What We Learned After Testing a Hybrid Toyota Sienna Over 40,000 Miles | Car and Driver
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- Read more here: www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...
Would you ever believe that this green-literally, not figuratively-hybrid was the most popular car in our long-term fleet during its 12-month tenure? "No way," you say. Well, despite that we have a parking lot filled with the likes of a BMW M3, a Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0, a Chevrolet Corvette, and a Ram 1500 TRX, a minivan-the terminally underappreciated automotive breed that new dads fear and cool moms look down on-was in fact the most popular. Our 40,000-mile test took 350 days. Why was that? Simple: The Toyota Sienna is one highly evolved minivan.
Shot and edited by Alexander Malburg.
00:00 Intro
00:54 What we got and why
02:14 The interior, cargo and seating configurations and comfort
04:42 The driving experience
06:17 Fuel economy
07:42 Winter
08:22 Service
09:16 Roof tent
10:22 Conclusion
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❤as a car enthusiast, I can state unequivocally that having a minivan is one if the most positive and useful experiences I’ve had. A good minivan can do it all .
My Pacifica Hybrid even handles pretty well. You can still have fun on twist roads since it drives more like a car than an SUV.
Sir you are no car enthusiast, you are just a boring slow driver.
i love my Sienna and this is coming from someone that went from a Maxima to a minivan. It has good torque and its does what it is designed for, hauling people and cargo very well
Amen to that
i can't agree more. i know many of my friends didn't buy the minivan due to the stigma, but have been really missing out it's utility. the second row is really spacious and comfortable. comfortably carry 8 passengers. we usually remove 2 seats from the second row; now it feels like there is plenty of space but could still get 6 passengers. when I have to haul heavy loads, i have removed the second row seats and folded the third row seats. i have carried heavy dining table with all the chairs, carried 4x8 plywood, and all sorts of things. During long trips, we can configure the seats to put a bed in the back. Man i can't say the utility this Van provides. but so many people think that a van is uncool and don't buy
I've owned a 2021 hybrid for a year and a half. You're right: the engine sounds like CRAP under load. Also, the third row seats will flop up when you go over bumps. Outside of that, this car has been AWESOME and we're pulling 33 MPG without even trying and usually have a range of around 500 miles per tank. It's the ultimate long-haul road tripper. We've driven coast to coast and lots of one-day there and one-day back trips. Zero regrets.
It's kind of disappointing that Toyota can't get the third row to lie entirely flat when stowed or stay in place when you hit a bump. I have a 2009 Odyssey with 220,000 miles, and it certainly has its own issues that come with age, but Honda's had the third row stowage problem licked since the first-gen Odyssey in 1996.
@@jonathankleinow2073 I should probably have specified: it bumps up only when it's folded down. When it's up, it's solid as a rock (thank god). The Odyssey is a nicer ride for sure, but 33 MPG without even trying has been super amazing with gas prices where they've been. We recently endured a rental Nissan Armada: drives like CRAP with much less usable interior space. Unless you have to tow, minivans are far more practical and comfortable than SUVs.
I haven't experienced 3rd-row seats flopping as you described and Baltimore where I work has very bad roads.
Are you using the driving modes correctly? Because it'll sound bad when you aren't using sport mode for accelerating rapidly.
@@OrangeRocks1986 really?
A few weeks ago, I went to my local Toyota dealer to check these out. The salesperson said actual availability of the Sienna has been a problem all year. There was a production shut down due to a supplier, and said there was about a year backlog in orders. There was one used one that just sold for $10k more than its new price. I'm glad I don't "need" a new vehicle right now. The market is still a mess.
…Yes, very sad. No new Siennas in my town in any trim level (Oct 2022)
My dealership does markup mrsp In utah
Same experience for me. 12-24 month wait. I ended up buying a Mazda CX9 instead.
Thanks for the info. When the get the features I want and raise the roof I'll look to buy.
Ordered my 2022 in December of 21' it just came in last Saturday October of 22' good thing I had my old Corolla to get me through.
I love my 2005 Toyota Sienna. I bought it because I have 4 toddlers needed to be hauled around to schools to daycares and soccer practice/games. The Sienna delivered first class seatings, good fuel economy and vehicle long range up 500+ miles and never give me any issues except maintenance due to mileage (timing belt, brakes, light bulbs, alternator, starter, filters etc
Besides being everyday shuttling duty, the Toyota Sienna is the main family tour bus taking kids to one national park to another all over the US and Canada driving to the East Coast, Midwest, the South, North East and Canada and never broke down.
The Toyota Sienna is still running excellent with iced cold AC and smooth ride with original shock absorbers, struts, engine mounts, AC compressor, electric windows, upholstery, paint, fuel pump.
The 2095 Sienna still runs great and strong at 322,390 miles and is still main vehicle for long road trips except now just two of us because kids have graduated, have jobs and their own cars 😂. I definitely buy Sienna again next time when I need a new vehicle. The Sienna is so cool, so reliable and so cheap to keep, parts and insurance.
Today I couldn’t move the gear selector out of P. I traced it to the blown 10 mini fuse but after replacing the fuse, it blew again when I applied brake. I traced to the shorted out brake light bulbs. I replaced both brake light bulbs for $6 plus a 10A fuse. The stuck gear selector at P problem resolved for around $7. 😅
I'm also in the 300k+mille '05 Sienna club! My grandmother bought it brand new as her final car, and my mother got it when she passed away. It got handed down to my wife in 2020 and it's been nothing but reliable with normal maintenance.
My parents got an '07 sienna, and it was the main family vehicle. I had a family of 6. That van would drop all of us off and get the groceries, and it was the main road tripper as well. We liked to hike, so we would go up gravel roads to find good hiking trails, and it would do it all. On our long 18+ hour roadtrips for christmas we would be fully loaded, getting close to the max playload. But on our back we would have a couple hundred pounds of citrus, now easily over the max payload with everyone. However it did that many times and stayed strong. The transmission sometimes lurched only in overdrive after those long roadtrips, but it kept driving well. Until one day after 14 years and almost 240k miles, it was in a minor crash and got totaled. I don't know if it would have made it to 300k miles, but it still had some life left in it. It's the most reliable car i've ever experienced.
I'm not even a mini-van type but a week long rental with a 2021 Sienna Hybrid in Arizona proved me wrong. Loaded up with family and gear with AWD in Sport mode and full blast AC, speeds reaching triple digits on sections where speed limit was 75, it still returned 30.3 MPG. I'm impressed this is the top minivan.
Jestem z Polski. Kiedyś sobie taką Toyotę sprowadzę z USA, bo bardzo mi się podobają. Dziękuję za komentarz, dużo mnie nauczył, jestem jeszcze bardziej przekonany do tego samochodu.
W Polsce przerobię go na LPG, bo tylko w ten sposób można tutaj tanio podróżować.
I can't give you anything close to what this video provided, however that won't stop me. Just returned from a two-week trip out west with my family of five. Rented a 2022 XLE hybrid. We put on about 3000 miles. We own a 19 Honda Odyssey touring and have put 100k on the odometer.
I would buy a Sienna in a heartbeat. We got over 30mpg average driving 85mph plus for hours. The van was comfortable, drove very well and had all the bells and whistles. I also really like the all-electric startup mode. Again just my two cents
That's sounds great. I do alot of camping trips in summer and need good mileage & space. Was considering the Chrysler but the hybrid isn't anywhere near as good. Tks
I got a 2013 XLE. 500,000 miles. No problems so far! Just regular things. Brakes, shocks,struts , front end things. No weird stuff. No engine or transmission issues. It’s a taxi. Sometimes I sleep in the back. I’m 6”1” very comfortable, roomy. I could go on.. got to get another one someday
It would be hard to sleep in the back in the new ones; the seats do not fold down flat.
Can I ask what maintenance you do on the transmission fluid? That's awesome mileage on your Sienna!
STOP LYING 🤥
@kingofuseddurablecars.ls6040 I believe him. Been in numerous Corolla and Prius taxis on different continents and they were always high mileage. My 1997 4runner has 350,000 miles and GX460 has 250,000 miles. My wife's 2021 Highlander Hybrid has 125,000 miles.
@@Noypi54494 Not a Sienna. You believe anything that's why. Suckers are born everyday
13 years of owning an Odyssey. Best bang for your buck. I used it comfortably on road trips & camping. I used it a lot as my Home Depot hauler. It can do it all!
I might get this Sienna for our next one.
Don't get it if you are using it for Home Depot hauling. They can't handle that much extra weight. You might be able to haul 500lbs of stuff, before causing issues with wear and tear.
However the miles per tank is insane at 520+. 33mpg when driven very poorly. 36+ is easy to get driving normally.
Or stay tuned for Odessey Hybrid?
In a world of never ending supply chain issues with batteries, and increased focus on their environmental and supply chain (human cost) issues, Toyota "hybrid all the things" approach seems well considered for the average person.
the intro statement is pure facts. I have a 2017 Toyota Sienna and it's honestly the best car I use! I love my old 70s, 80s, and 90s cars and drive so many unique cars from a 77 porsche 911, a 75 VW bus or a Subaru brat. It's reassuring for me to know that if any of them break down, I have a good trusty toyota minivan I can use to haul people, inventory for my restaurants, or take it to long distances across the US as a camper. It's so comfortable and it has enough power to comfortably cruise around 80-90mph while still giving me around 20-25 mpg. My sports cars can only haul 2 to 3 girls at a time but the sienna lets me comfortably seat 7 more female friends around too. It's secretly my favorite modern car of all time.
