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Journalists have been singing the praises of minivans for eons now. Even through the rise of the SUV, our recommendations for them never faltered and while they haven’t been in fashion for a long time, they are the best choice if you need to move people and cargo
Chrysler was the first to market a minivan here, but the Toyota Sienna quickly became one of the most popular choices. It’s been around for 25 years now, which is hard to believe, and to commemorate the occasion, Toyota has released a limited-run 25th anniversary Sienna.
This special edition van builds on the Sienna XSE AWD trim and adds among other things, special 18-inch wheels with a chrome finish, power-folding mirrors, ventilated front seats, second-row seats with built-in ottomans, LED fog lamps, 12-speaker JBL audio system, and a wireless charging tray. It’s good value at $4650 for the package and includes 25th-anniversary badging on the tailgate and the floor mats, a choice of Windchill Pearl or Celestial Silver paint jobs, and black trim and badging. If you’re a Sienna fan, it’s worth checking out.
Since its redesign in 2021, all Siennas are hybrid-only. The familiar powertrain utilizes a 2.5-L 4-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for a total output of 245 hp. While some might bemoan the loss of the V6, the hybrid system’s efficiency more than makes up for it.
The Sienna is huge. With a footprint that’s longer and wider than Toyota’s new Grand Highlander, coupled with a minivan’s low floor height, the interior is unsurprisingly cavernous. And the space has been used wisely with all manner of cubbies, shelves, and crevices to throw your stuff in. A handy shelf runs the length of the dashboard and also houses the wireless phone charger. Under the gearshift is a cubby big enough to fit a large bag or in my case, a medium pizza.
Dual power-sliding doors open up to spacious second and third rows. My tester was a seven-passenger version which meant the second row was two captain’s chairs instead of a bench, and because it was a 25th anniversary special, those chairs had built-in ottomans, something you find on high-end luxury vehicles. While the third row can fold flat, the second-row seats do not. They can, however, slide forward and the backrest can be folded in.
Driver and front passenger get large, comfortable thrones on which to perch. Controls are high up and positioned well for easy reach with hard buttons for everything that’s important. USB ports and cup holders are plentiful, and our tester was equipped with a 120V/1500W power outlet so you can plug in your Nespresso machine and skip the Timmies drive-thru line.
In the six days that I had the Sienna in my possession, it helped us move into our new house with an impossible amount of stuff crammed in. It handled multiple trips to Ikea swallowing the largest and heaviest of flat-pack boxes. We hauled old bins to the recycling centre in it and packed it full of lawn equipment. It kept us cool during a particularly hot week and never skipped a beat, all while returning an average of just 6.8L/100 km. That’s compact car efficiency in an all-wheel drive vehicle that’s the same size as a large SUV.
Toyota’s ubiquitous hybrid powertrain makes that remarkable efficiency possible and while it’s not exactly a powerhouse there is enough oomph for the Sienna to get out of its own way. The one issue with this hybrid system, though, is the way it sounds. It’s more backup generator than car engine with a distinctive 4-cycle note and it’s a blemish on an otherwise refined vehicle but still far from a deal breaker. The efficiency and durability of the system far outweigh any aural discomfort.
Driven with a light foot, especially in town, the Sienna will enter EV mode often. On the highway it can coast for short periods using nothing but the stored energy in its battery. Getting over 1000 km of range per tank of fuel is easy.
It isn’t the most dynamic of drivers; look at the Honda Odyssey if that’s what you’re into and it doesn’t have a plug-in hybrid system or second-row seats that can collapse into the floor like the Chrysler Pacifica, but the Sienna is comfortable, holds an enormous amount of stuff and is super efficient without ever having to plug it in.
For a family conveyance, nothing more is required. Your kids will love it, and you’ll love how easy it makes your life. Beach days, shopping sprees, road trips, garage sales, the Sienna is ready.
As an auto journalist, I’m always going to recommend a minivan to a family that wants a “good” vehicle and I also get why that family will go ahead and purchase an SUV instead. But for those who are over SUVs and ready for the ultimate people and cargo carrier, a good minivan like the Toyota Sienna is indispensable.
Chrysler was the first to market a minivan here, but the Toyota Sienna quickly became one of the most popular choices. It’s been around for 25 years now, which is hard to believe, and to commemorate the occasion, Toyota has released a limited-run 25th anniversary Sienna.
