good enough to put many large SUVs to shame, allowing for guess-free lane changes and stress-free parking in tight spaces. Controls are all within easy reach, intuitively placed and clearly marked. Gauges are also well-placed, attractive and legible, as is a small secondary color display mounted atop the dash.
We were not impressed, however, with the dot-matrix audio display, which looks significantly dated in today's world. On the other hand, the stereo's sound quality was praiseworthy, with enough speakers to fill the cavernous interior with full-bodied tones. Operation of an iPod was simple, making it easy to find your favorite song or playlist.
Obviously, the Sienna's real strength lies in its ability to gobble up cargo. Even with the third-row seats in passenger mode, a good 39.1 cubic feet of luggage space is at your disposal. Liftover height is mercifully low and the recessed cargo hold features six hooks to keep the contents of your grocery bags from escaping. Standard on the Sienna Limited are power-folding third-row seats that, with the removable second-row seats out, allow for an impressive 150 cubic feet of cargo space. Adding to that capacity is the boxy interior space that can easily accommodate large and bulky items.
Elsewhere in the cabin, storage is likewise generous. Large door pockets, a dual glovebox and numerous pockets and bins ensure plenty of places to store your personal effects. Cupholders are also plentiful and deep enough to keep beverages in place. We were duly impressed with the front center console and its deep storage bin. The back of this console slides rearward, opening up yet another large storage area and putting the rear cupholders within easy reach of the reclined second-row passengers.
Like most minivans out there, the 2011 Toyota Sienna's interior can be reconfigured to fit your needs. However, the act of morphing the cabin from seven-passenger hauler to full cargo van is not without a few hindrances. The controls to fold or deploy the third-row seats are situated atop the hatch, making them a reach for shorter people. The buttons must also be held down for as long as 18 seconds. Operating the power hatch and side sliding doors also requires some patience, as the remote button must be depressed for a full 5 seconds before they spring into motion.
Removing the second-row seats is a particularly laborious task. Weighing in at 76 pounds each and unable to fold into a manageable shape means this is a job for two strong people. Accessing the third-row seats requires sliding the middle-row seats forward, but the amount of effort to accomplish this may be troublesome for smaller passengers. Infants and children are better served, since these seats accept baby and booster seats with ease, and the sliding feature means they can receive even the largest of rear-facing carriers.
Design/Fit and Finish The exterior styling of this all-new Toyota Sienna isn't a huge departure from the previous generation's, or for that matter, from minivans in general. The designers did manage to liven up the otherwise featureless slabs of bodywork with graceful curves and shapes to break up the monotony. We particularly like that the side door tracks are integrated into the rearmost side windows, making them essentially invisible.
The cabin design of our range-topping Sienna Limited is a bigger departure from minivan convention. Sweeping forms and complex shapes abound, for an atypically upscale feel. Had it been up to us, though, we would've opted for a darker interior color, as the light gray surfaces in our test vehicle acted as a magnet for handprints and smudges. Fortunately, these blemishes were quickly dispatched with a damp sponge. We were also not fans of the obviously plastic faux wood trim. Otherwise, every other surface was well-textured or soft to the touch and tightly fitted.
Who should consider this vehicle Minivans are the undeniable leaders when it comes to hauling people and cargo, and the 2011 Toyota Sienna ranks on the top of our list. But the Sienna's top-dog status will likely be challenged when the Honda Odyssey gets a full redesign later this year.
Others To Consider
Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona.
Read our Toyota Sienna Long-Term 20,000-Mile Test
Used 2011 Toyota Sienna listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2011 Toyota Siennas for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 698 used and CPO 2011 Siennas listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 9,977 and mileage as low as 26,069. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2011 Toyota Sienna. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 301 on a used or CPO 2011 Sienna available from one of 2,630 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2011 Toyota Sienna ?
Save up to $300 on one of 63 used 2011 Toyota Siennas for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $9977 as of Apr 26, 2018, based on data from 18 dealers and 86 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 1 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2011 Toyota Sienna trim styles:
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna LE 8-Passenger is priced around $12990 with average odometer reading of 121484 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE 8-Passenger is priced around $16869 with average odometer reading of 89205 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna Base 7-Passenger is priced around $12969 with average odometer reading of 100186 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna LE 7-Passenger is priced around $16998 with average odometer reading of 92000 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna LE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access is priced around $16598 with average odometer reading of 96000 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna Limited 7-Passenger is priced around $19686 with average odometer reading of 80024 miles.
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna XLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access is priced around $12500 with average odometer reading of 130083 miles.
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What options are available on the 2011 Toyota Sienna?
Available Toyota Sienna 2011 Submodel Types: Minivan
Available Toyota Sienna 2011 Trims: XLE Premium 8-Passenger, XLE Premium 7-Passenger, L 7-Passenger, Limited Premium 7-Passenger, LE 8-Passenger, SE Premium 8-Passenger, XLE 8-Passenger, Limited 7-Passenger, XLE Limited 7-Passenger, Base 7-Passenger, XLE 7-Passenger, CE 7-Passenger, LE, SE 8-Passenger, LE 7-Passenger, LE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access, LE 7-Passenger Mobility, XLE, XLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access
Exterior Colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Parisian Night Pearl, Attitude Black Metallic, Shoreline Blue Pearl, Toasted Walnut Pearl, Alumina Jade Metallic, Predawn Gray Mica, Silver Sky Metallic, Silver Shadow Pearl, Blue Mirage Metallic, Sky Blue Pearl, Creme Brulee Mica, Salsa Red Pearl, Black, Desert Sand Mica, Slate Metallic, South Pacific Pearl, Arctic Frost Pearl, Nautical Blue Metallic, Silver Pine Mica, Phantom Gray Pearl, Sandy Beach Metallic, Aspen Green Pearl, Blizzard Pearl, Cypress Pearl, Denim Blue Mica, Natural White, Sailfin Blue Metallic, Super White
Interior Colors: Ash leather, Ash premium cloth, Dark Bisque leather, Light Gray premium cloth, Black leather, Ash cloth, Light Gray cloth, Bisque premium cloth, Ash premium leather, Dark Bisque premium cloth, Light Gray leather, Chestnut premium leather, Stone cloth, Bisque leather, Taupe cloth, Bisque cloth, Stone, Dark Charcoal vinyl/cloth, Stone premium cloth, Dark Bisque cloth, Dark Charcoal leatherette/cloth, Fawn, Gray, Taupe
Popular Features: Blind Spot Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-collision safety system, Lane Departure Warning, Keyless Entry/Start, Mobile Internet, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Aux Audio Inputs, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Third-row seating, Tire Pressure Warning, 3500lb Towing Capacity, Bluetooth, Back-up camera, Power Driver Seat, Trip Computer, USB Inputs, Upgraded Headlights, Power Liftgate/Trunk, Auto Climate Control, Sunroof/Moonroof, Alarm, Heated seats, Leather Seats, 2nd Row Bucket Seats, Parking sensors, Navigation, Rear Entertainment System, Upgraded Stereo, Post-collision safety system, AWD/4WD, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Remote Start, Automatic Emergency Braking
Engine/Mechanics: 6, 4 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: regular unleaded
Drivetrains: front wheel drive, all wheel drive
Used 2011 Toyota Sienna Overview
The used 2011 Toyota Sienna is offered in the following submodels: Minivan. Available styles include XLE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 6A), LE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A), and LE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 6A). Pre-owned Sienna models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2011 Sienna comes with front wheel drive or all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic.
