Back in June we picked up our XLE in Boston, pulled into the Alaska driveway a month and a-half and 9000 miles later.
The vehicle was a fantastic travel companion, most remarkable for how it melted away those miles, especially for our 6&10yo in back and kept complaints at a shocking minimum. The teenager had other summer plans, but she especially appreciates the personal
space on our routine 500 mile Anchorage runs and never seems embarrassed by the family van.
That said, there’s a couple things you should definitely consider:
Even my van-disliking-on-principal, I-really-wanted-a-4Runner wife enjoys this Sienna, and, most tellingly, somewhere halfway across the country was heard saying “You know, this is nice... A really civilized, classy way to travel.“
The vehicle was a fantastic travel companion, most remarkable for how it melted away those miles, especially for our 6&10yo in back and kept complaints at a shocking minimum. The teenager had other summer plans, but she especially appreciates the personal
space on our routine 500 mile Anchorage runs and never seems embarrassed by the family van.
That said, there’s a couple things you should definitely consider:
- Fuel economy on our AWD is lousy, typically 20 mpg Highway.
- Drivers seat comfort is merely adequate (6’, average build). I find the front passenger seat substandard; if I had to cross the country there it would be a dealbreaker, my wife finds it acceptable though. I figured we’d stay in a Gen3 Sienna forever (I love vans) but this issue alone will probably have us consider other options once the oldest leaves for college.
- Ditching those runflat tires will add immensely to your Highway comfort. Consider going up one sidewall height size too, our 235/60-18’s were transformative.
Even my van-disliking-on-principal, I-really-wanted-a-4Runner wife enjoys this Sienna, and, most tellingly, somewhere halfway across the country was heard saying “You know, this is nice... A really civilized, classy way to travel.“
