As our recent brush with wintry weather reminded us, snow and ice are annoying. Really, winter, really? Three times now you’re going to throw an icy monkey wrench into our southern lives? It’s fair to say that we’re unused to winter proper, though we did receive an education in the value of front-wheel or all-wheel drive in wintry conditions.
This education is quite apropos to the 2014 Toyota Sienna which is the only U.S. passenger van to offer all-wheel drive. As a recent review by Philly.com confirms, all-wheel drive is a safety boon since, “The system operates on demand to shift torque to rear wheels when needed, such as in snowy conditions.” When you’re facing multiple hours of traffic if you don’t beat the snow-fleeing rush home, all-wheel drive can become pretty valuable.
The Philly.com review has lots of nice things to say about the Sienna, including the additional safety nod that the 2014 model improved to a five out of five star government safety rating, which is an improvement from last year’s four star mark. Adding that last star was a priority to Toyota as they looked to refresh the model this year, and that they did so is quite a feat.
The Sienna also earned Consumer Reports’ “Recommended Buy” badge for the exceptional reliability that is actually a trademark for Toyota. The Sienna was rated as above average by the venerable magazine.
The most notable difference from last year’s version is the presence of a six-cylinder engine instead of the four-cylinder from 2013. Through engineering improvements, consumers will now be treated by a responsive 266-horsepower that achieves fuel economy ratings quite similar to the four-cylinder. And for consumers who want the most in comfort, the limited edition features leather seats, enormous amounts of legroom and expansive third-row windows that open.
We encourage you to read the full review for yourself, then come by Leith Toyota to test a Sienna out. It’s okay if you aren’t even looking to buy, anyone is welcome to come by and shoot the breeze with us. We’d love to see you!
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