My understanding is that hybrids like the Sienna don't get the rated MPG in colder climates. I'm in AZ and have only seen 33.5 on the worst tank. Typically, I see well above the EPA rating on every tank, with the last tank at 28,000 miles coming in at 39.5 calculated. Range is generally well over 600 miles. I have the FWD Limited and that gets the second row ottomans, which was a huge selling point for my wife!
Very true. The MPGs on my Prius dropped significantly during cold weather.
I am thinking about it for road trips. Those second row recliners look nice
They also drop significantly in hot climates with the A/C in non-eco mode (The Sienna defaults to an eco mode to save power when drive style is in eco). High speed driving knocks it down considerably too. The hybrid system shines in urban driving up to ~45-55 mph. Get above that, mpg suffers greatly.
MPG drops in the winter because it has to run the engine more for heat. Heat pumps need to become an industry standard on hybrid and ev cars.
@@fluffyeggs it’s not just for cabin heat, it needs to keep the engine at temperature as well as exhaust components to limit wear and tear from the frequent start and stops and maintain emissions levels.
I just hit 13 months (and 16k miles) with my 2022 Sienna XLE (8 seats), and I have only two complaints: the "chip shortage" caused them to leave out the "Driver Easy Speak" feature, and the dealer refused to order me the version that includes a spare tire. Yes, the engine is a bit buzzy under high load, but I don't care about this. I've been getting 33-34 MPG, fully loaded with four kids and all their stuff.
Great review. Love minivans for all the reasons in the review. After owning two for 19 years, it almost makes me want to have kids again :) But they cost less than $25K each back then! (The minivans, not the kids. Kids are more like $250K each!)
Can’t put dollar value on having kids and yes minivans are expensive these days as everything you see
@@ilyxa01 You definitely can put a dollar value on having children...And their number was oh-so accurate. At 11 y/o I clocked my now 13 y/o at about $250k already. Now she's another $10k/yr for private school. However, the earlier years included my calculation of about $600/month I could've made off of roommates, and a couple of career decisions I passed on, as time with her is my priority. Although, if you're speaking of the joy that they bring: PRICELESS, and well worth the occasional headache and continual anxiety over being responsible for them. Wouldn't trade them for anything!
$25,000 20 years ago isn't that different adjusted for inflation than what base to mid level trim minivans today are.
Small point, the Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires they installed are NOT a traditional winter tire. They can be kept on year round and are more accurately described as an "all WEATHER" tire. That is they both have the 3 Mountain Peak snow certification, meaning they will stay soft and grippy when it drops below 40 degrees, but can also be run in the summer. But yeah, I installed similar tires on my vehicle and noticed I lost 1-2 mpg versus a traditional "all season" tire.
Indeed, but they can be a really good winter option for milder winters!
I run the 3PMSF Wildpeak trails on my AWD 21 and lost 1mpg
Put them on my Camry hybrid, same result. OTH they are noticeably quieter that the OEMs they replaced.
Have these tires on my 2017 Sienna AWD and love them.
All weather tires are really the worst of both worlds here. It’s a good option if you very rarely see bad weather. But if your going to hit snow often enough that you change your tires in winter you better off getting a dedicated winter tire.
I love the nokian winter tires, they have a better ride and better mileage than my summer tires.
thanks for the very thoughtful and thorough review. I've owned minivans since the original Dodge Caravan came out in the 80s. They're the most useful vehicle one can ever own. For my mid age crisis era I had 2 doors like a 911 and a TT. You are right though, for what it was designed to do, the minivan is unbeatable!
I've had mini vans for 23 years and there is no way I would buy one where the middle row is not easily removable. Everything fits in my minivan. From a full size mattress when moving my daughter to a ton of Ikea stuff to, one time, two pieces of a sectional couch on the way to the dump. Everything fits
Tundra takes care of that. Sienna takes care of the family.
@@derek1195 privilege
Thank you for giving this a Consumer Reports level long distance test. I don't have kids and still want one of these to make a hybrid campervan, especially with the 3500lb tow rating
And you can run the AC all night if you sleep heavy enough you won't notice the motor going on and off
Don’t count on that 3500 tow rating. It says it can, but as an owner it really can’t. Engine just doesn’t have the oomph.
@Paul I don't really need to tow, but it would nice to be able to pull a small A-Liner or Scamp camper. Even SUVs like Rav4 and Foresters are limited to only 1500. I can pull motorcycles at highway speed with my Prius
@Paul I have the last of the 2GR engines with AWD and it’s a great engine. Never overtaxed. Nearly 300 hp on premium and easily hauls 3500 lbs. the hybrid is anemic.
I use my 2022 for camping but I’m not towing anything. On the open road with an awning on the roof I’m getting between 35-37 mpg averaging 70-80 mph. All seats are in, I have a bed platform and fridge and of course gear. It’s performing well. I love it.
We did quite a bit of camping and traveling in our 2011 Sienna over its lifetime. We have a hitch just like shown in this video and can attest that the rear departure angle being low and gets even lower with the hitch and loaded with people and gear. However, after installing an Air Lift 1000 system on the back springs it improved the sag issue considerably and also stiffened up the rear for a more stable ride when under load. My wife loves driving the van daily and I am blown away how well it still rides after 12 years.
The Sienna is quite customizable. You will see them in transport livery in lifted configuration. I have a 3.5 inch lift kit on my 2015 AWD. Yes, it’s not an overlander. Still very capable on forest service roads.
I pulled the middle row seats and added a full length cot and mattress. Sweet ride to Glacier NP with an overnight camping option.
I love this minivan, I am from Mexico but I live in Delaware and I decided to take my family on a long trip from Delaware to Mexico City last July 2022 about 4000 miles and then travel to Acapulco, ixtapan zihuataneho , taxco, Michoacán, Toluca , and many other states, I have the 2021 xse we traveled 6 adults and five kids and tons of bags on the roof with no problems at all , but from Toluca to Acapulco was extremely to much up hills and down hills for a moment I thought the engine will blow up on a very long up hills and 80 degrees I was so scared also because no spin tire , but definitely I would say that I took this minivan to the extreme road conditions but never fail, when I started driving from Delaware was 19,000 miles and we comeback last month with 33,000 miles on it , everything was fantastic
Have mine 21 limited AWD right from first badge,replaced 15 limited Awd and never regretted its an amazing van specialy with 3 kids over old generation and fuel economy is amazing
Good review. We have a '21 XSE and love it. The fuel pump died halfway through the first tank of gas! Had to be towed back to the dealer. Apparently they're having a real issue with the supplier and there will likely be a recall. Past that it's been awesome. Cold weather and winter tires do definitely hurt the fuel economy, but it the summer I've put 950km on a tank - that's incredible. 6.5 litres/100km. Almost as good as my 2012 Corolla!
I have owned a Sienna minivan for many years and never had any problems until I recently bought one about 2 years ago. It was a hybrid, and the gas tank developed cracks all across the top of it and was causing Vape leaks. Then, the next thing that happened to the thing was the sending unit fell apart, and I was stranded on the road for 3 hours on a weekend in a small town and could not get a tow. I got rid of it, and it made me sick. I almost had it paid for, but I could not live with the unreliability of that vehicle. I hope that Toyota has solved these issues because they were a game-changer for me to let the Sienna go
damn this YT algorithm is getting really specific now...
i bought a green XLE sienna late December last year and am coming up on 40k miles as well. it's a work van for my funeral home and its been hands down the most reliable and most comfortable vehicle i've ever owned in my life, and for the record this is like the 27th vehicle ive owned to this day. MPG is incredible, 12+ hour days are comfortable, and hasn't skipped a beat. my only issue was a bluetooth problem for a couple months, then just plugging holes in my tires but theyre still over 50% tread. i cant ever see myself getting rid of this van
Great review! It would also be nice to add the safety evaluation part of this review to the end: emergency stopping distance, emergency avoidance maneuver, mention its IIHS results.
Gotta love Carlos! This is legitimately so much more useful than all the SUVs. I love sports cars and roadsters and little fun/performance things but after that...minivans! They have so many incredibly thoughtful features in them, and are so much lighter to handle than a big truck. Really appreciate you guys pointing out case-specific annoyances like the rear bike rack thing; that's the sort of info. that's really helpful to a buyer that is hard to figure out before you buy!
I love my 2012 Sienna. Runs and shifts amazing. It has never given me any problems at 130k now. I have 3 other SUV’s as well and if I had to keep only 1 car…it would be the Sienna. It’s practical, comfortable, reliable, roomy, and wife and kids love it.
We have a 2021 Limited with a tow hitch. We have a bike rack, hitch basket, and towed a camper. You do not have to turn off the rear brake assist every time you start the car. After forgetting to do it the first time, I've never had to shut it back off. I had to remember to turn it back on. The rear sag when loaded down does stink but it is, what it is unless it's lifted.
You can do like I did and get the rear springs from a Woodland Edition Sienna installed. All in all, including an alignment, I think it was about $600 but we’ll worth it. I tow about 1,500lbs with mine quite often, and that really helped with sag. It didn’t seem to degrade ride quality either.
We have had our 2023 Sienna since April and it has been great. I was no surprised to be getting 37 MPG in general but when loaded it up inside, loaded up the large Yakima car top carrier and two radpower e-bikes on the back and headed out from Maine to Florida I was amazed we only dropped to 36!
I have a 2022 xle 8 passenger and it’s amazing! I wish the AC was more powerful, but overall it’s fine. I’m getting a real world 33mpg and I idle a lot!!! It drives quiet like a fancy sedan. Its easy to get in and out for handicap people. I would definitely recommend this van. It’s the ultimate car. Go look at the crash test and you will see how tough Toyota made this van. I think it could handle a 70mph head on collision.
I wanted a Sienna when I traded my 2016 T&C in but I couldn't even find a base model for under 52k,but I did get a 2021Kia Sedona Ex for 42k after taxes and 100k bumper2bumper and lifetime oil change.Sure its not a Toyota but im thrilled with it so far 15k miles many trips to California and cruises at 90mph no problem.Minivans are way amazing nowadays definitely the ultimate roadtrip vehicle.
If dealerships are overcharging for Toyota vehicles, report them to Toyota and not the dealership. Toyota will deal with them or they will lose the ability to sell Toyota vehicles.
Base mode 2021 is going around 35,000. This does not include extras above trim levels.
I work for Railcrew Xpress and they bought a lot of these vans. I don't speak for Railcrew Xpress. The ones we got are base trim with extras for $37,000. We have 9 of them, 3 we received in June earlier this year.
Good review. I love my Sienna XLE. I been getting 38 mph in the city. It is a very safe vehicle for my family.
Must be nice to have a hybrid Sienna, meanwhile i'm stuck here with a 2012 Prius C base model.
Hi what a great channel and test. Im subscribed and will keep watching and waiting for updated content.
My retired parents bought a Limited last year and have about 20,000 perfectly reliable miles. Loaded down for a family road trip 6 of us drove from Ohio to Louisiana and back and got a real 39 mpg in absolute comfort in July with the A/C blasting. The interior is very flexible and storage, cup holders, and ergonomics are excellent.
Tried a similar trip in the same year Odyssey and with just 2 child seats installed, 3 of us ended up SUPER cramped in the 3rd row. Honda’s ride quality and ergonomics pale in comparison to the Toyota and the lack of standard hybrid power train meant half the MPGs.
That’s what my wife wants it for. Great mileage and comfort.
It suppose to be opposite😮
That opening statement is shockingly true once you think about it. Minivan owners use the heck out of their rides. I know of some courier companies that service rail roads using Hybrid Siennas for transporting workers across whole states and sometimes across multiple states. As far as tires go, those CrossClimate 2's stand up in the heat and dirt as well (southern Alabama here). Shockingly, Continental makes the ExtremeContact DWS 06 in that size as well. Between the two, I'd probably put the Conti's on it for more than just campsite driving. I AM surprised that it can have a rooftop tent though. That's one party trick I'd pull more than once.
Such an incredible video. I've watched countless reviews of the Sienna and this one is the most comprehensive and well thought out one. You have a subscriber.
I'm glad you made the point about the bike rack. thanks.
I work for Toyota and have been for 5 years now. Absolutely love this brand
Always excited when I get a Sienna as an Uber, those captain chairs and legroom in the 2nd row are the best way to travel as a passenger.
Carlos is great, glad to see Car and Driver making good use of him
2022 limited owner for 4 months. Love the gas economy and smooth ride. One complaint is the cup holders for the second seats, which are located on the floor by the center console. My wife is 8 months pregnant, and it is impossible for her to reach unless you unbuckle yourself. My fix was to buy her one of those cup holder extender which raise the cup holder by a few inches, but it’s an eyesore.
Good review for this hybrid Toyota mini van. Thank you.
Really nicely put up video
Fantastic and informative video! thank you!
Great review, love my 22 sienna XSE
Excellent review. Thanks.
I used to have a 1968 Volkswagen Bus. Next Chrysler Town and Country - never again will I own a Chrysler product. Now I have a Honda Odyssey. Van life forever. Wayyy more practical than other cars on the market.
We own a 2022 XLE, and have put 3k on it so far. We didn’t opt for AWD as we’re snowbirds and won’t be driving in typical Northern Michigan winters anymore. Consequently we were at the top of the waiting list at our local dealer, instead of being at the bottom of the AWD list that had over 90 customers waiting. So after about 2 months we got ours. So far we haven’t gotten less than 39mpg and we are thrilled with that, in combined urban and long distance driving. The drawback is the front passenger seat that’s awful. Zero lumbar support and the seat bottom is too flat. Our prior Odysseys were much better. The driver’s seat is fine. Another quirk has to do with the trailer hitch. In the Toyota literature there is no info as to what size receiver it is. I mean none. Our dealer swore it was the 2” size, but the few photos we saw looked different. I even called corporate customer assistance and they couldn’t tell me either. As an $800 option I would need to be sure. We ended up at a local installer for less than half of that. Overall, we are increasingly happy with our buy. Coming up is a 2000 mile trip to AZ so we’ll have an even better feel by then. The van is surprisingly light on its feet, has a tight turn radius and quick enough for us to not miss the extra HP of our Odyssey.
