Toyota Recalls 600,000 Sienna Minivans

Recalls continue to mount for Toyota. This time, the automaker is recalling 600,000 Sienna minivans from the 1998 to 2010 model years because the cable that holds tight the spare tire can rust and break, allowing the tire to fall off the minivan and onto the road. Toyota says that it has no knowledge of injuries or accidents because of the defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it has received six complaints of spare tires falling off of Siennas.

The recall is for two-wheel-drive Siennas in 20 “cold-climate” states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia, and in the District of Columbia.

Cars.com Podcast: 2011 Sienna, 2010 Cadillac CTS Wagon

If you haven’t overdosed on Toyota Sienna coverage yet, then this podcast is for you. Cars.com editors Kelsey Mays, David Thomas and Joe Wiesenfelder discuss the all-new minivan as well as Cadillac’s new CTS Sport Wagon and the Lexus RX 450h. Surprisingly, there are mixed opinions on all three.

You can listen to the podcast by hitting the play button below or download it via iTunes here.

Cars.com Podcast #35

Most 2011 Toyota Siennas Get Price Hike

Toyota might say the 2011 Sienna minivan costs less than the 2010, but this year’s base model comes standard with a four-cylinder versus last year’s V-6, and the 2011 starts at $24,260 versus $24,540 for the 2010 base model. None of the prices include an $800 destination charge.

Every other trim level gets a noticeable increase.

If you want all-wheel drive, you have to select the LE trim level with the V-6 engine, and it starts at $31,130 for 2011 compared with the $29,235 for the identical trim level last year.

We’re not saying the price increases aren’t justified by the all-new design and new standard features, which include three-zone air conditioning, cruise control, windshield deicer and a six-speed automatic transmission. We just don’t like to be told something costs less when all things aren’t equal.

The all-new SE trim level with a sport-tuned suspension and dark, mesh grille starts at $30,550. All trim level pricing is listed below. V-6 models arrive at dealers in February, with four-cylinders arriving in April.
 
Check out more Sienna coverage here.

2011 Toyota Sienna Photo Gallery

Earlier this morning, Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays delivered a terrific report on how the 2011 Toyota Sienna handles itself on the road. Then we got his video from the streets of California. But for a lot of folks, pictures say even more about a new model. Below is our photo gallery from Mays’ test drive — 52 of them to be exact.

2011 Toyota Sienna: First Drive

No stranger to minivans, Toyota has thrown a lot of darts at the board with the redesigned 2011 Sienna. Features run the gamut from functional — the Sienna is the only minivan with optional all-wheel drive and is the first in a long while to offer a four-cylinder engine — to pie-in-the-sky: Loaded models can have dual moonroofs and rear lounge seats with footrests. There’s even a sport-tuned Sienna SE for parents inclined to carve corners en route to Sally’s slumber party.
 
It’s a good thing the minivan behind the frills stands up. Though flawed in a couple key respects, the Sienna’s fundamentals are sound. Toyota seems to think the minivan segment is headed for a rebirth. Sales indicate that the top players in the minivan segment are holding their own with three-row crossovers.

I’m skeptical a larger surge is in the cards. However, if you’re not high-tailing it out for a crossover, this particular minivan deserves a look. We had a chance to drive the Sienna in California, and we’ll have full review of the model, which hits dealerships in February, up on Monday, including our impressions of the sport-tuned Sienna SE. Below is an early take on that review. We'll have a full photo gallery and video tomorrow.
 

2011 Toyota Sienna: Up Close

Rarely one to abandon a shrinking segment, Toyota unveiled a third-generation Sienna at today’s L.A. Auto Show. The automaker had a host of trim levels on hand — the loaded Limited, well-equipped XLE and cool-for-some SE — to poke around in. We did just that. The early word is that minivan shoppers — or at least those who haven’t yet fled the segment for large crossovers — have plenty to look forward to. The Sienna doesn’t go for broke on family features like Chrysler’s minivans do, and Toyota misses the mark on functionality in a couple areas. But the Sienna presents solid utility and impressive seating configurations; cabin refinement rivals the likes of a Honda Odyssey. The company also says it will cost less than the current version.

Redesigned Toyota Sienna to Debut at L.A. Auto Show

Suburbanites everywhere will be keeping a close eye on our auto show coverage from Los Angeles this year because that’s where Toyota is taking the wraps off the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan. The family-hauler will be completely redesigned, and you’ll be able to see it here on Dec. 2.

There’s no word on specifics, but we’d hope it will keep the all-wheel-drive option as that seems to be a major selling point for many buyers. The current Sienna (above) is no slouch either; it recently won a Cars.com faceoff against the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Town & Country.

2010 Toyota Sienna Price Holds Steady at $24,540

Toyota’s Sienna minivan has seen little change since getting a powertrain upgrade for 2007, and for 2010 the status-quo remains the same. The 2010 Sienna gets neither updates nor price increases, though we should note that Toyota has a habit of bumping up prices in the middle of the model year.

Prices hold steady at a base MSRP of $24,540, and destination adds another $745.The Sienna tops out at $37,865 for the all-wheel-drive Limited trim.

The Toyota Sienna is more expensive than a Kia Sedona or Dodge Grand Caravan, but starts for less than a Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country or Nissan Quest. The new model will arrive at dealers later this month.

Minivan Deals Can Be Had in Bad Economy

The economy may or may not be in its death throes, but the kids still need to go to soccer practice. (Or various other activities. Perhaps dance lessons?)

News has been focusing on falling SUV and truck sales, but the minivan is also in a slump as of late. For prospective minivan buyers out there, we went through our incentives list and checked out the deals available. Some are significant, like the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country getting $3,500 cash back and the 2008 Kia Sedona’s $5,000 or 0.0% financing for 60 months.

There are cash-back deals on some 2009 models as well: The 2009 Nissan Quest gets $2,500 cash back or 2.9% financing for 72 months, while the 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan has a nice little $1,000 deal. See the list below for the models we found, or check out our full list of regional incentives here. 

Sexy Toyota Sienna Ad a Must-See

There are a lot of ways to advertise incentives, but Toyota ups the ante with its new spot for the 2008 Sienna minivan here. The black-and-white ad satirizes a Calvin Klein Obsession commercial, but with the family-hauler as the object of desire. The actors seductively whisper “Five-star safety rating,” and the finishing line — “Somewhere between luxury and soccer practice lies Sienna” — is plain hilarious. The ad then shows the current local incentives for wherever it’s airing, which here in Chicago is $1,500 cash back. 

This ad follows two great commercials for the new Toyota Sequoia SUV and mildly funny spots for the new Corolla. The Sienna spot tops them all, though, and really stands out. It’s ironic that a company stereotyped as producing boring cars can come up with such innovative spots. Let us know what you think of the ad in the comments below.