2001 Toyota Sienna

The 1998-2003 Toyota Sienna is the first generation of Toyota's front-wheel-drive minivan, replacing the mid-engine Previa with a far more conventional Camry-based design. It was powered by the 3.0-liter 1MZ-FE V6 paired with a four-speed automatic, driving the front wheels only. Body configuration was a single short-wheelbase van with a driver-side sliding door added partway through the run, and seating for seven.

Moving to the Camry platform made the Sienna quieter, easier to service, and much cheaper to run than the Previa, though it was noticeably smaller inside than the Chrysler minivans that dominated the segment. The second generation that arrived in 2004 grew substantially and added all-wheel drive, addressing the first van's main competitive weakness.

For used buyers, surviving first-generation Siennas are old enough that condition and maintenance history outweigh every other factor. The 1MZ-FE V6 of this era is associated with oil gelling on engines that went without regular oil changes, an issue Toyota addressed through a customer support program, so documented service history matters. Timing belt replacement is a scheduled item on this engine and should be verified. Sliding door hardware and rear suspension corrosion are the other common age-related repairs.