2024 Toyota Sienna makes perfect sense.

Let’s face it – minivans will probably always be stuck with the stigma that they have suffered for decades. But for the fourth-generation Sienna minivan, Toyota has gone through great lengths to lessen the minivan stigma by improving its looks and style. On top of that, they have added yet another reason why the Sienna is the ultimate people mover – fuel economy.

The current Sienna, which has been out since 2022, continues to be one of the best vehicles when it comes to convenience, practicality and utility. Recently, I was in a Sienna, and with out-of-town family coming in, I couldn’t ask for a better vehicle to show them around town.

In today’s auto-world where SUVs rule and sedans are dying, Toyota has tried to make the Sienna more appealing. To make it appear more like an SUV, it has raised the hood and the A-pillars have a sharper angle. At the rear, the roof line slopes down and around the rear wheels are fender bulges that run along the side of the van. At the end of the day, I don’t think anyone will confuse the Sienna for an SUV, but the Sienna is, in my opinion, the best-looking minivan on the market.

The Sienna can seat seven or eight passengers depending on trim level. All come with dual sliding doors with power windows in them, second-row sunshades, triple-zone climate control system and a 9-inch touchscreen. Sienna’s can even be fitted with a small refrigerator in the center console, a built-in vacuum and foot-activated power sliding doors.

Breaking away from Sienna’s of the past that saw them equipped with Toyota’s 3.5-liter V6 engine, today’s Sienna takes on a different approach – it’s a hybrid. Standard on every Sienna is a hybrid powertrain that uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that provides 245 horsepower. Front wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive remains an option.

The Sienna that I was in was an XSE model, which gives the Sienna a sporty appearance package. With the XSE, the Sienna’s exterior gets black trim and a mesh grille. Inside, the seats have a special stitch pattern. Other models include the base LE, the mid-level XLE, the adventurous Woodland Edition, the luxurious Limited and the high-end Platinum.

Anti-minivaners just need to look inside the Sienna to see that the practicality of this vehicle is amazing. Driver and front passenger sit in comfort with a floating center console separating the two. The console flows out of the dashboard and leaves a large and spacious storage area below. And while others are doing away with traditional shifters, I’m glad to see Toyota hasn’t joined them – as the Sienna still uses a lever protruding out of the center console.

Behind the front seats is a large amount of room for the second-row passengers. The seats, which are some of the best found in any vehicle, slide fore and aft and can also recline. Unlike previous Siennas, the second-row seats in this fourth-generation Sienna do not come out or fold into the floor, making this Sienna more of a people mover rather than a cargo hauler.

On the road, the V6 power from previous Sienna’s is missed, as today’s Sienna is down by more than 50 horsepower. Power from a stand still is decent, but once at highway speeds or trying to pass slower traffic, the lack of power becomes evident. But on the flip side, today’s Sienna is very fuel efficient, especially for a vehicle this size. EPA rates it at 35 mpg combined city and highway (with 35 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway). Going with all-wheel drive, those numbers come down a little, but still, getting 35 mpg for a seven or eight seat all-wheel drive vehicle is nothing to scoff at. Good luck trying to find a 3-row SUV that will get more than 30 mpg.

Pricing for the 2024 Sienna starts at just under $40,000 for the base LE which seats 8. The XSE starts at $45,635, but the tester is loaded with options like a rear entertainment system and a premium package that includes smartphone charging, JBL audio system memory seats and other features, bringing its MSRP to $53,414. If you go all out for the Platinum, expect to be in the $55,000 price range.

The Sienna has always been one of the top picks in today’s minivan market – it and the Honda Odyssey methodically duke it out for top honors, much like two geniuses playing chess. With the current Sienna, Toyota has raised the playing field by making it a hybrid and adding some aggressive styling. Make no mistake, it’s still a minivan, but these changes make it a little easier to accept the stigma.
– Christopher A. Randazzo

By The Numbers:

2024 Toyota Sienna XSE

Base Price: $45,635.00
Price as Tested: $53,414.00
Layout: front-engine / all-wheel drive
Engine: hybrid 2.5 liter four-cylinder with dual electric motors
Transmission: CVT
Horsepower: 245 hp
Torque: N/A
EPA Fuel Economy: 35 city / 36 highway mpg

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