AN ELECTRIC EDITION
New hybrid drivetrain boosts minivan's efficiency
The 2021 Toyota Sienna is on the verge of being released in Canada, and if it's information you're looking for, then we've got you covered, from the redesigned interior to the available all-wheel drive and kick-activated power sliding side doors.
Why give so much air time to a minivan when it's SUVS that Canadians are buying? Because for savvy family-minded buyers who are paying attention, the new Sienna might offer a value proposition they can't refuse.
Toyota has skipped gas-only models entirely and is selling the 2021 Sienna exclusively as what the brand calls a self-charging hybrid. This means that the Sienna is electrified but recovers its charge on its own through everyday driving as opposed to needing a plug.
The disadvantage is that a plugin hybrid would be able to go significantly further on electric power than this Sienna can, which does have a button to force electric-only driving but isn't intended to last very long. The advantage is that the Sienna's benefits don't require any special effort from the driver, and while plug-in hybrids tend to be significantly more expensive because of their larger batteries, the new Sienna uses less fuel while being roughly equivalent in price to the outgoing model.
There's a catch, of course: the previous-generation Sienna had a bargain-basement model priced at $35,750, and it's not carrying over into 2021. You'll need to spend a little over $4,000 more to get into a base Sienna. Adding all-wheel drive to any grade costs an extra $2,000. Standard equipment includes heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and power side doors.
When considering those prices, factor in the fuel efficiency improvements. FWD models average 6.5 L/100 km combined, versus the 11.0 L of the previous generation, which is an improvement of 41 per cent. AWD models average 6.7 L/100 km. Based on 20,000 km of driving annually at a cost of $1 per litre, in your first year of ownership alone you're saving $900 on fuel in FWD or $1,000 in AWD if you match the Natural Resources Canada estimates. Our brief initial test drive returned consumption figures of 7.7 L/100 km with no special effort and on winter tires, which is higher than the estimates but still excellent for a vehicle of this size.
And how does it feel on the road? For the most part, it's enjoyable. The hit of early torque from the electric motor goes a long way in eliminating the heavy and sluggish feel one typically finds in a minivan in lower speeds as it works with the internal combustion engine to create 245 combined horsepower.
Plus, there's little noise transfer in city driving, which shows off the Sienna's quiet interior. The one time the powertrain becomes impossible to ignore is in higher-input situations such as merging onto the highway, when the 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine doesn't create a satisfying amount of power on its own and combines with the continuously variable transmission to create quite a racket.
The new Sienna's handling is significantly improved. The rear suspension has gone from torsion beam to multi-link, and the battery under the front-row seats gives it a lower centre of gravity and a
planted feel on the road. We only sampled the AWD version on this first drive.
Every Sienna has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, making it the only hybrid minivan with a tow rating. Cargo capacity is a fair bit lower in the new model, at 949 L behind the third row of seats, 2,129 L behind the second, and 2,860 L with the second-row seats pushed all the way forward.
On-road testing brings to light the fact that shorter-limbed drivers might have a hard time reaching some of the functions on the
right side of the nine-inch infotainment screen. This can mostly be overcome by thoughtfully programming radio presets and using the controls on the steering wheel, and Toyota's latest system is a significant improvement compared to those found in the brand's older vehicles.
We've said it before and we'll say it again: minivans make a great deal of sense for families, and adding the fuel efficiency of a hybrid powertrain ups the ante for eco-conscious buyers who need a lot of space.