I highly do not recommend pulling anything with the vans. You'll lose a lot on the gas mileage.
Op
Thanks for the heads-up about the bike rack / back up warning system problem.
Our 2014 Honda Odyssey got high 20s mpg fully loaded with kids and cargo constantly for 8 years and over 100k miles. Only malfunction we had was a broken oil pressure switch for the eco system.
On the market for another minivan now. Honda is currently at the top of our list.
Curious if any of your drivers experienced issues with the hotspot not coming on consistantly. That is my one major complaint (2021 XSE) with this van. The other minor one being the 3rd row seats not locking in position when stowed in the well.
I have a 2017 Sienna XLE. We bought it used with 7500 miles in 2018. We have 3 kids. It’s been a good car. A couple complaints are the horrible infotainment system and a small gas tank. It only gets 300-330 miles per tank. But for a family hauler, it does what I want it to do.
Best vehicle my family ever owned 2005 toyota sienna. Goes everywhere
At 9:25 you say a tester " removed the second row" Everything I've read says the second row is Not removable on these new Siennas due to the airbags. Can they explain how they did this? Does the tester have photos of the 2nd row seats removed?
Maybe they used a previous gen sienna...
that would be like asking how do you work on a steering wheel because there is an airbag. They can definitely disable the airbag, even though working with airbags is a little dangerous, it can be safely removed.
Back in the 90s and aughts, I raced motorbikes and had a Dodge Caravan with a receiver hitch for transport. The third row seat got left at home and the enlarged cargo space held all the tires, spares, tools, and other kit for a race weekend while the bike was towed on a Kendon folding trailer. At the track, I removed the second row bench seat and used it as a couch in my garage bay. With both rear seats out and all the kit moved into the garage, the van became my hotel substitute. Plenty of room for a pad and sleeping back. That Caravan was the perfect tool for the job. I sold it, but am toying with the idea of prepping one for the 24 Hours of Lemons, kitted out with Recaro child seats in back and tiny HANS devices for toddlers.
The back up collision avoidance stays off once set in the 2022. No need to shut off every time.
I have AT tires and a roof box on mine and still getting 32 mpg. Couldn’t be happier, have taken it camping and slept inside comfortably with a full size mattress countless times. Got my AWD LE for 35k, couldn’t justify paying many thousands more for a few bells and whistles. LE still has all the good stuff like CarPlay and AWD.
My 2021 sienna xle until now 180 k still running good and I just change a second set of tire only change oil and cvt fluid ,cooling water spark plugs, is very good van and reliable .
As a dad with three girls and a 100lb Akita, my garage has two cars. The Toyota Sienna and the Audi RS6 Avant. I love them equally!
Toyota's latest generation of hybrids are underrated. My 2021 Camry Hybrid is averaging 53mpg!
Edit: If you pick the right tires.
Really depends on driving style and roads. I’ve taken a 150 mile road trip one way avoiding major highway so speeds stayed under =
I honestly loved this video review. As a 2021 Sienna AWD Limited owner, I'd say everything you've mentioned was exactly on point! Even the bit about the rear hitch, which I've scraped a couple of times with passengers in the back while going over a thick speed bump. What I'm glad to have learned is the annoyance about installing a bike rack. This is giving me 2nd thoughts about buying one now, but I appreciate the info.
Finally, can you or anyone please please please teach me how to get the rear-seat entertainment screen to work? It is one of the least user-friendly systems made. I just want to mirror a screen off my iphone so the kids can watch youtube videos. Thank you in advance!!
I have a 2004 Toyota Sienna AWD limited and by far its better than my bmw coupe and sedan, and no cops pulls me over going 80mph , i end up driving more than any other car and I don't even have kids =)
What mpg do you get with Awd?
Great review. We drive responsibly and get 33-35 in the winter, 38-42 in the summer per tank. Also we are able to disable the stop sensor when we have a bike rack on and have to turn it back on once we remove the bike rack so maybe that was an update at some point?
I have a 2015 sienna and love the v6. Driving up the hills in the North East. I still think they should give it a stronger engine. The head room is less than mine to get it. Raise the roof and make the .5" lift standard and tow bars won't drag. 2023 might have a plug in hybrid regular 110 outlet. To top of the battery. I have driven these new loaners. Three nice but the rail lights are dim on the highway. Unlike gen 3. Now they come with option for a spare. I like that.
