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A screwdriver hunt — and other tools I cannot throw away

by | May 18, 2021 | 0 comments

A screwdriver hunt — and other tools I cannot throw away

I went looking for a Phillips head screwdriver for a DIY task and was shocked at what I found

A kitchen sink with a loose faucet handle

The culprit kitchen sink hot-water handle.

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

I had set out on a simple DIY fix to snug up the handles on the kitchen faucet.

At the time, the girlfriend-wife was zeroing in on the task with a steak knife. It was a good steak knife with a wooden handle and part of a six-piece set I’d bought at Home Depot for $10.

“Noooo! I screamed” — in my head. “Let me handle that, puh-leeze,” I said. And then I might I also have said something aloud like, “A knife is not a good screwdriver.” But those words and breath were quite wasted. A resourceful, non-tool-respecting person will use whatever is handy — without having to rummage through toolboxes, wherever they might be.

A steak knife, or any knife blade, whether it be butter or putty, should not be used to turn a screw. Unless, of course, the do-it-yourselfer is stranded at the side of the road, and then I’ve even tried a fingernail.

Junk and stuff

So, I then turned to the kitchen junk drawer, just to the right of the sink.

A respectable home cook and do-it-yourselfer will have a kitchen junk drawer. And in it should be a small pair of needle-nose pliers (to pull fish bones), a standard pair of pliers (for just in case), a slotted-blade screwdriver, and a Phillip’s head.

Is that so peculiar?

The kitchen junk drawer.

The kitchen junk drawer.

But in the drawer, I found:

  • 10  paper-wrapped packs of carry-out wooden chopsticks;
  • A plastic melon baller;
  • Two or three meat thermometers, but one might be a candy thermometer;
  • My mom’s 1950s twist-off jar-lid remover plus a newer black plastic model;
  • Birthday-cake candles (several varieties, some used briefly) in a tattered Baggie, with a couple of packs of book matches;
  • A gaggle of the thick rubber bands from bunches of broccoli or asparagus;
  • Restaurant to-go menus;
  • My collection of grocery coupons and store list (also avoided by the girlfriend-wife);
  • Another Baggie with several pairs of nutcrackers and picks (which we use for the twice-annual lobster feasts);
  • Heart-shaped metal tin with all sorts of weird flotsam, such as a rolled-up seamstresses’ tape measure, an antique faucet handle, two little plastic babies from New Orleans-style King cakes, a packet of screws and anchors;
  • Assorted chip clips in another old Baggie;
  • Plastic cake decorating tips, new and unopened;
  • Cheesecloth, unused in a slim pack;
  • A turkey baster with no squeeze bulb.
A metal tin of odds and ends in the kitchen junk drawer.

The heart-shaped tin of stuff.

But no screwdriver — or any of the other tools I was sure I had stashed there.

So out to the garage, I trod, on a mission.

My trusty Sears tool cart will have the right tool, somewhere. Pulling open the top drawer, so smooth with its track gliders. The first-level drawer (of four) is where I have aligned my screwdrivers for quick access.

Over time, however, some of my so-called “quick access” tools have migrated there. Finger-sorting among the items, there was a utility knife and a pencil sharpened with the utility knife, a pair of desk scissors, a handy-dandy blade- and tool-sharpener and a couple of pair of vice-grips.

There were two water-pump pliers, two pairs of diagonal cutters, steel nail nippers, and a small roll of black electrician’s tape. My grandad’s claw hammer (the style with the stacked leather handle) is top-center and along the right side is a vintage sleeve of pipe cleaners and a roll of small-gauge brass wire.

Dismay set in as I stood back to look at the collection of mismatched tools. Of the 18 flat-blade screwdrivers I found, there were four Phillips’. And those were tiny or the star-blades were rounded off.

How could this be? My honorary do-it-yourselfer’s badge was in jeopardy?

A graveyard of tired tools

Eyeing the jumbled drawer it was more of a graveyard for tired tools.

There was one Phillips’ head that would do the job. But was I just an undiagnosed tool hoarder?

Some of the screwdrivers in my collection I’d been carting around since I left the Ohio farm in 1976. A couple of them came from my first Sears toolbox bought for me as a Christmas gift by my first father-in-law. That was in about 1980.

A Craftsman tool cart displaying tools and screwdrivers.

Top drawer of my trusty Sears tool cart.

Should I just scoop up the lot and drop them in the dumpster?

Harbor Freight sells plenty-packs of screwdrivers starting at $3 for six, a 22-piece set for $11, a 70-piece set, with a four-leg storage rack, for $28, or a pro mechanic’s set of eight for $50. It might be helpful to own a few long-reach screwdrivers, precision screwdrivers, magnetic screwdrivers, and bit sets.

Like most do-it-yourselfers, I do have two, maybe three, screwdriver bit sets. But digging through those takes more time than opening a drawer and finding a blade that’d be good enough.

My children, sort of

On some level, my tools — like my microfiber car-care towels — are like my children. I just can’t off-load them. There’s even a slender antique sewing machine screwdriver, slotted, with a nifty bulb-like wooden handle. And there’s my dad’s stainless-steel, right-angle screwdriver. Gotta keep that one, even it is seldom used.

Throwing away a tool is like throwing away a partial bottle of good booze. Just because I haven’t poured a drink in years is no reason to just give it the heave.

Buying new screwdrivers just seems like cheating or betrayal of those old soldiers I’ve been carting around. To be gifted new screwdrivers is a whole other thing and that’s OK.

As I turned to head back to the kitchen with the good-enough Phillips’ head, I pulled open drawer No. 3. And oh my, I was faced with another category of psychiatric care: sockets. How do I have so many?

But that’s another do-it-yourself column and after that one, there are the random wrenches, kitchen cutting boards, and doormats. So many deserving of a decent burial.

 

2022 Honda Civic Redesign Overview

by | May 14, 2021 | 0 comments

2022 Honda Civic Redesign Overview

The 11th-generation Honda Civic sedan to go on sale summer 2021

Redesigned 2022 Honda Civic sedan.

The redesigned 2022 Honda Civic sedan. (Photos courtesy of Honda)

BY MARK MAYNARD

Acompletely redesigned and re-engineered 2022 Honda Civic sedan goes on sale this summer with a “thin and light” body design. With new materials and technologies, the carmaker hopes the new model will be a “breath of fresh air” in the segment.

Civic competitors included the Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza, and Toyota Corolla.

Four-door cars are declining in interest today, but the Honda Civic sedan is and has been a bread-winner model for Honda.

“Despite auto industry new vehicle sales being almost 80 percent light trucks (CUV, SUV, pickups) and last year being very negatively impacted by COVID-19, we still sold over 260,000 Civics in 2020,” said Honda spokesman Carl Pulley in an email.

The Honda Civic interior design emphasizes visibility, intuitive ergonomics, extraordinary passenger volume and driver-focused technology

The interior styling follows the “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” approach. (Honda)

As Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate in the United States, more than 12 million Civics have been sold since 1973. That legacy makes it one of the top three best-selling passenger cars in America, said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations, American Honda Motor Co., in a statement.

Since the launch of the 10th-gen model in 2015, Civic has been the No. 1 vehicle in America with first-time buyers, millennials, Gen Z and multicultural customers, Gardner said. It has had more than 1.7 million units over the last five years.

The 2022 Honda Civic redesigned interior with fingerprint and scratch resistant materials.h

High-touch areas feature quality materials that are fingerprint and scratch resistant. (Honda)

New Honda Civic sedan features

  • First all-digital LCD instrument display in the top-line Touring;
  • Standard 7-inch color touch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto;
  • First Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers and wireless charging, for the Touring;
  • New front air bags are designed to reduce traumatic brain and neck injuries. Rear seat side air bags are a Civic first;
  • Updated Honda Sensing system with a front wide-view camera. The Touring model gets new Traffic Jam Assist and Low Speed Braking Control.

The design

In designing the 11th-generation Civic, the stylists and engineers focused on the original Honda design approach of “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum.”

The new styling seems to represent a coming of age and appears more mature, uncluttered and upscale than the previous styling.

Key to the exterior design was moving the bottom of the windshield pillars rearward by nearly 2 inches. The revised design elongates the hood for a premium silhouette, Honda said in the release. It is a subtle design element that emphasizes its wheels and tires for a stable, planted stance.

The 2022 Honda Civic interior features he redesigned dash incorporates a series of mesh panels to create a clean, continuous look.

The redesigned dash incorporates a series of mesh panels to create a clean, continuous look. (Honda)

The pulled-back windshield pillars, low hood, flat dashboard and hidden windshield wipers enable a windshield with clearly defined corners for a panoramic view.

