Think of the two similar family movers this way: The Caravan line is to the Sienna what Burger King is to McDonalds. You can have it your way at the Dodge store, but the Sienna is one-size-must-fit-all. For those on an extreme budget, a short-wheelbase, three-door, four-cylinder Caravan can be had for just over $18,000. The least expensive Sienna bases at $21,560, though it has a host of additional features lacking on such a plain-Jane base Caravan. On the other end of the spectrum is the Caravan's super-luxurious $35,000-plus Chrysler Town & Country sibling, though a leather-clad Sienna XLE (which tops out at about $31,000) does an admirable job of holding its own in that sumptuous arena-at a lower ultimate tally.
More to remember: the Caravan line comes in two different lengths, offers four different engines-from a miserly 2.4-liter four to a 3.8-liter V-6 with a trailer-mastering 240 pound feet of torque-and the option of all-wheel drive. The Sienna has but a single engine choice, is front-drive-only, is offered in only one wheelbase, and production line constraints mean it's unlikely the Sienna will ever grow to match the Dodge.
While pickups and sport/utility vehicles are often kept as pets (many never haul useful loads or go further off-road than a gravel driveway) minivans are a working breed, hauling people and things virtually every day of their existence. Most buy pickups or SUVs because they want one, but minivans are purchased because of need, so having plenty of room for humans and freight is paramount. It's here the Toyota falls notably behind the Dodge. In many dimensions, the Sienna is closer to the short-wheelbase Caravan than it is to the Grand Caravan. The Toyota's wheelbase is about an inch greater than the short Caravan's, while its overall length is almost exactly between the base and the Grand Caravan. The Sienna is also notably narrower and less tall than the Dodges.
All this translates to reduced second- and third-row passenger room-most notably legroom-and less cargo room. In fact the Sienna has less passenger room for second- and third-row occupants than does the regular Caravan, and, compared to the Grand Caravan, it has a notable 3.0 and 5.4 inches less, respectively, of middle row and rear legroom. The Sienna's deficiency of rear legroom is compounded by seat cushions that are closer to the floor than are the Caravan's, putting occupants' knees uncomfortably higher than their butts. Still, front seat passengers will find the Sienna more commodious than even the Grand Caravan, and speaking as one who rides up front, if the kids want more legroom, let them buy their own darn minivan.
In cargo capacity, the Sienna falls between the regular and Grand Caravans. Behind the third row the Toyota has 4.3 cubic feet more storage area than the Caravan but a significant 2.4 cubic feet less than the Grand Caravan. Strip out both second- and third-row seats for moving day, and the Sienna only matches the regular Caravan and falls an extra campsite-worth-25.5 cubic feet-behind the Grand. Also, the Caravan's center isle is notably wider, which facilitates loading of people, pets, and packages.
The Sienna's modular third-row seats weigh about 30 pounds per section, and are noticeably easier to remove than the Dodge's 110-pound single-piece rear bench. However, if you have help from a second person, the wheels on the Dodge's seats will simplify extraction and temporary stowage. Offsetting some of the Sienna's cargo room deficiency is a tumble feature that allows the seats to flip-and stay-forward.
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