Posts Tagged ‘LE’

2011 Nissan Quest LE

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Review and photos by
Peter Bleakney, Autos.ca

My name is Peter and I like minivans.

I’ve owned two. If I were to raise another family (ha!), I’d buy one. I tell my domesticated friends who are looking at crossovers to buy minivans. They tell me where to get off.

2011 Nissan Quest LE

2011 Nissan Quest LE

There. I’ve said it.

While minivans will forever remain terminally uncool, Nissan, a company never afraid to go out on a stylistic limb, is doing its part to help ease the pain. The all-new fourth-generation 2011 Quest is a funky looking rig, and one that will surely have the tongues a waggin’ at the schoolyard.

Sure, it’s a big box on wheels, but it comes across as intriguingly post-modern retro with its steeply raked windscreen, slab sides and wrap-around greenhouse that is part Jules Verne and part 50s Chevy Nomad. Jeez, it might even be cool. (more…)

2011 Toyota Sienna LE 4-cylinder

Monday, December 6th, 2010

Review and photos
by Greg Wilson, CanadianDriver.com

The first question you might ask about Toyota’s new four-cylinder Sienna minivan is, “Does it have enough power, or should I opt for the V6 engine?” Nobody wants a big minivan that can’t keep up.

2011 Toyota Sienna LE 4-cylinder

2011 Toyota Sienna LE 4-cylinder

The short answer is, “Yes, the 2011 Sienna’s new 187-hp 2.7-litre four-cylinder has adequate oomph, but it won’t impress you like Toyota’s rorty 266-hp 3.5-litre V6 will.” A recent Consumer Reports’ acceleration test of both four- and six-cylinder Siennas revealed zero to 60 mph times of 10.3 seconds and 8.8 seconds, respectively. CR rated the four-banger’s performance “Good” and the V6s “Very Good”.

Naturally, the four-cylinder Sienna offers better fuel economy, but not as good as you might expect. According to the EPA’s “real-world” fuel consumption guide, the four-cylinder Sienna manages better fuel economy in the city: 12.4 L/100 km vs 13.1 L/100 km, but gets the same fuel economy on the highway: 9.8 L/100 km. (more…)