Sienna SE over Highlander?

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10-05-15, 06:32 AM

#76

JDR76

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The Highlander is still a great choice. You should enjoy it.

My sister has one for her family of 4. They drive out here (Seattle) every summer from Minnesota in it and always have plenty of comfort and room.

A minivan will have even more room, but the Highlander is more than sufficient for a lot of people.

10-05-15, 07:43 AM

#77

MX5

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We've had the first 2 gens of Sienna and been impressed. You cannot beat the practicality, and you can enjoy it as long as you know you have other "fun" vehicles waiting at home LOL

They cheaped out in a lot of ways when they brought out the new style in 2011, but the 2015 interior is much improved. The new seat fabric is very nice, and the big screen indash is a big improvement. Hacks me off, though, that they have had LED taillights since 2011 but this "improved" version took them away on lower line versions.

10-05-15, 10:03 AM

#78

SW17LS

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Quote:

Originally Posted by -J-P-L-

I don't see how it's that difficult getting kids in the 2nd row of a Highlander. An NBA player would get in with ease. The Highlander's middle row and doors are just like the fronts. Granted the 3rd row is more for the occasional extra passengers. That's why I say if you have only 2 kids I think the Highlander is a great choice. And sometimes that ground clearance can come in handy. Lot's of people just don't want a minivan. A lot of it is the stigma which may be unwarranted but it's there. I'm not a minivan hater but I just think crossovers are a great alternative that gets most people's needs met.

You have to live with a minivan to understand why the sliding doors make life so much easier. The wide opening doors help when you can open the doors wide...but you rarely can do that in a parking lot. To wrangle kids into rear facing car seats you need the doors opened all the way out. That alone was the single biggest reason my wife wanted the van.

I'm a huge car guy, and I hate minivans and love SUVs. I traded an SUV I loved on this van and I can tell you, I won't buy another SUV/Crossover until my kids are out of car seats and can get themselves in and out of the car on their own.

Sure the Highlander would be fine, but you're sacrificing a lot of convenience for vanity. After all, remember the Highlander and the Sienna are actually on the same platform. The only difference is that the Highlander looks cooler. Ground clearance? Highlander's ground clearance is 8", AWD Sienna is 6.6". So...its pretty much the same, not like say my Jeep which had 11".

10-06-15, 10:51 AM

#79

stlgrym3

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wow, didn't know this thread came back to life. we love our Highlander overall, but i'd gone with the 2nd row captain seats than bench seating if i can go back in time. access to 3rd row is easier with 2nd row captain seats.