Redesigned Honda Civic GT sedan

The Sport trim adds matching gloss-black side mirrors, 18-inch wheels and a chrome exhaust tip. (Honda)

Dimensions and body structure

Sizewise, the 2022 model is 1.3 inches longer (184 inches) but the same width and height, 70.9/55.7 inches, as before. Curb weights are up 106-114 pounds across the trim levels. And trunk space was trimmed by just 0.3 cubic feet, but still large at 14.8 cubic feet.

The body structure is the most rigid in Civic history, Honda says. It was improved by 8 percent in torsional rigidity and 13 percent in bending rigidity. It also reduces road and wind noise in the cabin.

The stiffer structure aids ride quality and sharpens suspension response for better handling.  A slightly wider rear track (0.5-inch) also enhances stability.

As before, the Civic continues as front-wheel drive with no plan yet for AWD.

Interior

Inside, the styling follows the “Man-Maximum, Machine-Minimum” approach, Honda says. The treatment emphasizes “exceptional visibility, intuitive ergonomics, extraordinary passenger volume and driver-focused technology,” Honda says.

High-quality materials are used throughout the interior, especially on touchpoints. Special attention was given to the operation of  switchgear and controls. And all trim levels have a new front seat design to firmly hold the body and enhance comfort on long drives.

Materials were also chosen for practicality, such as the new center console trim that is designed to hide fingerprints and smudges.

2022 Honda Civic GT gauge array turns red

In Sport mode, the 10.2-inch digital gauge array turns red. (Honda)

Digital displays

For the first time, all Civic sedan trims have either a partial or full (Touring) digital instrument display, with larger standard and available color touch screens.

LX, Sport and EX trim levels have a 7-inch color LCD instrument display. An all-digital speedometer and tachometer are on the left side of the display, with a physical speedometer dial to the right.

Touring models also get the first all-digital color instrument display for a Civic. The 10.2-inch high-def panel is customizable from the steering wheel and features several modes. The array can be configured to show traditional round gauges or bar graphs, flanking the left and right of the screen.

There also is a new multimedia 7-inch color touch screen in the LX, Sport and EX trims. It is “the largest standard screen in Civic history, Honda says.” Functionality was improved by adding a power-volume knob and a tuning-selection knob.

The top-line Civic Sedan Touring debuts a new 9-inch color touch screen. It features a physical volume knob, easy-to-recognize icons and a simplified format with fewer embedded menus.

The touch-screen systems have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Only the Touring has Qi-compatible wireless charging.

The 2022 Honda Civic tire and wheels

Tire sizes range from 16- to 18-inches, with gloss-black wheels on the Sport trim (shown).  (Honda)

Honda Civic sedan Powertrains

As with the outgoing Civic sedan, two four-cylinder engines make up the powertrain. The standard engine is a naturally aspirated 158-horsepower 2.0-liter. The EX and Touring trims use a 180-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter. Both engines run on 87 octane gasoline.

Both engines are paired with an updated continuously variable automatic transmission. The CVT now gives early downshifts during braking with revised programming to simulate gear changes under hard acceleration.

Power delivery, engine sound, overall refinement were improved. And EPA fuel economy ratings of both engines are up by 1 or 2 mpgs, Honda says.

EPA fuel-economy ratings for the 2.0-liter in the LX are 31 mpg city, 40 highway and 35 mpg combined. The Sport trim has ratings of 30/37/33 mpg.

The more powerful 1.5-liter engine (up 6 hp from last model year) has mileage ratings of 33/42/36 mpg city/highway/combined.

Honda Civic sedan safety features

The 2022 Honda Civic sedan can boast what Honda calls the world’s first application of front driver and passenger air bags. The design will better control head motions and reduce conditions associated with brain injury, Honda says.

The driver’s air bag is donut-shaped to cradle and hold the head to reduce rotation. The passenger-side air bag uses a three-chamber design for a similar result. In total, there are 10 air bags.

Side impact protection has been improved throughout. There are stiffer structures in the roof and doors, side sills and door pillars, rear wheel arches and rear window pillar.

The Civic sedan is Honda’s longest-running automotive nameplate in the U.S.

More than 12 million Civics have been sold since 1973. (Honda)

Pricing

Official pricing will not be released until just before the on-sale date. But expect the 2022 Civic sedan to cost about the same as the outgoing 2021 model. It has starting prices of $22,245-$29,295, including the current freight charge of $995 from Greensburg, Ind.

