Toyota Sienna

Toyota Sienna at a glance

The Sienna is a monocoque minivan with sliding side doors, a front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive as standard. More Toyota models are listed in our Toyota catalogue.

Third generation: XL30

Exterior

The third-generation Sienna was updated several times, most recently in April 2016, when Toyota substantially improved its looks, interior and technology. The update turned a family car into one with an aggressive character, and the high driving position gives an excellent view through the windscreen. The short front now has a heavily sculpted bonnet that slopes slightly towards the road, sharp new headlights with thin LED strips and a slim multi-section upper grille. The main air intake sits lower in the bumper, in a huge trapezoidal grille, flanked by two small brake-cooling openings with fog lamps.

The side gained larger wheel arches, sculpted doors and sporty side skirts, making it clear that the Sienna is not just for school runs. Window trim and small details were also revised. Wheels are 18 inches, or 19 inches on more expensive versions, and ground clearance is 165–170 mm depending on version. At the rear, unusual proportions and the bumper's shape give an almost SUV-like look; the near-vertical tailgate has large stylish lights and a wide spoiler with a third brake light, and the redesigned lower bodywork looks more muscular.

Interior

The update raised the level of equipment and comfort for both passengers and driver, with a first-class infotainment system and good leather and fabric trim. A 7-inch screen at the top of the console controls the infotainment system. Below it is a panel with the gear selector, drive settings, climate knobs and seat-heating controls. The centre tunnel has no controls but plenty of useful storage, cupholders and an armrest. Every seat in the facelifted Sienna has a side airbag.

The driver faces a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel trimmed in quality leather. The instruments combine a rev counter and speedometer with a 4.2-inch trip computer in the centre. The Sienna seats seven or eight, all on soft, leather-trimmed, heated and adjustable seats (though the adjustment ranges are small), comfortable even on long trips. The third row splits 60/40 and folds away, and the front passenger seat folds to form a table. With all seats in use the luggage area holds 1,105 litres, 2,465 litres with the third row folded and 4,250 litres with all rear seats removed.

Engines and chassis

Combined consumption ranges from 11.2 to 13.1 l/100 km depending on configuration; Toyota did not publish acceleration figures. The engines are paired with six- or eight-speed automatics. Drive goes to the front wheels, and more expensive versions offer all-wheel drive with a multi-plate clutch that engages the rear axle automatically.

The XL30 is built on the front-wheel-drive Toyota K platform with a high proportion of high-strength steel. Suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a semi-independent trailing-arm rear. Steering is rack-and-pinion with electric assistance, and the brakes are discs all round — 328 mm ventilated at the front and 310 mm at the rear — with ABS, EBD, brake assist and VSC.

Safety and equipment

Safety features include a rear camera, dynamic cruise control, an immobiliser, eight airbags as standard, the Star Safety System, Smart Stop Technology, blind-spot monitoring, Driver Easy Speak and a pre-collision system. Even the base version has three-zone climate control, a four-speaker audio system, ABS, EBD, ESP and VSC, keyless entry, an infotainment system, power steering and cruise control; more expensive versions add 19-inch wheels, a more advanced infotainment system, leather trim and a premium audio system.

Fourth generation (2020 onwards)

The fourth Sienna, presented in 2020, was styled by Toyota's American design team. Technically it follows the latest Toyota Highlander, using the new GA-K platform, and it brings a new look, a roomier cabin, richer equipment and a hybrid powertrain as the only option.

Exterior

The new platform changed the design approach: square shapes gave way to flowing surfaces and a sharper, more dynamic look that hardly fits the usual idea of a minivan. The designers took inspiration from the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train, which explains the narrow headlights stretched along the sides as if pressed back by the wind. A very large grille looks sporty, with compact fog lamps at the sides. Strong shoulders, muscular wheel-arch haunches, a flat roof with rails and a spoiler, plastic cladding and double window pillars define the profile. The sporty XSE has 20-inch alloys; other versions have 18-inch wheels. The car grew in every dimension, and the wheelbase is 60 mm longer. At the rear, unusual creases and fang-like light graphics frame the model name, a gloss-black insert sits in the bumper (more elaborate on the XSE) and the exhaust is hidden under the boot floor.

Interior

Two layouts are offered. Base versions have eight seats, with a removable centre seat in the second row; higher versions have seven, with Super Long Slide captain's chairs offering long fore-aft travel, extendable ottomans, good side support and heating. A three-spoke multifunction wheel faces instruments with a 7-inch display showing hybrid system information. The dashboard is completely new, with a monumental three-tier centre console with a touchscreen and gear selector, and a large two-level tunnel between the front seats. The 9-inch infotainment screen now stands on its own. Toyota Audio, Audio Plus and Premium Audio systems are offered, the latter with dynamic navigation and JBL sound; Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa are supported. Materials are of luxury quality, with leather and imitation wood.

Notable options include four-zone climate control, a 10-inch head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, electric steering-column adjustment, the Bird's Eye View camera system and power sliding doors and tailgate with kick-to-open, as well as a fridge, a vacuum cleaner and a 1,500 W inverter. Rear passengers can have an entertainment system with two 11.6-inch screens, HDMI input, a remote and wireless headphones, plus seven USB ports and up to 18 cupholders. Driver Easy Speak lets the driver talk to passengers in the rear through the audio system speakers. The luggage area holds 1,100 litres, 2,465 litres with the third row folded and 4,250 litres with the second row removed as well.

Hybrid powertrain

The V6 was dropped. The only powertrain is a hybrid with a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 141 kW (189 hp), an electric motor on the front axle and an electronic CVT, for a combined 183 kW (246 hp) and about 7.1 l/100 km for front-wheel-drive versions. All-wheel drive adds a second electric motor on the rear axle. No version can be charged from a socket. Four driving modes are available — EV, Eco, Normal and Sport — and Predictive Efficient Drive learns regularly driven routes to optimise the balance between the petrol engine and electric motors.

Safety

The fourth generation has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, automatic high beam, road-sign assist and ten airbags as standard.

Key specifications

Rivals

Minivans compete with fast-growing crossover sales, and the Sienna faces strong rivals, including the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica and Kia Sedona (Carnival).