XLE Mobility Auto Access 4dr Minivan w/7-Passenger (3.5L 6cyl 266 hp 6A)
XLE Mobility Auto Access 4dr Minivan w/7-Passenger (3.5L 6cyl 266 hp 6A)
The Toyota Sienna’s generation update of the year 2010 has been immensely popular with it threatening the longstanding supremacy of the Honda Odyssey in the minivan segment.
The Toyota Sienna’s generation update of the year 2010 has been immensely popular with it threatening the longstanding supremacy of the Honda Odyssey in the minivan segment. The 2012 Toyota Sienna is a spacious, comfortable van with a premium interior. The Sienna is a very stylish van as well, which, combined with its excellent maneuverability, makes it a pleasurable driving experience.
The Toyota Sienna is offered in five trim levels, namely; the Sienna, the Sienna LE, the Sienna SE, the Sienna XLE, and the Sienna Limited. The Sienna SE is the sports variant of the Sienna featuring sporty accents in the interior and exterior. The trim levels differ in the level of equipment that comes as standard.
The LE, XLE, and Limited variants also offer an optional All-Wheel Drive system. There are also options of available seating with a 7-seater tie-up configuration, an 8-seater standard bench seat configuration, and a 7-seater lounge seating configuration.
Trim |
Sienna |
Sienna LE |
Sienna SE |
Sienna XLE |
Sienna Limited |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$25,100 to $26,500 |
$26,500 to $36,000 |
$33,500 |
$33,500 to $40,500 |
$39,500 to $41,000 |
Key Features |
2.7L I4 |
2.7L I4 |
3.5L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
Front-Wheel Drive Only |
Optional All-Wheel-Drive |
Front-Wheel Drive Only |
Optional All-Wheel-Drive |
Optional All-Wheel-Drive |
|
Standard Infotainment System |
Standard Infotainment System |
Standard Infotainment System w/ Bluetooth Connectivity |
Standard Infotainment System w/ Bluetooth Connectivity |
Standard Infotainment System w/ Bluetooth Connectivity and JBL Speakers |
|
- |
Optional Rear View Camera |
Rear View Camera |
Rear View Camera |
Rear View Camera |
|
7-Person Seating |
7/8-Person Seating |
8-Person Seating |
7/8-Person Seating |
7-Person Seating |
Apart from standard features, the 2012 Toyota Sienna also has a number of packages that combine different available optional extras. The ‘Towing Prep Package’ is available across all trim levels, whereas all other packages are exclusively available with designated trim levels.
We Recommend
The standard 2.7L I4 of the Toyota Sienna offers increased fuel economy, but this increase is so minuscule that it does not justify the large performance drop. Hence, we recommend the 2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6 FWD as it offers a decent combination of features and performance for the price.
The Sienna and the Sienna LE both come standard with a 2.7L I4 but are upgradable to a 3..5L V6. The SE, XLE, and Limited are only available in the 3.5L V6 engine variant. The Toyota Sienna is only available with a 6-speed automatic transmission across all trim levels and engine variants.
The V6 delivers about 265hp of power and 245 lb-ft of torque, which are respectable figures in the segment. The six-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and responsive which complements the powerful V6 very well.
Model |
2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6 FWD |
2012 Honda Odyssey EX |
2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring |
2012 Nissan Quest SV |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$30,000 |
$32,000 |
$30,000 |
$31,100 |
Engine |
3.5L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
3.6L V6 |
3.5L V6 |
Transmission |
6-Speed Automatic |
5-Speed Automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
CVT |
Drivetrain |
AWD |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
Power (hp) |
265 |
248 |
283 |
260 |
Torque (lb-ft) |
245 |
250 |
260 |
240 |
0-60mph (Seconds) |
7.7 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
8.4 |
Quarter Mile (Seconds) |
15.7 |
16.7 |
16.3 |
16.4 |
The Toyota Sienna V6 offers unrivaled performance in the segment, which is illustrated quite vividly in the chart above. The Sienna also offers a composed ride and responsive handling, which makes the car easy to maneuver.
The 2012 Toyota Sienna’s fuel economy figures are at par with the competitors in the segment. The Sienna does about 18 miles to the gallon in the city and about 25 on highways. The AWD variant of the Sienna experiences a noticeable drop in fuel economy.
Model |
2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6 FWD |
2012 Honda Odyssey EX |
2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring |
2012 Nissan Quest SV |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) |
18 |
18 |
17 |
19 |
MPG (Highway) |
25 |
27 |
25 |
24 |
MPG (Combined) |
21 |
21 |
20 |
21 |
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
20 |
21 |
20 |
20 |
Range (City / Highway) |
360 mi. / 500 mi. |
378 mi. / 567 mi. |
340 mi. / 500 mi. |
380 mi. / 480 mi. |
The fuel economy of the 2012 Toyota Sienna is at par with the competitors chosen here. This parity in fuel economy is due to the limited size variation that is possible, with most minivans already being as large as possible. The Toyota Sienna’s 20-gallon fuel tank means that the van can travel about 420 miles on a single tank.
The 2012 Toyota Sienna has an excellent interior with comfortable seats and the plentiful usage of premium materials across the cabin. The quality of Sienna’s interior is unmatched in the segment at this price point. The van also offers excellent legroom in the third row.
There is also the option to choose lounge-style seats with leg rests in the second row, which would add to the already comfortable cabin. There are also a plethora of options available in the van, especially in the rear seat, with the optional addition of screens on the roof lining or headrests.
The standard audio system of the Siena is quite lacking in terms of audio quality and we would recommend the optional extra of the six-speaker audio system. That said, the standard audio system is still feature-rich and features satellite radio. The optional extra of the 3..5-inch multi-information display with a rearview camera adds significantly to the overall driving experience of the car.
Model |
2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6 FWD |
2012 Honda Odyssey EX |
2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring |
2012 Nissan Quest SV |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seating Capacity |
8 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
Front Row Seating (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
41/65/41 |
40/64/41 |
40/63//41 |
42/65/44 |
Second Row Seating (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (in.) |
40/65/38 |
40/63/41 |
40/65/36 |
42/63/37 |
Third Row Legroom (in.) |
36.3 |
42.4 |
31.8 |
40.5 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) (To the Third Row) |
39.1 |
38.4 |
32.3 |
25.7 |
The Toyota Sienna has a superbly spacious cabin, with only the Honda Odyssey being able to exceed the Sienna. The Sienna also features a cavernous cargo compartment which is 39 cu-ft in volume. The 2012 Toyota Sienna also offers additional interior features such as -
The 2012 Toyota Sienna features a simple audio system as standard. The standard audio system comes with a four-speaker layout and does not include Bluetooth connectivity. The option of a navigation/infotainment system is also offered with the higher trim, Sienna. Siennas of higher-trim also offers rear-seat entertainment features such as the 16.4-inch Dual-View Entertainment Center with Wireless Headphones. The Toyota Sienna’s infotainment system contains features such as -
The new Toyota Sienna is styled exactly the same as the 2011 model and features no change in styling.
The Sienna is a very stylish minivan with an exterior design making the van look composed and tidy, almost masking the enormity of the vehicle. The Lexus-inspired tail lights are also excellent additions to the van.
Model |
2012 Toyota Sienna LE V6 FWD |
2012 Honda Odyssey EX |
2012 Chrysler Town & Country Touring |
2012 Nissan Quest SV |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
4415 |
4412 |
4507 |
4389 |
Length (in.) |
200.2 |
202.9 |
202.5 |
200.8 |
Width (in.) |
78.2 |
79.2 |
76.9 |
77.6 |
Height (in.) |
70.1 |
68.4 |
68.9 |
73 |
Ground Clearance (in.) |
6.6 |
4.5 |
5.6 |
6.6 |
Wheelbase (in.) |
119.3 |
118.1 |
121.2 |
118.1 |
The 2012 Sienna is a reasonably sized minivan, with it being at par with the competitors chosen here. The Sienna also offers excellent ground clearance, which, combined with the optional all-wheel-drive system can result in optimal performance in difficult terrains such as gravel or dirt. The 2012 Toyota Sienna also offers exterior features such as -
The 2012 Toyota Sienna offers excellent safety ratings. The IIHS has ranked the Sienna as a Top Safety Pick, whereas the NHTSA has rated the Sienna four stars out of five for crash safety. There is an additional arsenal of safety features that are exclusive to the top-end Limited trim level. The 2012 Toyota Sienna also offers additional safety features such as -
The 2012 Toyota Sienna remains at the forefront of the minivan segment, with only the 2012 Honda Odyssey being a worthy competitor. The price range for the Sienna is massive and one could end up paying a sum north of $40,000 with the choice of a top trim level and premium features. That said, starting prices for the Sienna are very reasonable and competitive in the segment.
Even after being slightly more expensive, the Sienna has proven itself to hold value better than any competitor. The Sienna has a premium interior, excellent handling and ride, a powerful V6 engine, and the choice of an all-wheel-drive system. For these reasons, the 2012 Toyota Sienna is our top pick for the minivan segment.