There is a financing incentive on 2021 Civics (except Type R) that will run through July 6, 2021. That is likely the cutoff date before the 2022 model goes on sale. Qualified buyers can take advantage of 1.9 percent APR for 24-60 months or 2.9 percent for 61-72 months, with a 10 percent down payment.

Honda's outgoing 2021 Honda Civic sedan.

The outgoing 2021 Civic sedan.  (Honda)

Industry sources say the new sedan will be followed by the Civic hatchback, sporty Si and high-performance Type R.

1960 GMC 1000

by | May 13, 2021 | 0 comments

1960 GMC 1000

The 1960 model year was pivotal for General Motors’ light trucks

A 1960 GMC pickup in two-tone red and white.

The first GMC pickup with a full-width hood debuted in 1960. (GM media archives)

The debut of Jet Age styling

 

The market for pickups was booming in 1960 and the emphasis on styling, comfort, and power was stronger than ever. “All major manufacturers vied for a piece of this expanding pie,” said Mike McNessor in a Jan. 2021 report in Hemmings Classic Car.

The evolution of the Chevrolet Task Force and GMC Blue Chip trucks during the 1950s helped popularize many features that are commonplace today, McNessor said. Among the new features were fleetside boxes, V-8 engines, automatic transmissions and comfortable interiors.

“But, for 1960, GM upped the ante even further, implementing radical new Jet Age styling with full-width hoods accented by jet engine-inspired front air intakes,” McNessor said.

Styling of the 1960 GMC Pickup

The curves of the previous generation trucks were gone, replaced with sharper angles and creases accenting boxy cabs.

Under the skin, the 1960 GMC pickup had double-wall roof construction that included insulation between the sheet-metal layers. There were new front inner fender skirts, safety-catch door latches, sturdier hinges, and rubber insulated cab mounts. A full-length rocker panel, tied to front and rear cab supports, replaced the old-timey interior step that previous GM trucks incorporated into their floors.

GMC truck engine for 1960

For the 1960 model year, GMC was the first brand to introduce V-6 engines in pickup trucks. There was also a V-12, known as the Twin Six. (GM media archives)

1960 GMC Pickup Interior Redesign

“Inside the cockpit for ’60, there were suspended clutch and brake pedals that eliminated difficult-to-seal holes in the floor. A 26-percent increase in windshield area gave operators a better view of the road, while longer wiper blades kept more of that glass clear in stormy weather. There was nearly 6 inches more hip room, plus more shoulder room, headroom, and legroom over previous GM trucks, all in the name of driver comfort.”

Beginning in 1920, GMC and Chevrolet trucks became largely similar, according to the page in Wikipedia. Built as variants of the same platform, the two brands shared much of the same body sheetwork, except for nameplates and grilles — though their differences, especially engines, have varied over the years,

A print ad for the 1960 GMC truck line

GMC boasted in print ads a “breakthrough” in truck engines “to give triple the life” without a major overhaul. (GM media archives)

 

A Breakthrough In Truck Engines

“GMC advertising marketed its trucks to commercial buyers and businesses, whereas Chevrolet’s advertising was directed toward private owners. Beginning in 1928, GMCs used Pontiac’s 186-cubic-inch six-cylinder engines in their lighter trucks. Medium-duty trucks relied on Oldsmobile straight-6 engines, while the heaviest trucks used GMC’s own “Standard Big Brute” engine.

“From 1939 to 1974 GMC had its own line of six-cylinder engines, first the inline sixes known as “Jimmys” from 1939 to 1959, and then their own V-6 from 1960 until 1974, of which a V-8 and a V-12 version also existed.

“Additionally, from 1955 through 1959, the less than 2-ton, domestic GMC gasoline trucks were equipped with Pontiac, Buick and Oldsmobile V-8s —whereas the Canadian models used Chevrolet engines.”

See more vintage car photos here.

Mark Maynard

 

5 U.S. Museums for Rare Volkswagens

by | May 13, 2021 | 0 comments

5 U.S. Museums for Rare Volkswagens

Connect the highway lines to these 5 Volkswagen museums for some fun summer road trip exploration

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

Like spring peepers emerging from vernal pools, America also has begun to emerge from the muck of a pandemic lockdown. With cautious optimism, a road trip looks to be a safe form of travel into new adventures. Consider these five Volkswagen automotive museums across the U.S.

