Toyota's V6 is easy to live with. It's smooth, reliable, and economical. It generates 194 horsepower, significantly more than either the Chrysler or Ford 3.0-liter V6s. Toyota's V6 is efficient with EPA fuel economy ratings of 18/24 mpg city/highway. Chrysler and Ford each offer 3.8-liter V6 engines with a lot more torque, but the Toyota V6 provided plenty of power. Passing other vehicles on hills is easy: Punch it and the Sienna takes off, quickly putting the slower vehicle away. On turnpikes and Interstates in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, the Sienna offered excellent high-speed stability. Power was never an issue. Toyota recommends premium fuel.
The four-speed automatic transmission is excellent. It always chooses the right gear, forming a team with the V6. Shifts are so smooth when cruising that they are nearly seamless; under hard acceleration the transmission provides positive shifts at the redline. Anti-lock brakes come standard on the Sienna, which offers smooth stopping performance. Next Page