Getting in and out is easy. Step-in height is about six inches lower than that of the Sequoia SUV, a benefit when dressed up or dealing with toddlers, or just about every time you get in or out. The power sliding doors are smooth and quiet and move more quickly than in the past, better for impatient passengers. Manual sliding doors and the manual rear hatch on the LE and CE models have a quality feel as well.
The rear side windows lower partly, though not below the center of gravity of a toddler, and feature anti-pinch protection designed to reduce chance of injuries to small hands and fingers. A nice feature is the availability of sunshades for the second- and third-row seats, as they filter strong sunlight even better than privacy glass.
The driver sits before a smooth, organic dash. Toyota says it splurged on the seats, which are designed to offer comfort for a variety of body shapes over long periods of time. The steering wheel tilts and telescopes. Big mirrors and lots of glass give the driver a good view. The shifter feels spindly, though, and the vehicle sounds an annoying tone every time it's started. The heating/air conditioning system works well and features his and hers controls that are easy to sync by pressing a button. Switches for the power sliding doors and power rear liftgate are overhead.
Trim materials improve as you go up the line, but are of good quality even on the base CE model. The CE comes with a nice cloth interior, though the door inserts are plain. LE features nicer cloth, nicer door inserts, and other trim. XLE offers even better cloth. The Limited is upholstered in leather.
There are lots of cubbies for storage. Two glove boxes are provided and a big center console holds 12 CDs. Armrest compartments can each hold six CDs, and there's a spot for a small cell phone just to the right of the shifter. The dry cleaning hooks look big enough to accomodate a goodly percentage of the family wardrobe. Hooks in back are provided for plastic grocery bags. A standard 115-volt outlet, like the kind in your house, is provided, allowing you to power computers or whatever else you want to run from your car.
The second row of seats is roomy. There's good space for legs, and an airy feel with welcome room next to the passenger's head. That's impressive, particularly when the Sienna is fitted with curtain-style airbags; they do not intrude into rear headroom as much as other designs. When not needed, the second-row seat backs flip down and the seat bottoms tumble forward, presenting a friendly seat bottom to cargo or pets. The second-row seats are easy to remove and reinstall, though the captain's chairs weigh 49 pounds each.
Seven- and eight-passenger models differ in the configuation of the second row. Seven-passenger models feature second-row captains chairs. The right-hand seat can be repositioned laterally (side to side), offering either a small bench seat or a pair of bucket seats with space between them. The seat has to be removed and reinstalled in one of two locations, however, it does not slide on tracks like the seats in the Mazda MPV, which is a more costly design. Toyota says it found that people normally don't move the second-row seats once they've put them in the favored position. Moving them close together makes getting into the back row easier. Moving them apart makes them more comforable for adults. The downside is that the exposed attachment points between the two seats are ugly. Another neat feature is the center console that can be removed from between the front seats and relocated between the second-row seats. (Removing it leaves room for a bag between the front seats. Owners who want a center console in both locations can order a second unit from the dealer.)
Eight-passenger models use a three-way split/folding bench with a small middle seat that can be moved almost 13 inches closer to the front, putting infants and toddlers in child seats within arm's reach. When not being used, the center seat converts into a big armrest.
Third-row seats have a rake adjustment, which improves their comfort. The third row is split 60/40 for added versatility when hauling a combination of passengers and cargo, long items for example. Sienna offers more space behind the third row than most minivans. The third-row seatbacks flip forward, then each seat folds easily into a deep well when not needed, a two-step operation that can be done with one hand. Headrests are integrated into the seats so they don't have to be removed as on some minivans, but it's very important to remember to pull the headrests back up when putting passengers back there, something some families may neglect to do. Folding the third row away leaves a flat cargo floor with tie-down hooks. We were able to slide in a six-foot ladder without moving the second-row seats.
A rear-view camera monitoring system helps the driver see small children or obstacles when backing up. Shift the Sienna into reverse and a video camera mounted in the rear door automatically displays a wide-angle view behind the vehicle to assist the driver in safely pulling out of parking lots or garages. The rear camera is included with the navigation system. The navigation system itself calculates routes faster than older systems. All models come with a battery-saver feature that deactivates the dome lights after 30 minutes.