Here are five automotive museums across the U.S. that have helped preserve some of the world’s rarest Volkswagens. The institutions of preservation feature everything — from a never-been-titled 1974 Karmann Ghia to a 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus that is a piece of civil rights history.

With expansive collections available to the public, anyone can admire these classic cars. Whether these five museums are pit stops or your destination, their collections of vintage Volkswagens are worth seeking out.

1. LeMay – America’s Car Museum, Tacoma, Wash.

A 1967 Type 2 double-door camper.

A 1967 Type 2 double-door camper at LeMay Automotive Museum. (LeMay)

America’s Car Museum preserves the history, technology, and influence of cars in the U.S. through its 12 rotating exhibits. Among the museum’s collection of more than 250 cars is a light green 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 double-door camper. It has been restored with its original interior, wooden cabinets, fold-down table, and bed. The car was donated by renowned blown-glass sculptor Dale Chihuly, who was born in Tacoma. The museum also features a turquoise 1962 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia that was owned by museum founders Harold and Nancy LeMay.

2. Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, Ocala, Fla.

A 1974 Karmann Ghia.

The 1974 Karmann Ghia at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing.

Automotive engineer and racecar driver Don Garlits is considered the father of drag racing. As a young man, Garlits would buy a new Volkswagen every year, and the vintage vehicle wing of his museum reflects his love of the brand. Most notable in his collection is his green 1974 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia that he purchased from a car dealership auction. The vehicle has only been driven for 27 dealer test miles and has never been titled. From the same auction, Garlits also purchased a black 1950 Volkswagen Beetle. It is one of only 151 that were imported to the U.S. that year. Garlits restored it himself before displaying it at his museum.

3. Volo Museum, Volo, Ill.

The animatronic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle, "Herbie"

The animatronic 1963 Volkswagen Beetle at the Volo Museum. (Volo Museum)

On a trip to the Windy City, head north about 50 miles to the suburbs to the Volo Museum. It is an entertainment zone classic cars, including many from TV and movies. The pearl white, No. 53 Beetle is a movie star worth visiting. About 35 models of the iconic car were built for the 2005 sequel, “Herbie: Fully Reloaded.” The car on view really does come to life from a network of more than a mile of wires concealed under the hood. The museum has rigged it to a motion sensor, so the Beetle still reacts when someone walks by.

4. The National Automobile Museum, Reno, Nev.

A restored 1947 Volkswagen Type II Limousine.

This restored 1947 Type II Limousine at the National Automotive Museum in Reno, Nev.

This collection of more than 200 vintage vehicles dates as far back as the 1890s in downtown Reno’s National Automobile Museum. An air-cooled, four-cylinder black 1947 Volkswagen Type II Limousine is on display. Visitors are often surprised to see that the four-seat car is called a “limousine,” but in Germany where the car was built, the term simply means “full-sized sedan.” A ruby-red 1964 Volkswagen 1200 Deluxe Convertible is also on display, after being completely disassembled and restored by the museum.

5. The Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles.

The so-called Jenkins 1966 Type 2 VW bus

At the Petersen Museum, view this 1966 Type 2, formerly used by civil rights pioneers Esau and Janie B. Jenkins. (Historic Vehicle Association)

With more than 100,000 square feet of exhibits and 300 vehicles, the Petersen Museum is one of the world’s largest automotive museums. Its exhibits feature many iconic Volkswagens, including the yellow 1979 Volkswagen Transporter Van from the 2006 film, “Little Miss Sunshine.”

Also on display is the 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 “Jenkins Bus” that was used by civil rights pioneers Esau and Janie B. Jenkins in Johns Island, S.C. The bus was used to transport hundreds of residents of the island to attend high school. The Jenkins family helped Black citizens pass discriminatory voting literacy tests, and later opened businesses on Johns Island to support the community. The bus has been carefully preserved and still bears the marks of its over 40 years with the Jenkins family.

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE Review

by | May 12, 2021 | 0 comments

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE Review

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is a complete redesign and exclusively powered as a gasoline-electric hybrid

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE exterior.

The sport-themed 2021 Toyota Sienna XSE adds dark 20-inch split five-spoke wheels, more aggressive front and rear bumpers and a black headliner. (Photography by Toyota)

 

BY MARK MAYNARD

You can fit just about anything in a minivan — except an ego. These three-row people movers are the most efficient modes of transportation, yet ownership has been traumatized ever since the damning label of “Soccer Mom Mobile” was applied. It nearly killed the segment. Mention of the word brings polarized responses, like “hell-no never” to “make way for the welcome wagon.”

To spackle over the crazed aversion, manufacturers have long tried to offer sporty variants, which were usually received with a shrug and “Meh.” Anybody who wanted a van, didn’t need it to be cladded-up and those who didn’t want a van would not be tempted by cosmetic enhancements.

A side view of the new Sienna minivan

The 17-foot-long Sienna drives “small” with a high seating position.

So those carmakers with struggling minivans sales dumped them, including Ford and GM. Today, there are just four 2021 minivan choices: the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona (soon to be replaced by the Carnival), and today’s tester, the Toyota Sienna.

Toyota’s sculpted redesign of its 2021 Sienna makes for a more credible sporty variant in the new XSE model. Whether for minivan-hating parents or their children, the Sienna is a big toy box of possibilities, and now a greener choice.

Front seats in the Sienna minivan.

The shifter and necessary functions are all within easy reach.

2021 Toyota Sienna Pricing

The first Sienna went on sale in the United States as a 1998 model and is now in its fourth generation. It has been designed, engineered, and assembled in the U.S. since it debuted.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is a complete redesign and exclusively powered as a gasoline-electric hybrid, with optional all-wheel drive and seating for seven or eight.

A view of the Sienna's rear end

Toyota applied a few styling tricks to tone down the traditional minivan styling.

The Sienna is sold in five trim levels of LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. Starting prices range from $35,635 for the eight-seat, front-drive LE to $51,710 for the seven-seat Platinum AWD. Pricing includes the $1,175 freight charge from Princeton, Ind.

Some Sienna XLE models and the XSE, Limited, and Platinum are seven-seat models and feature the super-long-slide second-row captain’s chairs, and the Limited and Platinum FWD models have ottomans.

Electronic on-demand AWD is just a $760 option.

The XSE Plus package ($1,000) adds wireless phone charging, black roof rails, 12-speaker JBL audio, 9-inch touch screen, and dynamic navigation with a 3-year trial and connected services.

Pricing incentives for APR, cash, and lease.

2021 Toyota Sienna front seat features with the under-console storage area.

The broad span of the instrument panel has a step-down shelf.

Warranty Coverage

Hybrid-related components that require repairs to correct defects in materials or workmanship are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles from the original date of first use when sold as new. The hybrid battery is covered for 10-years/150,000-miles and is transferrable across ownership.

The new-vehicle warranty includes 3-years/36,000-miles bumper to bumper; 5-years/60,000-miles powertrain; and 2-years/25,000-miles ToyotaCare, free factory scheduled services, and 24/7 roadside assistance.

Super long slide second-row seats.

Super-long-slide second-row captain’s chairs.

Styling

Here’s how Toyota tried to take the minivan out of the styling:

•A speedy pillar at the rear cabin is dynamically angled forward;
•Thin bands of LED lighting at the taillight flow from the body to the rear to create a signature impression;
•Integrated black taillight canard looks cool but also improves aerodynamics;
•Sculpted tailgate with an integrated spoiler is made possible by a molded resin process.

The minivan's gearshift console.

The shift console is cleverly integrates storage and cup holders. 

Ride and Handling

No tachometer, no wedgie-inducing front seats, no problem.

As a father now graduated from child-rearing years, I always liked testing minivans, and not just because my two charges ran to do homework in the van.

It’s the view from the inside out that mattered — not that I might be judged a “soccer dad,” though my step-daughter was a brutally effective club soccer player.

Ride quality in the XSE is slightly sport-tuned but never harsh or pitchy. There is good driver connectivity between the steering input, braking response, and acceleration.

Second-row captain's chairs.

The storage areas are a vertical ecosystem of tiers, trays, and cubbies.

20-inch Tires and Wheels

The front-drive XSE has 20-inch Michelin Primacy all-season tires, P235/50; AWD models get 18-inch tires, P235/60. Its exterior appearance is somewhat sportified by dark 20-inch split five-spoke wheels and aggressive front and rear bumpers.

Despite the Sienna’s 17-foot-length, it drives “small” with a high seating position, low step-in height, and big windows, with privacy glass behind the front row. Driver sightlines are open across the hood and over the shoulder and the turning circle is refreshingly modest at 38.2 feet, though you’ll have to swing a little wider when steering into the parking stall.

