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It’s almost time: the launch of the 2021 Toyota Sienna is imminent.
Okay, we get it. The idea of a redesigned minivan doesn’t exactly get the blood pumping for a lot of folks.
While we may not be talking Nurburgring lap times here, there are early indications the new Sienna will dredge up a different discussion that’s perhaps more relevant to everyday life: the minivan has long fallen out of favour as the family vehicle of choice, but with what this redesign has to offer, the argument SUVS are better is starting to wear pretty thin.
On top of the attributes that apply to all minivans — a lower load floor, more interior space, and easy-to-stow third row seats, for example, the new Sienna has some additions that could propel it to the top of the consideration list for a lot of Canadian families.
We should note we haven’t driven it yet — test drives for Canadian media are yet to come — but we did get an exclusive sneak peek at the interior, and so far we like what we see.
Here are a few reasons why we’re predicting the Sienna will quickly become the new standout in its segment and could leave some parents reconsidering long-held positions on owning minivans.
STANDARD HYBRID DRIVE
This is a big one: you won’t need to pay extra to buy the Sienna as a hybrid because this powertrain is standard equipment. That means regardless of your budget, you’ll benefit from the 7.1 L/100 km combined fuel consumption Toyota Canada says is estimated for the Sienna, which is pretty darned excellent for any three-row vehicle.
Will it be the only hybrid minivan on the market? Technically, no. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a plug
in hybrid, which means it can achieve even better fuel economy in the right conditions, and it will drive like a conventional hybrid even if you never plug it in. But the Pacifica Hybrid also starts at north of $45,000 even after the IZEV rebates. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced for the Sienna, but we’ll be surprised if it’s not a fair bit below $40,000 to start. That number is a budget cut-off for a lot of families who need three rows on the daily.
AVAILABLE AWD
This isn’t new to Sienna, and in fact it’s losing its stronghold on this feature as the non-hybrid Pacifica gains all-wheel-drive for the 2021 model year. However, it’s still worth noting if we’re arguing that minivans can compete with SUVS, since AWD is often a purchase driver for the latter. Plus, as noted, AWD isn’t available on the hybrid Pacifica, and all Siennas will be hybrid with the next generation, so you’re still
benefitting from the resulting fuel efficiency.
AVAILABLE KICKACTIVATED SLIDING SIDE DOORS
Kick-activated liftgates aren’t all that special these days, but kick-activated sliding side doors could be an even more practical application of this technology that will benefit infant-toting parents and older passengers alike. The kicker — yes, I’ve now used this joke twice for the same car — is that kick activation hasn’t universally functioned well across all brands. However, we can report that in our own test of the Sienna’s version for our interior deep dive, it operated flawlessly.
25-INCH SECONDROW SEAT RAILS
In our comparison test of the Chrysler Pacifica and the Honda Odyssey, we noted Chrysler’s stowing secondrow seats trump just about anything any van’s second
row can do. But if you don’t mind giving that up, the Sienna offers a rather compelling alternative: the captain’s chairs are set on 25-inch rails, which creates far more flexibility in allocating leg room between the second- and third-row passengers. On the Limited grade, the captain’s chairs even come with an integrated ottoman.
HIGH-WATTAGE POWER POINTS
On some grades, you’ll find a 1,500-watt household plug behind the third row and, when you opt for a grade with the rear-facing entertainment system, a second one located at the back of the centre console next to an HDMI port. Both of these plugs are powered off the battery for the hybrid drive system and can power small household appliances like a video game system — hence the desire to lean back and kick one’s feet up – or a microwave or blender.
USB-A AND USB-C FOR EACH ROW
Some automakers have barrelled full speed ahead into USB-C. Sure, this is mostly just a matter of replacing cables, but it’s not entirely, and even where that’s an option it’s also kind of nice not to be forced into it. The Sienna thoughtfully places a USB-A and USB-C port in each row, including the third row (although here both ports are set to one side, which could result in some animated debates about seating positions).
UP TO 16 CUPHOLDERS
Yes, the Subaru Ascent has three more. But 16 cupholders is still a lot, and every grade but the entry-level comes with this many. And each of the captain’s chairs has a cupholder mounted on the side with elastic netting, allowing them to hold a variety of containers while keeping them within reach of kids in car seats.