2021 Toyota Sienna
- All-new design inside and out
- Standard 36-mpg hybrid powertrain
- AWD returns as an option
- Second row features 25 inches of travel
- Pricing starts at $35,635 (including $1,175 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com
It’s been more than 10 years since the last remake of the Toyota Sienna minivan, so it’s definitely time for a change. So, too, is it time for a change in our Best Buy minivan category. (The Honda Odyssey comes off a three-peat, and top honors for five of the past six years.) The 2021 Toyota Sienna assumes the crown this year on the strength of its new design, standard hybrid powertrain that racks up some impressive mileage, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and the comfort and flexibility of its interior.
Beyond the mechanical changes, Toyota also has a good track record when it comes to quality, reliability and, at the end of the ownership experience, solid resale value.
Minivans are all about comfort and utility. Sienna delivers on both counts with seating for up to eight and such staples as power sliding doors and a fold-flat-into-the-floor third row. Where it breaks the mold is in its approach to the drivetrain, the layout of the forward cabin, and its new exterior shape.
Bullet train-inspired styling
Minivans derive their utility from being a box on wheels. Try as manufacturers might, they can’t seem to make swoopy styling work without sacrificing the minivan’s inherent function, which is to conveniently haul people and their stuff. However, the Sienna employs some tweaks to make the minivan look less minivan-ish. Toyota says the Sienna derives its design from the shape of a Japanese bullet train, the famed Shinkansen. Our white test vehicle bears this out. The Sienna looks tall, with a nose and windscreen that does bear a resemblance to a bullet train engine. The van’s flanks are relatively slab-sided except for some body contours that pay homage to the look of the Toyota Highlander SUV.
Inside, that SUV theme is repeated in the front portion of the cabin, where a large and high center console divides the seating area. This Bridge Console houses the shifter, a wireless charger surface, a few controls, and a large covered bin. Beneath the front half of the console is open storage.
The second row comes standard with captain’s chairs with a removable center seat. This perch has its own convenient stowage cubby behind the third row. Higher trim levels, including all the XSE, Limited, and Platinum models, feature 7-passenger seating only with more deluxe versions of these chairs. There’s also an adjustable leg rest on the top Platinum version. All the second-row seats come with a new “long-slide” feature that incorporates 25 inches of fore/aft travel. This arrangement provides good third-row legroom when the seat is in its forward position. You can slide the seats back to provide a more limousine-like experience. Fold the third row into the floor and you can push the ottoman-equipped chairs in the Platinum for a first-class airline seat experience.
Powertrain prowess
While most minivans offer a V6 engine option, Toyota is taking a different path with a sole powertrain of the hybrid variety. This setup combines a normally aspirated 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor driving the front axle with a combined output of 243 horsepower. All-wheel-drive models employ a motor on the rear axle.
Toyota isn’t the first automaker to produce a hybrid minivan; that distinction goes to Chrysler with its plug-in Pacifica. And while there’s no plug-in version of the Sienna, its hybrid drivetrain delivers an amazing 36 mpg city and highway according to the EPA. Opt for AWD and you lose only one mpg in the city. While the Toyota hybrid isn’t as powerful as the V6 powertrains in its rivals, it makes up for the 30-some horsepower difference with snappy acceleration thanks to the instant torque from the electric motors. Even if you lose the stoplight race, you more than make that back at the pump with a 14-mpg advantage for the Toyota.
Amenities abound
The 2021 Toyota Sienna comes well-equipped, which helps dispel the minivan as penalty box myth. Standard equipment includes a 9-inch center touchscreen, 6-speaker AM/FM sound system, no fewer than seven USB ports, and Bluetooth connectivity along with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto/Amazon Alexa integration. You also get voice command, power windows and sliding doors, 3-zone climate control, and an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat.
There’s also a long list of options to make this a true swagger wagon. Among them are a 12-speaker, 1,200-watt JBL premium audio system, dynamic navigation, a 360-degree camera, power tilt/slide moonroof, and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch screen. You can also make it your home on wheels with an optional refrigerator and vacuum.
Adding value to the equation
Pricing for the 2021 Toyota Sienna is on par for the segment. The base model retails for $35,635 including $1,175 destination. The XLE comes in right around $40,000, while the Limited checks in at $47,875. The new Platinum tops out at around $50,000. Specifying AWD will cost anywhere from $760 to $2,000, depending on trim level.
Toyota offers plenty of leading-edge technology from its powertrain to standard safety, but it also builds in a tremendous amount of value. The Sienna benefits from the company’s reputation for building high-quality products that are reliable and durable. Going hand-in-hand with those attributes is a track record for strong resale value. Add to that retained value the amount of money you’ll save on gas, thanks to half again greater fuel economy than its rivals.
Low operating costs and retained value is a winning combination. That’s why we’ve selected the 2021 Toyota Sienna as the winner of the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy award for minivans.
Photo Tour: 2021 Toyota Sienna
More 2021 Toyota Sienna
Build and price your own 2021 Toyota Sienna to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com.