This special edition van builds on the Sienna XSE AWD trim and adds among other things, special 18-inch wheels with a chrome finish, power-folding mirrors, ventilated front seats, second-row seats with built-in ottomans, LED fog lamps, 12-speaker JBL audio system, and a wireless charging tray. It’s good value at $4650 for the package and includes 25th-anniversary badging on the tailgate and the floor mats, a choice of Windchill Pearl or Celestial Silver paint jobs, and black trim and badging. If you’re a Sienna fan, it’s worth checking out.
Since its redesign in 2021, all Siennas are hybrid-only. The familiar powertrain utilizes a 2.5-L 4-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors for a total output of 245 hp. While some might bemoan the loss of the V6, the hybrid system’s efficiency more than makes up for it.
The Sienna is huge. With a footprint that’s longer and wider than Toyota’s new Grand Highlander, coupled with a minivan’s low floor height, the interior is unsurprisingly cavernous. And the space has been used wisely with all manner of cubbies, shelves, and crevices to throw your stuff in. A handy shelf runs the length of the dashboard and also houses the wireless phone charger. Under the gearshift is a cubby big enough to fit a large bag or in my case, a medium pizza.
Dual power-sliding doors open up to spacious second and third rows. My tester was a seven-passenger version which meant the second row was two captain’s chairs instead of a bench, and because it was a 25th anniversary special, those chairs had built-in ottomans, something you find on high-end luxury vehicles. While the third row can fold flat, the second-row seats do not. They can, however, slide forward and the backrest can be folded in.
Driver and front passenger get large, comfortable thrones on which to perch. Controls are high up and positioned well for easy reach with hard buttons for everything that’s important. USB ports and cup holders are plentiful, and our tester was equipped with a 120V/1500W power outlet so you can plug in your Nespresso machine and skip the Timmies drive-thru line.
In the six days that I had the Sienna in my possession, it helped us move into our new house with an impossible amount of stuff crammed in. It handled multiple trips to Ikea swallowing the largest and heaviest of flat-pack boxes. We hauled old bins to the recycling centre in it and packed it full of lawn equipment. It kept us cool during a particularly hot week and never skipped a beat, all while returning an average of just 6.8L/100 km. That’s compact car efficiency in an all-wheel drive vehicle that’s the same size as a large SUV.
Toyota’s ubiquitous hybrid powertrain makes that remarkable efficiency possible and while it’s not exactly a powerhouse there is enough oomph for the Sienna to get out of its own way. The one issue with this hybrid system, though, is the way it sounds. It’s more backup generator than car engine with a distinctive 4-cycle note and it’s a blemish on an otherwise refined vehicle but still far from a deal breaker. The efficiency and durability of the system far outweigh any aural discomfort.
Driven with a light foot, especially in town, the Sienna will enter EV mode often. On the highway it can coast for short periods using nothing but the stored energy in its battery. Getting over 1000 km of range per tank of fuel is easy.
It isn’t the most dynamic of drivers; look at the Honda Odyssey if that’s what you’re into and it doesn’t have a plug-in hybrid system or second-row seats that can collapse into the floor like the Chrysler Pacifica, but the Sienna is comfortable, holds an enormous amount of stuff and is super efficient without ever having to plug it in.
For a family conveyance, nothing more is required. Your kids will love it, and you’ll love how easy it makes your life. Beach days, shopping sprees, road trips, garage sales, the Sienna is ready.
As an auto journalist, I’m always going to recommend a minivan to a family that wants a “good” vehicle and I also get why that family will go ahead and purchase an SUV instead. But for those who are over SUVs and ready for the ultimate people and cargo carrier, a good minivan like the Toyota Sienna is indispensable.
2023 Toyota Sienna XSE AWD 25th Anniversary Special Edition
BODY STYLE: 5-door, 7-8 passenger minivan
CONFIGURATION: -Front-engine, all-wheel drive
ENGINE: 2.5-L 4-cylinder + electric motors; Combined power output: 245 hp
TRANSMISSION: eCVT
FUEL ECONOMY : (Regular-grade Gasoline in L/100 km): 6.8 city; 6.6 highway; 6.7 combined
PRICE: $ 56,423 (as-tested)
Website: Toyota Canada
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