Toyota

First Drive: 2011 Toyota Sienna

The 2011 Toyota Sienna is all new this year, and a lot more has changed than just the styling. For starters, Toyota now offers more standard equipment on all models, and introduces a new model, the sporty SE. New features like eight-passenger seating are sure to excite family-oriented buyers, and a new four-cylinder engine instantly appeals to anybody who wants to avoid the gas pumps. In addition, the Sienna remains the only minivan in the U.S. that's available with all-wheel drive. It all sounds good, but the previous Sienna was already state-of-the-art, and we wondered: Is Toyota adding more substance, or do the new features and styling detract from the core minivan needs of families who just need to carry their kids in comfort? Toyota invited us to be one of the first to drive the 2011 Sienna, and we have the answers.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 9.5

Review: 2010 Toyota 4Runner Limited Four-Wheel Drive

The challenge facing the redesigned 2010 Toyota 4Runner is about as steep as the mountains it's designed to climb. Off-road capable SUVs like the 4Runner are often passed over in favor of car-based crossovers like Toyota's own Highlander. Many manufacturers have dropped their mid-size SUVs altogether, and even the Ford Explorer, the truck that started the SUV craze 20 years ago, is being redesigned as a crossover for its next generation. Since the Highlander appeals to the crossover crowd, the 4Runner can stay a truck, but it still needs to be good on-road. For 2010, Toyota redesigned the suspension to better cope with paved roads, and even dropped the previous-generation's V-8 engine in favor of a new V-6 that not only has more power, but better fuel economy.

To find out if the redesigned 2010 Toyota 4Runner has the chops to take on its crossover competition in suburbia, we resisted the urge to hit the dusty trail. Instead, we hit the mall, just like everyone else will. How Family Friendly did it turn out to be? Find out below.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 7.9

Review: 2010 Toyota Highlander Limited V-6 All-Wheel Drive

Drive past a mall parking lot or an elementary school in any suburban town, and you could be forgiven for thinking its a Toyota dealership thanks to the ubiquity of Toyota's Highlander crossover. As one of the default vehicles of choice for family car shoppers since its introduction a decade ago, the Highlander's popularity remains strong, despite increased competition. The thing is, the Highlander isn't the biggest crossover, doesn't have the most cargo space, isn't the roomiest or even the least expensive crossover on the market. So where does the Highlander get its mojo? We borrowed an all-wheel drive 2010 Toyota Highlander Limited to find out.

Quick Specs

Family Friendliness: 8.2