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Minivans are the insecure middle-aged dad of automobiles.

Take the latest Toyota Sienna. It lives for its family; dutifully hauling people and their gear with a focus on space and practicality. It’s good at what it does but the Sienna doesn’t want to be seen as merely pragmatic.

Without lingering on this premise too long, I’ll note that the 4th-generation Sienna counters its responsible vanly nature with bold styling. Sculpted rear fenders ala Highlander, a massive grille, angular headlights, and a tall SUV-like hood.

Sienna, we still know you’re a van but hat tip for the effort. Alright, let’s talk interior. The Sienna’s cabin is offered in 7 and 8 seat configurations varying from simple to a luxurious Platinum model offering leather-trimmed, 2nd-row captain's chairs with built-in ottomans and long slide abilities. I, a perfectly average 5’ 10” male, fit well in the 2nd-row seats. The 3rd row is a bit tighter but workable. By the numbers though, the Honda Odyssey provided superior head and legroom in all 3 rows.

Accessing the 3rd row is easy thanks to a wide passthrough, but I wish returning the 2nd-row seats to a people-carrying position didn’t require 2 hands and so much effort. One common move by minivan owners is to ditch the middle 2nd-row seat for easier 3rd-row access. Toyota knows that and has come up with a clever solution. Rather than leaving a seat in your garage Toyota has carved a nook in the rear where you can stow the middle position. Better to have it here rather than home when some rando kid joins you on the ride home.

For cargo, there is a deep hold behind the third-row. To more than double that number just lower the 3rd row. For even more space you can slide the 2nd-row seats forward but they cannot be removed…at least not without removing bolts and such. Total space with the seats in the most forward position is 101 cu-ft, a number that trails both the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.

Elsewhere the Sienna’s interior is filled with practical touches including a deep center console, up to 5 child seat LATCH points, plenty of cup and bottle holders, a long dash shelf, a supplement shelf to the driver’s left, massive 2nd-row grab handles that even little kids can use, and something Toyota calls the Bridge Console. I also like the fixed inboard armrests. However, be warned. If you go poking the wrong surfaces you will find plastics that feel less than premium. And this panel in the 3rd row seems way too flexible.

One of the Sienna’s most interesting aspects is its powertrain. All Siennas are hybrids now. No V6. Period. Instead there’s a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine teamed with a pair of electric motors. On one hand, the 4-cylinder sounds like it’s working hard when bringing the Sienna up to speed. On the other hand, electric torque gives you an instant response when you need to move. It also helps you squeal the tires, helping earn those precious “cool dad” points.

36 combined MPG is outrageously good for a minivan. It also offers something the Odyssey doesn’t, all-wheel drive via an additional rear-mounted motor. Beyond all-wheel drive the Sienna can also tow up to 3,500 pounds.

As for ride quality, the Sienna rides well and cruises quietly though I do have 2 complaints. Complaint 1: outward visibility. The tall hood hinders your view forward and the view over the driver’s right shoulder is essentially non-existent aft of the 2nd row. Thankfully blind-spot warning comes standard.

And complaint 2, I don’t like the brakes. The pedal feels unnatural and it’s hard to modulate with precision. Being a hybrid, the Sienna blends traditional friction brakes with an electric regeneration braking action. But it doesn’t blend those decelerative technologies well. Otherwise, this is a fine driving minivan.

Talking dollars, the Toyota Sienna’s MSRP is higher than the Honda Odyssey or Chrysler Pacifica. But Toyotas tend to hold their value well over time, making the Sienna a smart long-term investment…to the extent a constantly depreciating asset can be called an “investment”. Yes, I stole that line from my previous Sienna review.

A basic Sienna LE trim includes 3-zone climate control, 10-airbags, power-sliding doors, full-speed dynamic cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and a 9-inch infotainment screen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and a remarkable 7 USB ports.

00:00 2021 Toyota Sienna
0:27 Exterior
0:50 Interior
3:29 Engine
4:37 Driving Impressions
5:13 Price
5:35 Trim Levels

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