The 2021 Toyota Sienna has all the right ingredients to shake up the minivan market, and Doug DeMuro got his hand on one. While the new Sienna range does kick off from $34,460 before handling, the model tested here was the top end Platinum that starts at $49,900 for the FWD version and $50,535 for the AWD model, plus $1,175 delivery.
Underpinning the new Sienna is Toyota’s TNGA-K architecture and, according to the automaker, it has a design inspired by the bullet trains of Japan. It certainly looks the part and, thanks to its large grille and aggressive lights, has more road presence than the current Honda Odyssey.
A key update made to the new Sienna is the fact that it is only available with the Toyota Hybrid System II powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder working alongside a pair of electric motors. All up, the Sienna delivers 243 hp and returns 36 mpg (6.5 l/100km).
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In the cabin, the new Toyota Sienna sports a host of interesting features. For example, it has a new vacuum cleaner that is incorporated into the center console to make cleaning the second row easy. While the Odyssey also has a vacuum cleaner, it is stored in the rear cargo area and isn’t as convenient. The console of the Sienna also includes a small refrigerator.
Up front, the 2021 Sienna has a floating center console that houses the gear lever and controls up top, while the space below acts as a large storage area. There’s also a digital rearview mirror, six cup holders up front and another 12 found throughout the cabin for a total of… 18!