Love this video, LOL, =) , ( I have a 2004 Toyota Limited AWD Sienna, and I beat it to its limit of its life, keep it in 3rd gear for 1.5 hours going up the winter mountain roads, 9 hour road trip drives to at 80-90mph, pack full of 50 bags of mulch, airport runs full of 7 people and luggage, pull my motorcycle, costco pick up 80" tv, park it on the beach and not being stuck, speeding and no cop pulls over a mini van, and people let you merge into traffic )
This is so true!! Safe driving brother!
I would like to turn this van in to Westfalia. Pop up roof with a bed up there, same kitchen layout, raised suspension, grippy tires. Camper van would benefit greatly from that big battery and temperature control. And yes, MPG.
2:17 you just gave me flashbacks to motor trend H2H. Thanks for that!
The next logical step for this van is a plug-in hybrid version. You already have all the drivetrain components. You simply just need a larger battery, a plugin module, and a control unit. This will give you the option of plugging in the car and giving you the first 25 miles on electric before going back to its current hybrid system. You would also be able to add options like "pet" mode where the car can stay climate controlled for 45 minutes to an hour while you shop. In real world driving, combing both city and highway driving, you would be looking at: Gasoline version 20 mpg, Hybrid 30 mpg, and plugin version 50 mpg.
The increased battery size required might harm interior space I’d say they have already maximized the battery in dead space within the van going full electric for a small portion of driving isn’t worth it for a vehicle you’ll take long trips in.
The hybrid battery allows braking to regenerate energy for later use and allows the engine to work at more ideal efficiencies. Adding more weight to the whole car and the electric engine isn’t going to be a great cost benefit.
Plug-in hybrids are a scam.
They're work only if you use it as pure EV. So charge whenever possible...
For segment A city car? Perfect.
For segment D/E family hauler?
No way!
Agree to disagree. Plug-ins give you the best of both worlds. We purchased new back in 2017 a Ford Cmax Energi. After all the rebates the price of the car including tax was $18,500 out the door. The car now has 88,000 miles on it. So far we have averaged 77 miles per gallon. The car can still drive 20 miles on pure electric before switching to gasoline/hybrid mode. There is no range anxiety as we have the best of both worlds.
@@gregmoore3420 nice! Where do you charge it?
I sometimes use my father-in-law 2019 KIA Niro, wich is a mild hybrid segment C wagon.
Despite behaving quite odd and living it's own life, the drivetrain is really nice! Even well balanced.
But it's so God damn heavy! I mean, on dry surface it's fine, but in winter or in rain you cannot cheat the phisics... And the boot is really small :(
And don't get me wrong, I do think the hybrids are best option. Driving Corolla with LPG installation costs you 0,05$ / km. I bet it would translate to something about 120mpg? (A lot to convert, sorry)
I would gladly have hybrid in my Bubaru even ;) (however it's from 2005 with LPG so it's radicously capable and economic)
But the sad thing is, that in Europe we will have even such hybrids taken away... 2035 registration ban is already killing motorization and the market here...
Love these 40k miles videos
We're hanging on to our 2016 till the wheels fall off. Darn thing is just rock solid!
I love my 2021 Sienna! I love it way more than my wife’s Toyota Highlander.
Great review would have liked a little more information on the EV mode and also would like to see the middle seats in folded up position with the the back seats down, with a description of maximum available cargo space.
I have a van (and love it) for the family, and big truck for work, and a fast car for fun.
Just bought my first Toyota it’s a 2015 Sienna XLE. and we love this van - back in 2015 we bought a brand new Chrysler Town & County van and the transmission blew at 110,000 miles - it was out of warranty and just paid off. I told my wife we would save and get a Toyota for reliability reasons.
I'm a senior and still considering a mini van and I think they can be used for anything 🤔
I use my odyssey to haul my 4 kids and hockey equipment, skis and my 5 bike rack through snowy Michigan. I’ve also hauled building materials, mulch and furniture. I even loaded a 10’6” stand up paddle board because of the amazing cargo flexibility. It also has a great engine note and is a relatively fun commuter car when unloaded. I applaud Toyota for doing a hybrid but it’s not the right tool for my family.
I love my 2024 XSE. I’m getting 38.5 in cold climate, it’s amazing.
I have a 2019 Ram 1500 that is killing me on gas, I’m not ready to jump into EV’s but this hybrid is perfect for my work needs. I appreciate your video, I’ll be grabbing the LE version asap!
great car, great review, one suggestion towards the loaded Sienna towing issues, try raised towing hitches!...
I've got a 2012 Camry Hybrid. It's been a fantastic car. I have noted that it seems to prefer mild weather to return the best fuel economy. In the heat of summer, or cold of winter, my normal 37-38 overall mpg drops down about 4-5 mpg.
And for those who complain about the droning of the engine under full throttle, a CVT actually makes any car accelerate better by keeping the engine at max HP while continuously varying the trans ratios. I know that my Camry does 55-80 mph passing maneuvers with ease.
This review validated some of our concerns. For our lifestyle, we are going to pull the trigger on a Grand Highlander that's currently waiting for us at the dealer.
Great long term review.
I've been looking to replace my old Corolla Hatchback. This may work because of that Hybrid system.
I wonder how comfortable your editor slept in the vehicle during that pseudo honeymoon?
A Spare tire is an option???
I have 70k miles on. My sienna and I usually avg around 38 but has gotten as high as around 45mpg but as low as 31mpg with fast driving in the winter.
I rented an identical Sienna hybrid. It was even the same green. There is no better road trip vehicle for 4 adults with lots of luggage.
Love my Sienna 💜 best vehicle I've ever owned.
Mostly agree but a few of my experiences are different. I have a bike rack on my '22 Sienna hitch and I turned off the parking sensors and "parking support brake" in the annoying menu and I DO NOT have to turn it off every time I start the car. I average 37+ around town, driving like a granny and not a car-enthusiast magazine editor. 😜 Freeway miles are lower mpg, and I do feel like I'm flogging the poor beast when I accelerate or climb a hill. I lean into the mantra "you're going to get there when you get there" much more than with my nippy little Mazda3. A car full of kids, dogs, and stuff is never going to drive like a sports car. Extreme heat or cold do affect mpg but totally worth it compared to competitors. I wish the Android Auto would connect automatically without having to be plugged in but that's an easy fix with an aftermarket adapter. I love having sliding doors and not clowning around with 3-row SUV doors. 13k miles in and very happy with our Sienna.
Good to hear know about the bike rack. So it's a setting you just change once?
Thank you for this! 9 mos later, have your thoughts changed? I'm looking at a '23 Sienna
@@longboardluv2 sorry for not responding! You do change it in the dashboard once but in my experience the dealership will reset all the dash settings when they change oil etc.
@@tarar6926 I still love it, now that my friends are all having multiple kids and struggling with their SUVs or frustrated with mpg on their Odysseys and Pacificas, I still feel vindicated in my purchase haha
I drive a 2020 toyota camry LE hybrid. And I'm a full time doordash delivery driver. I exceed my EPA MPG ratting every day unless it's cold out using the heat is the only thing that takes my MPG under EPA. I also rarely drive it heard.
We love our 2021 Sienna Platinum!
How did they remove the second row seats?? Also is the sunroof bigger for this year supposed to the 2023 model?
As a single I use my minivan for biking and stealth camping. Not sure storing the bicycle and a sleepy driver is its main purpose but I am happy with the arrangement.
I got a rental in 2021 it was the hybrid and i loved it and the MPG it got.
Great introduction! Whoa.
Think about all the convertibles driving down the street with their tops up on a crisp fall day when it's 75. This is my real pet peeve. Also I own a Sienna Platinum 21. I wish mine was Cypress Green
What was the technology like? How was adaptive cruise etc with highway driving and in traffic? How was the infotainment system? No one talks about this stuff!
Great review though, just wish someone covers this!
I’m convinced the engine drone is on purpose to promote more economic acceleration. We consistently are over 36mpg in our 22 awd in the first 7,000 miles.
I have one of these and I have a bike rack. It does hit the hitch sometimes so I got a lift kit that gave me 3 extra inches. As for backing up just turn off the alarm and there is no problem.
How did you get 29 mpg. By flooring it all the time?My experience is if you drive in eco mode around town you will get between 33-36. You can be careful and get 40. On the highway if you drive at 70 you will get 38 or higher. 75 mph you will get about 35.
I’ve driven from north Louisiana to Little Rock, speed limit 60-65 mph, and got 42 mpg. Round trip was 40.
Now this is real life experience. We love our van. We got the LE and really like the cloth seats. Save some money. I do wish the middle seats could be easily removed though.
I had a Platinum and liked most things about it, but I switched the interior bulbs for LEDs and it was a huge improvement. However, twice, the rear hatch came down as we were standing at the back as the sensor thought we wanted it closed. It should be over to one side like Chevy do it on the Tahoe, imo. But alas, mine had a faulty fuel gauge and the needle would drop instead of gradually moving down, and that would decrease the distance to empty all the time. Toyota are aware of the fault the tech said, but they couldn't fix it. So now it's gone. I miss it and would have one again, and keep my fingers crossed that the techs at Toyota get a fix for this.
Sheet of plywood? When I bought my 2005 caravan, the ability to load a shhet of plywood combined w Stowe&Go was the reason I bought it. I have probably used the 4x8 sheet carry capability maybe only a doz times but was very nice for those times. Not sure plywood needs to be flat to floor vs over top of folded mid row seat...but can Sienna do that?
LOVE that green! Wish I could get a Corolla with a manual and that colour!