2021 Toyota Sienna Review

　　

2021 Toyota Sienna Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The Toyota Sienna is one of the most recognizable minivans on the market. This is due in no small part to the "Swagger Wagon" ads that defined the last-generation model early in its life cycle. Though the quirky marketing — and Toyota's reputation for above-average reliability — helped carry the previous Sienna for nearly a decade, a new minivan would need more than a rapping family to connect with modern buyers. Enter the redesigned 2021 Sienna.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Sienna LE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) 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

　　$106/mo  for Sienna LE 8-Passenger

　　Sienna LE 8-Passenger

　　LE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $34,460 MSRPLE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $36,460 MSRPXLE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $39,750 MSRPXLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $39,750 MSRPXLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $41,750 MSRPXSE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $42,000 MSRPXSE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $42,760 MSRPLimited 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $46,700 MSRPLimited 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $48,500 MSRPPlatinum 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $49,900 MSRPPlatinum 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $50,460 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Compact Minivan

　　Clearly, Toyota thinks fuel economy is one way to stand out. Gone is last year's 3.5-liter V6; in its place is a hybrid powertrain that uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It's essentially the same system that Toyota uses in its RAV4 Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid, and it produces 245 horsepower. That's a far cry from the outgoing model's 296 hp. But in return you get an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in combined driving.

　　The rest of the 2021's Sienna's changes are more evolutionary, with improved technology features and a new center console design that's more like a SUV's. The Sienna's biggest competitors — the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica — are both excellent thanks to their clever and usable interiors, comfortable rides and wide array of features. The Sienna comes up short in a few areas — check out our Expert Rating for the details — but overall it's a solid 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.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　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's hybrid-only powertrain means it's ultra smooth to accelerate but also a lot slower than its peers, taking an extra second to reach 60 mph compared to most other vans (including the outgoing Sienna with a V6). This slower acceleration isn't evident when you're just cruising around town. But you'll notice it when you're merging onto the highway or going up grades.

　　The Sienna isn't the most nimble minivan in the class, but it holds its own. It drives more like a car than an SUV. The steering is weighted well to cruise for hours down the highway. It's also light and easy to turn during low-speed maneuvers.

　　Emergency braking performance is OK, but the bigger deal is the pedal's sometimes awkward grabby feel. That can make it hard to consistently stop smoothly.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Sienna? We had no complaints after spending hours in the driver's seat. Its wide range of adjustability gets much of the credit, though this is a common feature in the class. Optional ottoman-style footrests in the second row plus a huge range of fore-aft sliding create a business-class-like feel and give the Sienna an edge in second-row comfort. Optional four-zone climate control is one more zone than competitors have (three-zone is standard) and is effective at keeping the cabin cozy, hot or cold.

　　Noise is an area of concern. So long as the engine isn't working hard, the cabin is quiet, even serene. When you ask for power, the whole cabin will know. The engine and CVT drone considerably. Optional in-car voice projection, which sends front passenger voices through the rear speakers and headsets, helps as a work-around. You can save the shouting for when you really need it.

　　

Interior

9.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Sienna pulls ahead of the pack in this area. It sits at a height that makes it easy to slide in and out of. The driving position is excellent and versatile. We're fans of the large central touchscreen with two exceptions: the glare that it throws off in midday sun and some far-side buttons that feel a bit out of reach. All other primary controls are placed logically and function as expected.

　　There's naturally good visibility out of the cabin. An optional surround-view camera system can provide a see-through view of the Sienna to make things even easier. There's also a digital rearview mirror that solves the issue of seeing past headrests or high-piled cargo in the back. The sliding doors and rear hatch have a no-touch open and closing feature. Just swipe your foot to operate them.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment system uses a combination of a quick-responding touchscreen and physical buttons. The redundancy lets you choose your preference for menu access. The native navigation is accurate and easy to read, and the system's voice commands respond well to natural language. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration is also standard.

　　Interior tech features worth mentioning include a handy cabin intercom system, Wi-Fi connectivity and a generous number of USB ports for all three rows. We found the advanced driving aids to be excellent too. Adaptive cruise control is tuned well to avoid the heavy and sudden brake application we see from some other brands.

　　

Storage

8.5/10

　　How’s the storage? All minivans are masters of utility, and the Sienna is no exception. There's a deep well for cargo storage behind the third row that also has hooks on the seatback. The third row can be manually folded and stows almost flat into the floor, and the second-row seats slide far forward, offering a great cargo solution. One big drawback is the second-row seats aren't removable as they are in other minivans, which greatly reduces the maximum cargo capacity.

　　Storage for personal items is equally good. There are 16 cupholders, multi-level door pockets, and a large shelf between the front passengers that is perfect for a handbag. For car seats, the attachment points are extremely easy to access. There are four in the seven-passenger Sienna and five in the eight-passenger. Buckles are easy for booster-age kids to use.

