Sensible Sienta
There is often the debate if the car should have enough space to bring the grandparents around. And then there is the other thing about how much a car would cost doing just that. Toyota, the makers of sensible cars may have a solution for that. The Sienta is Toyota’s answer to the entry-level MPV. For young families who want a car that can do more.
When in the driver’s seat, you are greeted by well-placed dials, and in-between them, a customisable display which can show you information about how efficient your drive is. Activating the push starter, the car actually greets you with a “Good Morning” or a simple “Hello”, depending on the time of day.
Taking off, you will realise that the 7-virtual geared CVT, mated to their 1.5 unit is effective in delivering motion. Smooth acceleration would mean too, that the last row of passengers can enjoy a less jolty ride. There is a side gate to manually shift through the virtual gearbox, when you feel the need to accelerate. Then again, it doesn’t help that much, given that the gear “shifts” are already optimised.
All round visibility is good, considering the amount of glass you get. And the interior also benefits from this, by being well-lit. You’d be glad to know that as an additional safety feature, the Sienta does come equipped with traction control. A test of this got in-dash lights flickering and the car doing its very best to keep a straight line, while fighting for grip. Additionally, there are daytime running lights for the car, which do help in poorer visibility conditions.
Power delivery for the Sienta is very linear, with the 1.5 litre producing 105bhp at 6,000rpm. Maximum torque takes effect at 4,200. Century sprit timing is a rather leisurely 12.8 seconds. We wouldn’t expect the Sienta to produce any figures of high performance, but where it does shine, is that it can command a respectable 16.1km/l, thanks to the fuel efficient CVT.
I must say too, that for an extended drive, the front seats are extremely comfortable and supportive. And I felt that you could spend a long time at the wheel, and not feel your back creak.
While handling may not be the best thing that the Sienta is known for, you’d be glad to know that even for a car with a very simple MacPherson strut front suspension and rear load bearing torsion beam, Toyota did not skimp on the brakes, by offering them on all four wheels, instead of the cheaper disc/drum combination, housed within 15”rims.
What makes a great people mover? There are many answers to that, and it is quite difficult to put your finger on the right answer. But Toyota has presented us with a good compact sized argument. A car that carries with it the sound Toyota values of reliability, with enough space for seven, and at an affordable price.
Sensible? We sure think so.
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