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Mark my words, I will never be a minivan mom. At least that's what I say now; I don't have any children, yet. Maybe my perspective would change after a few, but I doubt it.

So, why am I reviewing a minivan? After all, I'm missing one very important piece of the puzzle -- kids. Luckily, I have 26 nieces and nephews at my disposal. I choose to temporarily adopt my sister-in-law's family of seven children.

My tester, the seven-passenger Toyota Sienna CE AWD minivan, is perfect for hauling around all the kids. It's comfortable and there's plenty of space for bags, hockey equipment and jumbo-sized drinks. There's no denying how practical, functional and convenient the hauler is when you have a big family. But, I admit, I'm a bit embarrassed behind the wheel of a minivan.

The exterior design leaves a lot to be desired. But style isn't a factor when you drive a minivan. After chauffeuring the kids around Niagara all weekend for hockey practice and dance recitals, I realize function is the only thing that matters.

The Sienna is an extremely practical package. And to the kids, it's loads of fun because, as 11-year-old Emily puts it, "there's so much room, you can fit a whole bunch of people inside."

The Sienna was given a facelift for 2004 so it does look better than the previous model. What's new for 2005 is all-wheel drive on the base model, the CE. It's a fabulous feature that adds a bit to the price, but it's worth it, especially in Canadian winters. The AWD version sells for $35,900 -- $5,900 more than the seven-passenger CE FWD (front-wheel-drive) model.

And there are other redeeming features on the CE like keyless remote entry, dual sliding side doors with child-safety power windows, and foldable exterior mirrors that make manoeuvring into a tight spot or garage effortless.

The high driver's seat provides great visibility and a fantastic view of the road ahead. And an added bonus: the minivan's front window is perfectly aligned with the drive-thru window at Tim Horton's. So you'll never have to stretch and reach for your coffee or change again.

The Sienna's interior is incredibly spacious and comfortable. All the children loved the comfy seats and the flexibility of moving them around. The seats can be positioned 17 different ways to make room for people or cargo.

The captain's chairs in the second row can be folded flat and tumbled separately, they can slide together so kids can sit side-by-side or they can be positioned apart with an aisle in the middle to create a wide gap between fighting kids (a nice feature that came in handy on several occasions).

The third seat can be folded into the floor to create more cargo-hauling capacity and the seats are easy to flip, even with one hand.

Inside, there are storage compartments everywhere -- 14 large-sized cup holders, hefty grocery bag hooks in the passenger and cargo areas, and countless slots for glasses, lipstick, cellphones or keys.

To keep the interior feeling clutter-free, there's even a covered storage compartment in the front door armrest. A bi-level glove box also keeps small items handy in the top compartment while the lower section can be locked for added security.

The gauges on the dashboard are clear, uncluttered and easy to read. There are separate climate control knobs for both front and rear passengers. The sound system is fairly decent, too. It includes an AM/FM/CD/Cassette player with six speakers and steering-wheel audio controls.

A handy device is a conversation mirror located in the overhead console -- you don't have to turn around to yell at the kids. You can keep an eye on them at all times while you're focusing on the road ahead.

The gated shifter is mounted into the lower control panel of the dashboard, but it's positioned a bit too low for my tastes. At least it makes room for a folding tray with cup holders between the firm and supportive front captain's seats.

Despite its size (1,955 kg), the Sienna CE AWD is strong and handles well on the road. The V-6 generates 230 hp and 242 lb-ft of torque. It has a towing capacity of 1,587 kg.

And it's loaded with excellent safety features -- several airbags, vehicle stability control, advanced traction control, anti-lock braking system and electronic brake force distribution with brake assist. And another nice safety feature: if a child tries to open the sliding door when you're pumping gas, a mechanism stops the door from opening all the way.

Overall, the Toyota Sienna CE AWD is a great package for the money. For the base model, it's pretty well equipped. The exterior still needs some work. But I know there's only so much you can do to make a minivan look cool.

pzucco@globeandmail.ca

Specifications

2005 Toyota Sienna CE AWD

Type: Four-door, seven-passenger minivan

Price: $35,900 ($37,160 as tested)

Engine: 3.3-litre V-6 (DOHC)

Transmission: Five-speed automatic transmission

Output: 230 hp/242 lb-ft of torque

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 13.0 city/9.1 highway

Alternatives: Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Caravan, Saturn Relay, Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana

Like: All-wheel-drive; practical; spacious; dual sliding side doors; excellent safety features

Don't like: Exterior styling still needs work