Minivans, once the king of the middle-school playground, have been overthrown by larger crossovers like the Chevrolet Traverse, Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride and Toyota Grand Highlander. Still, with almost 500,000 sales annually, there's a solid market for the ultimate family haulers. Minivans make a lot of sense for families on the go. They maximize passenger and cargo space with the "box on wheels" design and favor ride comfort and fuel economy over performance.
Toyota has offered Sienna for more than 20 years, and it's become a staple in the minivan segment. Competitors are few and include the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Kia Carnival. The Sienna was most recently redesigned in 2021 and has seen limited change since its introduction. Sienna offers seating for 7 or 8 passengers -- depending on trim -- and is offered with front- or all-wheel drive.
The 2025 Sienna comes in six trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. All models are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 245 horsepower. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic (CVT), and both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options are available. The Woodland Edition stands out with its higher ride height and standard all-wheel drive.
Pricing for the 2025 Toyota Sienna ranges from $39,185 for the base LE trim to $56,905 for the top-tier Platinum trim. Standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane departure mitigation, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional equipment includes a premium JBL sound system, panoramic sunroof, and advanced driver assistance packages.
Sienna's hybrid powertrain, while uninspiring, gets the job done. It provides enough motivation to keep pace with traffic regardless of passenger load and is smooth in all situations. With a 0 to 60 MPH time of about 8.5 seconds, it's slower than competitors by about 1 second. The CVT automatic goes mostly unnoticed but can drone a bit in hard acceleration.
EPA estimates for the front-drive Sienna are 36 MPG city and 36 MPG highway. All-wheel-drive models lose just 1 MPG in the city rating. Either way, those numbers are significantly better than any other minivan. In routine suburban commuting, Sienna is likely to average close to 32 MPG overall, perhaps 35 MPG if your commute includes some highway driving. The large 18-gallon fuel tank extends Sienna's driving range beyond 400 miles per fill-up.
Like most all-wheel-drive systems, it does not have a low range and is not intended to be used in severe off-road conditions. Still, it gives Sienna a notable leg up on Odyssey and Carnival, especially if you occasionally have to trek off the beaten path.
The Sienna drives very much as you might expect; after all, it is a large box on wheels that's intended to ride smoothly and run quietly. In general, the Sienna is softly sprung with lots of suspension travel to soak up pavement imperfections. That leads to a smooth ride that's only mildly interrupted by badly broken roads. At the same time, there's a bit more bouncing and bounding than some might like, but Sienna never loses its composure. Body roll can be a problem at times. Still, there's a small silver lining in XSE trim with its slightly stiffer suspension and 18-inch rubber.
Steering effort is minimal, and there's a lifeless and uninspired feel to the wheel. Yet, highway tracking is good, and the steering is quick enough at parking speeds. A soft-feeling pedal masks solid brakes that provide good stopping power. Interior noise levels are appreciably low, and there's a handy feature that boosts the driver's voice through the sound system to help rear-seat occupants hear conversations.
The true test of a minivan is on the inside, and Sienna tries very hard to be as pleasing as possible. Interior trim and materials ratchet up from basic to luxurious as you climb toward Platinum. However, the design remains the same across trims. All of the hallmark minivan boxes are checked: upright driving position, excellent outward visibility, and easy egress.
Drivers face a digital instrument cluster that is somewhat programmable. It's clear and easy to read at a glance. In typical minivan fashion, there's a wide array of buttons and knobs ranging across the dashboard. Overall, the layout can be a bit confusing and takes some time to master.
Toyota has improved its infotainment game over the past few years, and Sienna benefits with a large and easy-to-operate touchscreen interface. Amazon Alexa is supported as are wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto.
The driver's seat is very chair-like, and the driving position is upright. That said, it is nicely bolstered and offers plenty of head and legroom. Unfortunately, the tilt-telescope steering wheel doesn't have much range, meaning that extra-large or small drivers might be a bit uncomfortable.
Sienna can seat seven passengers or eight via a detachable second-row jump seat that can be stored in the cargo area when not in use. The second-row captain's chairs can slide fore or aft up to 23 inches to benefit passenger or cargo room. The second-row seat cushions can also tip up, so the seats can slide closer to the 1st row to benefit cargo space. Limiteds and AWD XLEs offer "Lounge Seating" second-row captain's chairs with reclining seatbacks and flip-up footrests. These seats do not include the tip-up-cushion feature or detachable jump seat.
Comfort in the second row is quite good, though taller folk might want a bit more headroom. The third-row seat is best left to children, though two adults will find enough space to get comfortable if the second-row seats are pushed forward a bit. Getting into the third row is made easier by the sliding second-row seats.
Minivans are all about versatility, and the Sienna boasts ample cargo space. There's a deep well behind the third-row seats (a feature of all minivans) for daily use. The third row folds into that well when not in use, creating a long and flat load floor. The second-row seats are removable to expand cargo space further. Interior storage abounds. There are twin glove boxes, and the column-mounted shifter nicely opens up space in the center console.
Bottom Line -- With the redesign back in 2021, Sienna caught up to competitors in nearly every way. The hybrid powertrain is both a plus and minus. It offers great fuel economy but also makes the Sienna the slowest vehicle in the class. Prices grow steep as you climb the trim ladder. The best bet might be the XSE with its slightly firmer ride. All-wheel drive is another Sienna advantage if you are so inclined.
