You could be excused for thinking that Toyota had basically forgotten about its Sienna minivan. After-all, save for a few mid-cycle cosmetic changes, the stalwart member of the Toyota line up basically hadn’t changed since 2011.
But hold the phones! A new fourth-generation Toyota Sienna has just been announced for the 2021 model year. And if that news isn’t surprising enough, they’ve announced that it will come standard as a hybrid, and that no gas-only powertrain will be available.
2021 Toyota Sienna Family
PHOTO: Toyota Canada
The small, but still significant minivan market hasn’t seen much innovation over the years. The launch of the Chrysler Pacifica and the plug-in eHybrid variant in 2016 was perhaps the biggest shake up since the introduction of dual sliding doors. But Toyota seems to want to shake up a segment largely ignored by product developers, and including a standard hybrid powertrain is one way to do it.
According to the press release which introduced the new Sienna, the standard 2.5L 4 cylinder hybrid engine will offer a combined 243 horsepower, offer up to 3,500 lbs of towing capacity and have an estimated combined fuel economy rating of 7.1 L/100 KM. All Wheel Drive remains an available option as well.
There is also a new sportier look to the exterior of the Sienna. It seems there is a long-overdue awareness that one of the biggest drawbacks about minivans is the typical boxy and utilitarian design which screams suburbia like no other segment can. That and the less than stellar fuel economy were two big culprits in the demise of minivan popularity which at one time saw over 20 models in North America to choose from. But Toyota is one of a few dedicated players still committed to the segment, and a more aggressive, shall we say “SUV like” appearance to the new Sienna shows that they feel not all SUV drivers are content to stay there.
2021 Toyota Sienna
PHOTO: Toyota Canada
First pictures of the interior show a more modern styling design to the new Sienna as well. Toyota says they want to remove the general bus-like impressions one might get from driving a minivan and their new bridge console would be their way of addressing it. But minivans can’t stray too far from their practical family-centric purpose and to that end, the 2021 Sienna will come equipped with seven USB ports, an available JBL 1,200-watt amp/12-speaker Premium Audio and 1080p HD rear entertainment system, along with 18 cupholders. The very popular Driver Easy Speak feature which allows the driver to speak to 3rd row occupants through the speaker system returns to the delight of many moms and dads.
2021 Toyota Sienna Interior
PHOTO: Toyota Canada
Consistent with many family-sized SUV models that the new Sienna will compete against, Toyota has also added a higher-end Platinum luxury trim level. It will come standard with a 10-inch colour head-up display, controlled via voice recognition and steering wheel switch. The display projects vital information at eye level, such as speed, navigation directions and TSS 2.0 functions. You’ll also be driving on eye-catching 20″ wheels.
No information has been released as to pricing as of yet. Exact dates for availability are also not yet known although Toyota does say the 2021 Sienna will be available later in 2020.
You can expect a full review of the 2021 Toyota Sienna as soon as units become available for journalists to drive. The video review will appear on these pages as well as on my You Tube Channel when completed.
Um, is it a plug-in hybrid. If not, it’s still “gas only” is it not?
Correct in that it is not a plug-in hybrid. It is a traditional hybrid instead, and while we can choose to criticize them for their reticence to move more toward EVs or PHEVs, their traditional hybrids are among the best out there. The segment has few fuel efficient options so if this large minivan can now match the fuel economy of a compact sedan, I will see it as progress for now.
Thanks for your comment, Peter!