We spend a week with the refreshed and much improved 2015 Toyota Sienna

Pros:

More upscale interior
Improved sound insulation
Smooth ride

Cons:

Handling lacks crispness
Some steering numbness remains
Seat track floor rail hardware remains

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

2015 Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna is now in its third generation offering minivan customers eight trim levels and both front-wheel- as well as all- wheel-drive configurations. But time waits for no one in the auto industry and the Sienna, including the self-proclaimed SE trim level "Swagger Wagon", is no exception. For the 2015 refresh, Toyota asked its current customers for input on the changes it should make. It turns out that was a wise move.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

Exterior

Because owners didn't believe it should be a high priority, exterior changes were minimal. These include a revised front grille and slimmer headlamp enclosures as well as redesigned taillight clusters on all but the SE – which retains its clear lenses. SE and Limited trims also receive new LED daytime running lamps as part of an advanced headlight design.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

Interior

It turns out current Sienna owners felt much the same way about it as we did after driving a 2014 XLE for a week last year. In that review we had this to say about the interior:

"Interior fit and finish, where Toyotas usually shine, is the biggest letdown of the Sienna. Many of the dashboard and door trim pieces are made of hard, dull-finished plastics and despite their graining, look low-rent for a vehicle in this price range."

We also felt that guidelines should be included as part of the backup camera system.

The 2015 Sienna has addressed both those issues, and more.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

To begin with, the backup camera (standard on the SE trim) now comes with guidelines. This may seem trivial, but in a vehicle the size of the Sienna and when driving in the city, having those lines can mean the difference between a clean job of parallel parking and the need to resort to the less desirable "tappa-tappa" method.

Inside, there are now soft touch materials covering the dashboard and upper door surfaces as well as new blue illumination. There's also a new three-spoke steering wheel and a redesigned center console. Other changes include a new instrument panel multi-information display in front of the driver as well as an upgraded Display Audio Entune infotainment system with Toyota's subscription-free App Suite (on most trim levels).

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

One thing that hasn't changed is the fact that the clear, easy to read back-lit instrumentation and controls are both intuitive and silky smooth. On the other hand, the infotainment system has been simplified with large, redundant buttons on the touchscreen for the main functions. The cabin also has an airy feeling to it thanks to a relatively low cowl and plenty of glass area. Despite its size, views out the front, sides and rear three-quarters is excellent.

But the real goodness of the Sienna is its versatility. This includes fitting up to six adults (two in front, two in the middle and two in back) in comfort and an additional person in the middle and back rows in relative comfort.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

Up front there's plenty of head shoulder hip and leg room with each seat having its own inboard drop-down arm rest. Ingress and egress from both the second and third rows is easy. Eight passenger models such as this one come with a center row center seat that, when removed, leaves two captain's chairs with a center aisle.

There's also a deep storage area behind the 60/40 split third row seats where they fold and stow for additional cargo space. The only issue with the overall arrangement is that to in order to gain the maximum amount of cargo room, you have to physically remove the heavy and cumbersome middle seats. But once they're removed, the floor-mounted seat-track hardware remains, making it difficult to slide heavy cargo in and out the side doors.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

Under the hood

Only one engine is available on the Sienna - a 3.5-liter all-aluminum V6 that produces 266 horsepower and 245 lb.-ft. of torque. But even pulling around all 4,480 pounds of our SE tester, merging into traffic and passing on the expressway was never a problem. The six-speed transmission shifted very smoothly, although when pushed hard the engine sounded a bit coarse for a V6.

The EPA rates this model at 18/25/121 city/highway/combined, while our observed fuel economy in suburban driving was 17.8 miles per gallon - not bad but hardly what we would call stellar for the segment.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

On the road

When it comes to a smooth ride, nothing can take the place of a long wheelbase. So it comes as no surprise that with the Sienna's 119.3 inch wheelbase the ride is very comfortable. The 142 additional spot welds (no, we didn't count them), another of the upgrades for the 2015 model, also translates into a stiffer platform and a more compliant ride as well as the ability to drive for long stretches with little or no fatigue.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

The ride itself is controlled and that generous wheelbase gives the Sienna's suspension the ability to soak up uneven pavement and even many potholes. The brakes are progressive and easy to modulate, and there's plenty of feedback through the pedal to the driver. Unfortunately, feedback through the steering wheel, although improved, still telegraphs very little information back to the driver. Additionally, while there is very little body lean, handling is neither crisp nor athletic.

On the other hand, interior noise levels have been greatly reduced as part of the 2015 refresh. Around town and at freeway speeds, the interior is much quieter with very little in the way of wind, engine, road or tire noise entering the cabin.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

2015 Toyota Sienna pricing

New car pricing for the Sienna, including an $860 delivery, processing and handling fee, starts at $29,485 for a front wheel drive L model and tops out at over $50,000 for a fully-optioned all-wheel-drive Limited model.

Our FWD SE Premium tester came with an extensive standard equipment list including blind spot monitor, moonroof, leather seating with heated front seats, 3-zone automatic air conditioning, proximity key with push-button start, navigation system, 16.4 -inch widescreen, dual-view Blu-Ray rear entertainment system (to keep the natives in back from becoming restless), and Toyota's driver easy speak, which amplifies the driver's voice so it can be heard in back should the entertainment system fail to keep the natives in check. With a base price of $39,680, it was also equipped with $129 mudguards, $55 for wireless headphones and a $359 security system which, along with the delivery processing and handling fee brought its as-tested price to $41,108.00.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium

The Bottom Line

There are a number of reasons buyers have chosen the Toyota Sienna over the years including its quality, outstanding reliability and resale value. The improvements made for 2015 also give it a more luxurious interior along with a much quieter ride.

On the other hand, the steering retains some numbness, its handling lacks the crispness and involvement found in the Honda Odyssey and its fuel economy is certainly nothing to write home about.

But the fact remains that the 2015 Sienna does exceedingly well at what most owners will demand of it. Current owners as well as consumers familiar with the Sienna will be very pleased with the improvements Toyota has made, while those new to the market for this type of family hauler will want to put it at or near the top of their shopping lists.

2015 Toyota Sienna SE Premium