2021 Toyota Sienna Is All-New, All-Hybrid And As Cool As Minivans Get

Toyota has lifted the veils off the all-new 2021 Sienna minivan, the fourth-generation of the popular nameplate.

Designed, engineered and assembled in the United States, the 2021 Toyota Sienna adopts a bolder design that’s inline with the brand’s latest models, comes with a standard hybrid powertrain and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, and offers available all-wheel drive.

Based on the TNGA-K platform, the fourth-gen Sienna features a more daring design that Toyota says is influenced by SUVs and Japan’s Shinkansen ‘bullet train’. The minivan sports strong and robust proportions thanks to the shoulder-themed body design, muscular wheel flares and boldly sculpted surfaces.

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE

The front end features high-set headlights that interact with the small upper grille via chrome trim and the bold lower grille via the creases at their center. At the back, the 2021 Toyota Sienna sports LED taillights with an integrated black canard that’s said to improve aerodynamic performance, as well as a deeply sculpted tailgate with an integrated spoiler.

Customers opting for the sporty XSE model also get dark 20-inch alloys and more aggressive bumpers unique to this trim.

A luxed-up, practical and tech-laden interior

Inside, the 2021 Sienna looks much more modern and upscale than its predecessor. The two-layer dashboard is dominated by the 9-inch ‘floating’ center touch display, 7-inch color Multi-information Display in the instrument panel, and the innovative Bridge Console.

Positioned high between the driver and passenger, it elegantly connects the instrument panel to the center armrest while hosting the shifter, necessary functions, cup holders, available wireless charger and storage bins. Beneath the Bridge Console there’s a large open area for the storage of larger personal items such as a purse or bag.

Available with up to eight seats, the 2021 Sienna comes with the available Super Long Slide second-row captain chairs that slide 25 inches (635 mm) to provide “unprecedented legroom and flexibility to maximize comfort,” according to Toyota. These seats can also be had with an available ottoman feature that further enhances comfort.

The Sienna LE and some XLE models come equipped in eight-seat configurations with two captain chairs, a long slide second row seat and a stowable middle seat. Some XLE models, as well as the XSE, Limited and Platinum, are seven-seat models featuring the Super Long Slide second-row captain’s chairs – equipped with ottomans on the Limited and Platinum FWD models.

243 HP Toyota Hybrid System said to return a class-leading 33 MPG

The 2021 Sienna comes equipped exclusively with the Toyota Hybrid System II which delivers a total of 243 HP and a manufacturer-estimated 33 mpg (7.1 l/100 km) combined – a benchmark for the segment if real.

The hybrid system consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine working in concert with two electric motors and a battery charged automatically as the vehicle drives. The new minivan offers four driving modes: EV, Normal, Eco and Sport.

Customers can opt for an electronic on-demand AWD system available on all model grades for “an exceptionally attractive” yet undisclosed price. The AWD system uses a separate independent electric motor that powers the rear wheels when needed. Torque distribution varies from 100:0 (front:rear) in constant-speed driving to 20:80 on slippery surfaces.

The switch to the TNGA-K platform combined with a trailing-arm multi-link rear suspension and increased body rigidity should make the Sienna more enjoyable to drive, though obviously that’s not its strongest point. The thing minivan buyers care more about is comfort, and Toyota says the 2021 Sienna features a “library quiet” cabin with little noise and vibration intrusion.

Comfort-related features also include the kick-open and closed sliding side doors and rear gate, four-zone climate control system, onboard vacuum and refrigerator, power tilt and telescoping steering column with heated steering wheel, digital rear-view mirror, 10-inch color head-up display.

As for onboard connectivity, the 2021 Sienna offers seven USB ports, available WiFi, available 12-speaker JBL Premium Audio system, and 1080p HD rear entertainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility, navigation system, and more.

On the safety front, all 2021 Sienna models offer the second-generation Toyota Safety Sense. The safety suite includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection/Lowlight Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Trace Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Road Sign Assist.

Also standard are the 10 airbags, Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Traction Control (TRAC), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and Smart Stop Technology (SST).