Used: 2014 Toyota Sienna, For the Family Living Large
Minivans are ideal for travel, sports and families who spend a lot of time in the car. The Toyota Sienna minivan, with a reputation for longevity and reliability, is a great used option.
This Minivan Holds Up Year After Year
When it comes to minivans, there are improvements every year, but the basics stay the same: accessible seating for 7 or 8, lots of cargo space and comfort for everyone. For families who travel for sports, road trip on school breaks or simply spend hours each day in carpools, a Toyota Sienna minivan is often the answer. They accommodate the kids and adults with everything they need for long days in the car. And as the kids get older, the minivan doesn’t disappoint; many parents find it the perfect car for college dorm move-in and move-out and trips to dinner with all the suite mates.
And, in this model generation, 2010-2015, Toyota introduced safety and luxury touches to make the ride all the more comfortable. Even at 10 years old or so, and with roughly 120,000 or so miles, the Sienna is a good choice for a used car that, with care and good maintenance, should have another 100K miles left in its life.
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Safety is the First Consideration
In this Sienna generation, Toyota added a lot of safety features, including blind spot monitors (optional equipment not available on all models) which we found to be, literally, a lifesaver.
And, Toyota began to roll out the rear view camera. In reverse you’re able to see what’s behind you on the navigation screen. Another really great feature that we have seen become standard equipment.
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Comfort Doesn’t Take a Back Seat
The second row offers a bench seat or captain’s chairs. These are great for traveling with other adults, they can sit in regular, comfortable seats. The arm rests prevent people from sliding around on the seats, and give kids a comfortable place to sit and read, even while driving. The 3rd row has plenty of room for three, too. And 3rd row seats fold down in that row in a 505/split, so you can fold one or both down and customize your configuration. If you are picking up an Ikea order, or driving a kid to or from college or camp, you can fold down the seats as needed.
Center seats slide forward, making it easy to get into the third row, which is nice.
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Let the Sun Shine In
There are separate sun roof panels for the front and rear seats giving you plenty of light and air. And if your kids decide to play with the sunroof buttons, the driver has ultimate control: you can disable the rear moon roof and keep it either open or closed.
Built-in Entertainment is a Thing!
The Sienna’s media console features an easy to read navigation systemAn option in these vans is a built-in DVD player for the second and third row passengers. The system has a large drop-down screen. The screen can be split so one person watches a movie while the other plays a video game or watches a different DVD; there are power outlets and jacks for this, and you can add a portable game player or DVD for the second person viewer.
And, there are plenty of cup holders. There are four cup holders for the front seat passengers, and plenty of room for totes or handbags. We found space for a large handbag, sunglasses, phone and snacks.
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Built in Navigation System, but With Caveats
The built-in navigation system can be updated, or can be replaced. The operating systems have evolved quite a bit since 2014, and the 2014 model did not offer modern systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which can be added as an after market option.
Or, use the original navigation system but keep in mind that it’s dated and may not deliver the precise details you get from your phone map system.
The console between the front seats slides back so passengers in the middle row can reach their cup holders.
What We Loved
- Comfortable leather on higher trim models, heated front seats for driver and front passenger
- The dual moon roof is standard
- Rear view camera system
- Center row entertainment (an option that may not be installed on all models)
- Easy to fold seats and plenty of room for hauling bulky items or large passengers
- Power sliding doors on both sides and power lift gate
What You Need to Know
Base price when new: $41,325; current used prices, $12,000-$17,000 depending on condition, features and mileage.
The model we test drove included a premium package with options like a the dual view entertainment center, voice-assistance navigation system, rear view camera with regular view or wide-angle, SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth streaming; this added $4,105 to the price.
Fuel economy is listed as 19 mpg, with a breakdown of 16 in the city and 23 on the highway. We averaged about 22mpg.
With safety and feature updates, and Toyota’s reputation for long-life vehicles, the Sienna is a good option for a used minivan that still delivers a nice experience for families who like to live large.
Disclosure: Toyota provided the Sienna for our test drive, but opinions expressed here are all my own.
Categorized:Car Reviews Minivans
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