Four-wheel disc brakes work without regen-grab common to some of Toyota’s other hybrid models. Ventilated discs front and rear are towing capable (up to 3,500 pounds) with 12.9-inch discs front, 12.5 inches rear.

The XSE has dark chrome wheels and all-season tires.

The Sienna XSE has dark 20-inch split five-spoke wheels.

Sienna Safety Features

The Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 2.0) system includes a pre-collision system with daytime and low-light vehicle and pedestrian detection, plus daytime bicyclist detection. Automatic braking is activated by PCS if the driver does not react in time in certain emergency situations. The system also can detect a vehicle ahead, a bicyclist, or a pedestrian in low light situations.

Other standard equipment on all trim levels are 10 air bags, stability, and traction controls, brake-force distribution, brake assist, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Driver-Assist Systems

The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 package of technologies allows Level 2 semi-autonomous driving while keeping both hands on the wheel. Keeping the Sienna on the correct track is enhanced by all-speed dynamic radar cruise control and lane change assist, lane tracing assist, front cross-traffic alert, and pedestrian alert.

The system capably keeps the car centered in the lane, but like most systems, it will randomly shut off, sometimes due to variable light and road-surface conditions. This type of safety system will be beneficial for those drivers who have daily commutes in heavy traffic. It is an extra six eyes on the road to watch for less attentive drivers.

2021 Toyota Sienna Softex trimmed seat upholstery.

Softex-trimmed seat upholstery and heated power front seats are standard on the XSE.

Sienna Hybrid Powertrain

The Sienna’s gasoline-electric hybrid system integrates a 176-horsepower, direct-injection 2.5-liter four-cylinder with two electric motors, a front-drive 134 kW (180-hp) permanent-magnet synchronous, and a 40-kW rear.

Toyota’s use of a nickel-metal hydride battery pack isn’t as technologically high-powered as a lithium-ion battery pack, but I couldn’t tell a difference, it just works. With  288-volts, the battery pack lets the Sienna roll for blocks on silent battery power at low speeds or creeping in traffic. This is the same well-tested system Toyota has used for years.

With a combined power of 245-hp, there was no lag in launch power and it will cruise comfortably at highway speeds. The electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) has a sequential shift mode, but I didn’t feel the need. The CVT kept the power easily controlled under my right foot.

Official fuel economy ratings are 36 mpg city, 36 highway, and 36 mpg combined for front-drive and 35/36/35 mpg AWD, using the recommended 87 octane. In a test week of 142 miles, my average fuel economy ranged from 27.5 to 29.8 mpg, and it was still building when I had to exit the freeway.

Interior Function

The entire cabin of the 2021 Toyota Sienna is well-soundproofed and quiet rolling with the Michelins.

Interior storage opportunities are a vertical ecosystem of tiers, trays, and cubbies. In all, there are seven USBs, six of them for charging, 18 cup holders, onboard Wi-Fi, and the optional Driver Easy Speak, which is essentially a built-in PA system that carries the driver’s voice through the audio system to the rear seats to the source of the disturbance.

The broad span of the instrument panel has a step-down shelf, handy for the passenger to lay a phone and the door panels have spacious bottle storage and a shallow tray. Toyota says the unique Bridge Console is key to allocating personalized space to the driver and front passenger. Positioned high between the driver and passenger, the bridge connects the instrument panel to the center armrest. Beneath the bridge is a large open area to stow out of sight larger items such as a purse or bag. But the bridge takes away the once-familiar step-through for parents to slip into the back seat for child care or discipline.

Clever Engineering

The shift console is cleverly designed to integrate storage and cup holders, of which there are four. A cutout for the two smaller cup holders nearest to the driver’s elbow is made dual purpose with a tip-back lid that leaves a 6-inch-wide by 1.24-inch slot for a phone, errand list, or note pad. One of the larger cup holders nearest the wireless charging pad and a charging USB also integrates a phone-size slot.

There is deep storage in the armrest console (12 inches to the bottom) with a pair of charging USBs. The space is handy for holding the pair of wireless headphones for the optional rear-seat entertainment system.

The Toyota Sienna's cargo area with folded third-row seats

Split & Stow third-row seats are cleverly engineered. (Mark Maynard)

Back Seats and Cargo

Kick-activated sliding doors and the back seat step-in height of 18 inches are child-reasonable. There is nearly 3 feet of NBA-class legroom provided by the super-long-slide second-row captain’s chairs, which also recline. Manual sunshades in the second row are assets as are two more charging USBs.