　　

Fuel Economy

10.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? Chrysler gave us the first plug-in minivan. If you ran out of EV charge, its hybrid mode still returned an EPA-estimated 30 mpg. That was mind-blowing minivan fuel economy at the time. But the new hybrid Sienna is rated by the EPA at 36 mpg combined (36 city/36 highway). And as we discovered, it's capable of much more.

　　After nearly 500 miles with a front-wheel-drive Sienna, we vastly outperformed the EPA estimates. We averaged 42.7 mpg overall, including 44.8 mpg on our mixed-driving evaluation route of just over 115 miles. We can't wait to see if the all-wheel-drive version performs as well. Wow.

　　

Value

8.5/10

　　Is the Sienna a good value? Our Sienna test vehicle wasn't a final production unit, but it felt really well built and was free of squeaks and rattles. Surfaces that are frequently touched — steering wheel, armrests, etc. — are soft-touch and well padded. All these aspects add to the general upscale sense you get from this interior.

　　Though a base Sienna starts a bit higher than other base models, it's comparably priced when its peers are equipped with features to match. The top trim is a tad more expensive but offers value-added features such as all-wheel drive that some competitors don't. It has a strong warranty for hybrid components and roadside assistance and is the only one to offer two years of free scheduled maintenance.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　For those who prioritize how a car drives, the Sienna's brakes may be a deal-breaker. Sometimes they grab too much, sometimes too little, and sometimes they work fine. This factor carries a lot of weight for us and is an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise great minivan.

　　That aside, the Sienna gets a lot of the fundamentals right and offers some bonus elements too. Its exterior styling certainly shows more personality than any other minivan. And some of its more novel interior features include a built-in vacuum, a refrigerator that gets legitimately cold for drinks and snacks, and second-row seats that recline with footrests like you're in an airline business class. Oh, and we've seen this hybrid get well over 40 mpg. That's a wild card if we've ever seen one.

　　

Which Sienna does zzdcar recommend?

The base LE trim comes relatively well equipped, but we suggest stepping up a tier to the XLE trim. It adds more features and opens up the options list to include things that aren't available on the LE.

　　

2021 Toyota Sienna models

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is available in five trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum. Each comes with a hybrid powertrain that uses a four-cylinder engine. Total system output is 245 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Depending on the trim, the Sienna is available with either an eight-passenger (second-row bench seat) or a seven-passenger (second-row captain's chairs) configuration.

　　LE

　　Standard features for this base trim include:

　　LED headlights Power-sliding side doors Three-zone automatic climate control Second-row sunshades Power-adjustable driver's seat Seven USB ports 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Six-speaker audio system An optional LE Plus package adds:

　　Auto-dimming rearview mirror Black roof rails Sunroof Eight-speaker audio system Wireless charging pad Every Sienna also comes with these advanced driver aids:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure warning with steering assist (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane and steers the Sienna back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Automatic high beams Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) XLE

　　Features builds on the LE with:

　　Keyless entry with push-button start Four-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable passenger seat Sunroof Eight-speaker audio system Auto-dimming rearview mirror Simulated leather upholstery Heated front seats Leather-wrapped steering wheel 120-volt household-style power outlet An optional XLE Plus package adds:

　　Black roof rails Wireless charging 12-speaker JBL audio system Integrated navigation system XSE

　　Stepping up to the XSE gives the Sienna a sporty appearance with black exterior trim, a mesh grille and exclusive seat trim. It's equipped like the XLE but comes standard with the navigation system. An optional XSE Plus package adds:

　　Black roof rails Wireless charging 12-speaker JBL audio system Limited

　　The Limited model ditches the XSE's sporty touches and instead builds on the XLE with features such as:

　　Power-folding exterior mirrors Chrome roof rails Wireless charging pad Leather seating Third-row sunshades Available extendable footrests for second-row captain's chairs Standard 12-speaker JBL audio system Platinum

　　The top-of-the-line Platinum trim includes everything on the Limited, plus:

　　Bi-LED headlights Rain-sensing windshield wipers 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the Sienna and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Premium leather seating Available extendable footrests for second-row captain's chairs Heated steering wheel Heated second-row seats Optional for every trim except the LE is an Entertainment package that includes a rear-seat entertainment system with a rear overhead display and wireless headphones. A digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) is optional for the Limited and Platinum.

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2021 Sienna Highlights

Trim: LE 8-PassengerXLE 7-PassengerXLE 8-PassengerXSE 7-PassengerLimited 7-PassengerPlatinum 7-PassengerLE 8-Passenger

　　

Base MSRP	$34,460
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	36 MPG
Cost to Drive	$106/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	33.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles