I’ve racked up a good variety of miles in our long-term 2023 Toyota Sienna in most conditions possible at this level, so, it’s time to speak driver help techniques. The Sienna doesn’t supply any magical hands-free modes or promise the world by way of distinctive options, however it is a minivan, which implies security and these types of techniques are of paramount significance to dissect.
The massive ones are adaptive cruise management (with full-speed capabilities) and Lane-Tracing Help. Toyota’s adaptive cruise is somewhat clean in operation, although I’ve seen it begins slowing a bit too early every now and then as you strategy slower freeway visitors. You’ll ultimately be pulled into the vary that you just set for the next distance, nevertheless it’s gradual sufficient to take action that I discover myself usually being lower off by different motorists as I look ahead to the Sienna to shut to an everyday following distance. I’d place many of the blame on folks jockeying between lanes right here, however there’s little doubt that it in the end makes utilizing the system a deterrent on busy highways.
That mentioned, if visitors is so busy that it’s stop-and-go, the Sienna is completely clean and works via a visitors jam with out stress, sudden stops or abrupt begins. Acceleration could be a little pokey if the automotive forward of you whizzes away shortly, however the Sienna isn’t precisely a fast automotive to start with.
As for the Lane-Tracing Help, this technique does its greatest to maintain you targeted within the lane when adaptive cruise management is on. It does its job, however you’ll must babysit the wheel in curves and make a good quantity of corrections. Cruising in a straight line is at all times protected, and its lane placement is strong, however I’ve pushed loads of techniques which can be far superior to this stage of lane-centering, most notably in one of many Sienna’s rivals, the Kia Carnival. In comparison with the Honda Odyssey, it’s primarily a lifeless warmth, and everyone’s forward of Chrysler’s lane-keeping tech. It is also price mentioning that Toyota makes it abundantly simple to change this lane-tracing tech on or off as essential by way of a tough steering wheel button. You would possibly assume that is apparent, nevertheless it’s sadly not the case for each new automotive right now.
I’ve fortunately by no means wanted to make use of the automated emergency braking w/pedestrian detection, although I did have a automotive make a Michigan Left (for these unaware) dangerously in entrance of me that precipitated all of the alerts to gentle up and warnings to ring out. It was fairly pointless since I used to be in a position to jam on the brakes safely as quickly as the opposite automotive made their transfer, however had I not been paying consideration, the entire techniques would’ve absolutely snapped me into focus.
That mentioned, please, everyone, put down your telephones – these emergency techniques will not be a crutch to depend on.
Toyota’s commonplace blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert hasn’t failed me but both. The lights within the mirror are simply learn in your peripheral imaginative and prescient, swap on at affordable distances and are simply typically good to have when piloting a car as massive because the Sienna. Rear cross-traffic alert is somewhat helpful, too, and I’ve had it chime on many events to warn me about an incoming automotive that I wouldn’t have in any other case been in a position to see backing out of a spot in a car parking zone.
And talking of that rear digicam, it’s not that nice. The picture is considerably grainy, and its imaginative and prescient when it’s darkish or wet out has me wanting to show round and bodily have a look at the rear window as a substitute of counting on a shadowy digicam view. Alternatively, the birds-eye 360-degree-view digicam on our Sienna Platinum makes parallel parking a breeze and car placement in tight parking heaps all the simpler.
One piece of tech that’s been improper every now and then: the Sienna’s auto high-beams. The sensing system is significantly extra aggressive in its quest to maintain them on than most vehicles I’ve pushed. I’ve needed to manually flip the excessive beams off on many events as a result of the system merely wasn’t sensing the oncoming visitors. This form of habits is particularly dangerous in inclement climate like every stage of rain, nevertheless it’s not proof against making an attempt to blind oncoming visitors on completely clear days both. It really works in (anecdotally) 98% of circumstances, however the different 2% is what it’s good to be careful for.
The final space of critique I’ll hit is the Highway Signal Help characteristic that makes use of a digicam to learn velocity restrict and different street indicators, then show them again within the sprint. Toyota isn’t alone right here, however what the automotive believes and what the precise velocity restrict is usually battle. It’s a neat characteristic to have, however except it’s proper 100% of the time, seeing the improper velocity restrict displayed within the cluster most likely hurts way over it helps. The ethical right here is: Know the velocity restrict.
For all our protection on our long-term Toyota Sienna, be sure to go right here.
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