Power ports in the Toyota Sienna's cargo area.

The cargo area has a 1500-watt household power plug. (Mark Maynard)

And there is another pair of charging USBs in the third row, which is a Split & Stow design. It takes a hefty tug to stow or restore the seats and the flat area when the seats are stowed has no covering so dog crates or other such materials might not ride flat without bolstering.

Woodland Special Edition

Adventurers will be able to embrace their nomad lifestyle this fall with the Sienna Woodland Special Edition. Pricing has not been announced but is expected to start at around $45,000, including all-wheel drive and raised suspension.

Special features include:

•1500-watt capable power outlet (to power most household items for a day trip or an overnight camping excursion);
•Tow hitch with a 3,500-pound trailer weight;
•Roof rails with crossbars;
•Exclusive Cement paint color;
•Black sport trimmed seats with unique stitch color;
•18-inch wheels;
•Dark chrome-colored accents;
•Black badging;
•Navigation with 12-speaker JBL 1200-watt audio system.

Other standard Woodland Edition equipment includes super-long-slide second-row captain’s chairs, Split & Stow 3rd Row Seat, kick-activated sliding doors, heated front driver and passenger seats, sunshades in the second row, and seven USB ports across all three rows.

And with every sale, Toyota will make a $250 donation to the National Environmental Education Foundation. The effort will be a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 to support NEEF’s mission to make the environment more accessible, relatable, and connected to people’s lives.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Edition.

The 2022 Woodland Edition features the exclusive Cement paint color.

Why Buy the 2021 Toyota Sienna?

With the substantial baggage most drivers drag along with them every day, a rational society might think that a minivan would be a top seller. But minivans are like green vegetables — we know should eat more of them, but for many, it is the sexiness of SUV fast food that wins the sale.

The Sienna is green and very inviting for an extended road trip. My average fuel economy of 28-plus-mpg was impressive, though I never transported a van full of people.

Its exterior styling is attractive and somewhat eye-catching on the road … for a minivan. But it is the inside where this minivan far exceeds any utility of an SUV or its fuel economy or ease of entry — and all that with a tow rating of 3,500 pounds.

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE FWD Specifications

Body style: Full-size 7- to 8-seat front- or AWD minivan

Engine: 176-hp, direct-injection 2.5-liter 4-cylinder; 176 lb.-ft. torque at 4,400 rpm

Electric motors: 134 kW (180 hp) permanent-magnet synchronous front; 40 kW rear

Hybrid battery pack: Nickel metal hydride; 288 volts; 40 cells, 7.2-volts per cell; 650 volts maximum

Combined net power: 245-hp

Transmission: eCVT with sequential shift mode

Fuel economy: 36/36/36 (FWD) 35/36/35 (AWD) city/hwy/combined; 87 octane

BY THE NUMBERS

Fuel tank: 18 gallons

Cargo space: 33.5-75.2 cu. ft. behind 2nd/3rd rows

Front head/leg room: 40.1/40.3 in.

2nd-row head/leg room: 39.3/39.9 in.

3rd-row head/leg room: 37.4/38.7 in.

Length/wheelbase: 204.1/120.5 in.

Curb weight: 4,675 lbs.

Turning circle: 39.2 ft. FWD (20-inch wheels); 38.3 ft. AWD (18-inch wheels)

Tow capacity: 3,500 lbs.

Coefficient of drag: 0.28

Safety features include: 10 air bags, Toyota’s Star Safety System (stability and traction controls), brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart-stop technology, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, includes a pre-collision system with daytime and low-light vehicle and pedestrian detection, and daytime bicyclist detection; full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control; lane departure alert with steering assist; automatic high-beam headlights; lane tracing assist; and road sign assist

PRICING

Base price: $42,000, including the $1,175 freight charge. Price as tested $46,843

Options on test vehicle: Ruby Pearl metallic paint $425; Rear seat entertainment system with 2 wireless headphones $1,415; XSE Plus package $1,000; 1,500-watt power inverter $300; Rear bumper applique $69; Floor and cargo mat package $294; wheel locks $65

Where assembled: Princeton, Ind.

Warranty: 3-years/36,000-miles basic bumper to bumper; 5-years/60,000-miles powertrain; 10-years/150,000-miles hybrid battery; 8-years/100,000-miles hybrid system; 2-years/25,000-miles ToyotaCare, free factory scheduled services and 24/7 roadside assistance