Toyota Sienna: Cover all the bases… and transport the team

Minivans may have fallen from favour but remain the most practical family vehicle on the market. The current state of that art might be the Toyota Sienna.

The current Sienna covers all the bases.

It offers three rows of comfortable accommodations with sliding doors, providing easy access in tight quarters, whether in a parking space or garage.

Cargo capacity varies from decent with all three rows in place to cavernous with second and third rows down. There is also the ability to fold only one side of those rows.

Toyota has established a reputation for leadership in hybrid technology – combining gas engines and electric propulsion.

The Sienna hybrid, unlike a conventional gas-powered minivan thus offers exceptional fuel efficiency and more than 1,000 kilometres of range. Unlike a pure electric vehicle there is no range anxiety, the fear of trying to find a place to plug in and recharge.

Just go to the nearest gas station and fill ‘er up.

Canadian families do not worry about or change their habits in winter. Neither does the Sienna.

It has all-wheel-drive taking the worry out of seasonal change. There is room for those hockey players, all their gear and the ability to get to the rink when the roads turn slippery.

Some large utility vehicles offer similar all-weather three-row features. None can even approach the fuel efficiency and ease of entry/exit.

Heck, the tester even had a refrigerator and a vacuum!

The Sienna has been around for more than 25 years. The latest generation has been visually refreshed and the technology updated.

The infotainment systems has been updated with a pair of microphones and new ECU for improved call clarity. USB-C charging ports are now standard, but they kept one USB-A for older devices. The wireless charging pad is more powerful and the top trim level comes with a refrigerated box and vacuum.

Another new touch is the Advanced Rear Seat Reminder feature. It uses millimetre-wave radar to sense if anyone has been left behind. If so, it can make a call or send a text message!

The Sienna has a self-charging hybrid since the last total redesign in 2021.

Powertrain built for efficiency

The powertrain consists of a 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine running on the fuel-saving Atkinson cycle combined with electric motors. The front-drive Sienna has one motor incorporated with the automatic transmission. AWD versions come with a second motor driving the rear wheels when added traction is required.

The FWD model has 189-horsepower, and the AWD jumps that to 245. Performance is not the highlight. What you give up in performance, you make up for in fuel efficiency.

In addition to hybrid technology, exceptional quality and reliability, Toyota has a well-deserved reputation for safety. The 2025 Sienna has received a five-star rating from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) gives it a Top Safety tag.

The attraction of a minivan like the Toyota Sienna is practicality.

The Sienna is easy to get it and out of, offers great seat space and comfort in all rows and provision for all the ‘stuff’ we tend to take with us in a vehicle. A massive centre console, containing a big bin, stretches from the dash to the second-row seats. There are other small bins and spots throughout and 18 cupholders.

The second-row seats – captains’ chairs in the case of the tester – slide fore and aft through a 63-cm range! You can choose from more legroom for yourself or more cargo space or room for the folks behind you.

The Toyota Sienna is an amazing example of practicality and efficiency, both of which are greater than any of the taller and more popular utility vehicles.

FACTS & FIGURES – 2025 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD

PRICE

Base: $68,865

As tested: $72,740 including freight

SAFETY

LED headlights with automatic high beams, lane tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicycle detection, lane departure alert, road edge detection, smart stop technology

INFOTAINMENT

120-volt outlet, wireless phone charger, 31-cm centre touchscreen with phone connectivity, 12-speaker JBL audio system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Second-row sunshades, wireless charger, push button start, heated front seats and steering wheel, eight-way power driver’s seat, power passenger seat, four-zone climate control, 18-cm digital instrument cluster, hands-free power-sliding side doors and liftgate, proximity key, auto-dimming mirror, garage door opener, sport seats with faux-leather upholstery, full speed dynamic cruise control, and smart key with push button start

SIGNIFICANT OPTIONS

Platinum package, (heads-up display, intelligent clearance sonar with rear cross traffic brake, fridge box, vacuum) $4,813

MECHANICAL

2.5-litre four-cylinder, hybrid synergy drive, 174-kW motor & 1.90-kWh & Nickel Metal Hydride battery, 245 horsepower, 263 lb.-ft. of torque, regular fuel, Continuously variable automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive. NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 6.6/6.5

DIMENSIONS

Length, 5,175 mm; wheelbase, 3,060 mm; weight, 2,191 kg

COMPETITION

Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival