2020 Toyota Sienna Review

　　

2020 Toyota Sienna Review

byCalvin KimVehicle Test Engineer

　　Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at zzdcar.

　　Crossover SUVs are all the rage, but it's good to remember that the trusty minivan can pretty much do the same jobs. And thanks to its boxy body style — unstylish as it may be — the minivan can do a lot of them better. A great example is the 2020 Toyota Sienna.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Toyota Sienna CE Fleet Cargo Van 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$172/mo  for Sienna CE Fleet Cargo Van

　　Sienna CE Fleet Cargo Van

　　CE Fleet Cargo Van 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $29,490 MSRPL 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $31,415 MSRPLE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $34,235 MSRPLE 7-Passenger Mobility 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $34,245 MSRPLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $36,775 MSRPXLE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $37,565 MSRPSE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $37,565 MSRPSE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $39,070 MSRPXLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $39,995 MSRPLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $40,160 MSRPXLE Premium 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $41,255 MSRPSE Premium 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $43,660 MSRPXLE Premium 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $43,685 MSRPXLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto Access 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $43,700 MSRPLimited 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $44,310 MSRPLimited 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $45,670 MSRPSE Premium 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $45,165 MSRPLimited Premium 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $47,830 MSRPLimited Premium 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 8A) - $49,190 MSRP

　　vs

　　$203/mo

　　Avg. Large Minivan

　　It features flexible seating and cargo arrangements, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa connectivity, a responsive V6 engine and available all-wheel drive. On top of that, it's sharper to drive and much easier to load with people and gear than the typical three-row SUV.

　　The Sienna can be equipped in either a seven- or an eight-passenger configuration, with power or manual third-row operation. The third row tumbles down into the floor, while the second-row seats can be removed to make a vast cargo area. One distinctive feature of the Sienna is a small jump seat that is located between the second-row captain's chairs. It allows you to carry an additional passenger in a pinch. When you don't need the middle seat, you can easily remove it and stow it away, giving second-row passengers room to stretch out.

　　Even though the Sienna is one of the oldest minivans on the market, it still impresses with its on-road comfort and flexible configurations. Toyota's Safety Sense system, or TSS-P, also helps modernize the Sienna by providing front collision mitigation, lane departure warning and other modern driver assist features. You might like the Honda Odyssey more for its more modern interior design or the Chrysler Pacifica for its available plug-in hybrid engine option, but overall the Sienna is a solid all-around pick.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Sienna drive? The Sienna keeps pace with the quickest minivans on the market, though sometimes the transmission leaves a little to be desired. There's enough power for your typical driving situations, and the V6 engine feels quite lively at full throttle. We clocked a 0-60 mph sprint of 7.8 seconds, which is respectably quick for a family hauler. However, the engine tends to surge when it's cold out, and the transmission can be reluctant to downshift on uphill grades.

　　The Sienna exhibits noticeable body roll when you hustle it through turns. You'll need to slow down to keep your passengers happy. Note that we tested the Limited Premium; the Sienna SE, with its sport-tuned suspension, is more stable along twisty roads. Braking performance is adequate and benefits from the brakes' soft pedal and linear response that aid predictability.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sienna? The seats are initially comfortable and supportive, but long stints reveal pressure points. Second-row passengers will enjoy kicking back and using the available integrated legrests. The ride is serene and plush and can only be disturbed when driving over sharp midcorner bumps. At highway speeds, significant road and wind noise threatens to disrupt the Sienna's otherwise docile demeanor.

　　The three-zone automatic climate control system works well to keep the entire cabin at a pleasant temperature, but it's almost unbearably loud at higher fan speeds. Front passengers benefit from very effective seat heaters, and the driver can keep his or her mitts toasty with the steering wheel heater.

　　

Interior

7.5/10

　　How’s the interior? The Sienna offers great visibility and, unsurprisingly for a minivan, excellent points of entry and exit for all seats, But third-row passengers may need help sliding the heavy second-row seat forward for access. There's a surprising lack of headroom in the second and third rows due to its tapered roofline, but otherwise legroom and shoulder room are good, even for adults.

　　The poorly arranged controls are also troublesome. For example, when the front cupholders are out, the front-seat passenger will find it difficult to access the seat heater control, and the rear entertainment system is difficult to operate.

　　

Technology

7.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The user interface is intuitive, even though the touchscreen itself is rather unappealing because of low-resolution graphics. Recent device integration upgrades, such as Apple CarPlay, have brought the Sienna up to par with competitive vans. But Android Auto is still not offered.

　　Along with adaptive cruise control, Toyota Safety Sense also includes pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist and automatic high beams. Be forewarned: The Sienna's adaptive cruise control does not feature stop-and-go capability and will shut off once the car drops below 25 mph.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? Excellent cargo volume sets the Sienna apart from the pack, and its flat load floor and low cargo liftover height make it one of the easiest to use, too. We also like the abundance of cupholders, deep storage bins, the push-button operation for the liftgate, and power-sliding side doors. If only the second-row seats weren't so heavy and hard to slide on their tracks, the Sienna would rate even higher.

　　Thanks to the second row's sliding capability, child seats don't have to be removed for access to the third row. But you'll have to dig into the upholstery to gain access to the lower car seat anchors, and the upper tether is somewhat hidden at the base of the seatback.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive Sienna at 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway), nearly identical to the Pacifica and the Odyssey (all three rate significantly higher than the Sedona). We validated these estimates on our 115-mile test loop, where the Sienna averaged 24.2 mpg.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Sienna a good value? The Limited Premium isn't as luxurious as similar rivals, but it is more expensive. Our tester exhibited rattles and a buzzy speaker in the liftgate, which doesn't bode well for a car with fewer than 10,000 miles. Warranty and roadside assistance coverage are fairly standard across the segment. Toyota offers complimentary maintenance, but that's just two oil changes and inspections. Roadside assistance is free for two years and unlimited miles.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Sienna is a mostly competent minivan that'll do everything you expect a minivan to do. It doesn't stand out in any one area, making its competitive advantage hard to decipher, but it's perfectly serviceable in its role as people hauler and cargo carrier. Passengers will find the experience comfortable, provided third-row occupants aren't too tall, and the driver will appreciate the sometimes-punchy V6.

　　

Which Sienna does zzdcar recommend?

The Sienna comes in many configurations that should suit a variety of uses. But our choice would be the SE. It comes with essential minivan functions such as tri-zone climate control, power-sliding doors and a Wi-Fi hotspot, and it adds extra touches such as leather upholstery, sportier styling and a power liftgate. An important point for some: The SE is also available with all-wheel drive.

　　

2020 Toyota Sienna models

The 2020 Toyota Sienna minivan comes in five main trim levels: L, LE, SE, XLE and Limited. The SE, the XLE and the Limited are further available in Premium subtrims. The base L comes well stocked with the essentials, while the LE, SE and XLE trims add more premium features. The SE also has a sportier design. Topping the range is the Limited, which comes with nearly every Sienna feature as standard. Toyota also offers a mobility-enhanced Sienna (LE and XLE) with a power-operated Auto Access Seat.

　　All Sienna trims come with a 3.5-liter V6 engine (296 horsepower, 263 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional on every trim level except the L. Depending on the configuration and trim, the Sienna seats either seven or eight passengers.

　　Standard features for the base L include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, a wiper de-icer, tri-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, a rearview camera, a conversation mirror, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen with Toyota's Entune interface, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, five USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, media player interface and an auxiliary audio jack.

　　Toyota Safety Sense, or TSS-P, also comes standard starting with L trims. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic headlights.

　　The LE adds roof rails, power-sliding rear doors, privacy glass, heated mirrors, a power-adjustable driver's seat, upgraded easy-clean fabric upholstery, and rear sunshades. All-wheel-drive versions also get 18-inch wheels.

　　The SE is equipped similarly to the LE but adds a sport-tuned suspension, sharper steering, 19-inch alloy wheels (18-inch for all-wheel-drive models), and sportier exterior styling. The SE also has a power liftgate, first- and second-row leather upholstery (the third row gets premium vinyl), heated front seats, and unique gauges with a larger driver information screen.

　　The SE Premium adds a sunroof, keyless ignition and entry, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems, a navigation system, a premium JBL sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and the Driver Easy Speak system, which amplifies the driver's voice through the rear speakers.

　　New for 2020, the SE's optional Nightshade package adds black-painted exterior elements, including the grille, wheels, door handles and mirrors. Even the badging is blacked out.

　　The Sienna XLE shares many of the SE trim's comfort and convenience equipment, but it features similar suspension, steering and styling to the LE. It also adds a power-adjustable front passenger seat, imitation-wood trim, power-opening rear-quarter windows, and keyless ignition and entry. The XLE Premium adds the SE Premium's features and rear parking sensors.

　　The plush Limited includes the XLE Premium's features (minus the rear entertainment system), along with 18-inch alloy wheels, a different grille, LED daytime running lights, auto-dimming and power-folding mirrors, front and rear sunroofs, and front and rear parking sensors. Inside is premium leather upholstery on the first and second rows, driver-seat memory functions, and a heated steering wheel.

　　Front-wheel-drive models also get a sliding center console between the first two rows, extendable footrests for the second row, and a power-folding third row with faux leather upholstery.

　　You can add even more with the Limited Premium trim, which tacks on xenon headlights, automatic wipers, a surround-view parking camera system, the rear-seat entertainment system, and upgraded third-row leather (AWD only).

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2020 Sienna Highlights

Trim: CE Fleet Cargo VanL 7-PassengerLE 8-PassengerLE 7-Passenger MobilityLE 7-PassengerXLE 8-PassengerSE 8-PassengerSE 7-PassengerXLE 7-PassengerLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto AccessXLE Premium 8-PassengerSE Premium 8-PassengerXLE Premium 7-PassengerXLE 7-Passenger Mobility Auto AccessLimited 7-PassengerSE Premium 7-PassengerLimited Premium 7-PassengerCE Fleet Cargo Van

　　

Base MSRP	$29,490
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$172/month
Seating	2 seats
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles