In Los Angeles, Northridge Toyota refused to drop their markups of $ 6000-12,000 for their Sienna. Their marketing is deceptive. They will make you sign a precontract agreement to get you the car within 1-2 months to secure the allocation but charge you unreasonable markups. They claim their inventory is low by keeping their dealership lot empty so they can set you up for a trap. I just walked away.
the sad truth is this Sienna MSRP is 4000 lower than highlander hybrid. So Toyota is making significantly less money on these models, which means Sienna is gonna be on backorder in most places. I wanted this vehicle for 3 yrs now but there was never a point you have any negotiation room at the dealership.
FYI for anyone wondering @20:35 when the middle row is pushed forward all the way, you get 6 FT of space to the rear. I’ve had mine for 2 full years and still love it. I average 38-41 mpgs in the warmer months, 32-36 in winter. ( Limited AWD w/ spare tire & roof rails)
A van like this should be able to load a 4x8 sheet of plywood easily or more big stuff easily. 6’ is really poor for something this large as is the design of non removable seats. Does Toyota not realize that is a very desirable feature people want? My daughter has the 2021 version Sienna and has both her middle seats permanently removed (she shows dogs and fills the entire back with crates and show stuff) and at least for the 2021 models you can buy an aftermarket dongle that plugs into the airbag connector that shuts off the dash warning light. I’m gonna guess someone has figured this out for the 22 and 23 models also. Still IMHO the seats should be quick release removable should you want to pop one or both back in as needed. Dumb move Toyota.
6 feet of space in the back when the second seat is folded up won't allow you to haul a stack of 4x8 foot plywood. That kills it for me. Being able to have an open flat area is the reason I bought my first van, a 1992 Plymouth Grand Voyager. Being able to haul a lot of people, sheets of plywood, lumber and make a sleeping bed in the back have always been my reasons for buying a van. If it can't do that, I will look elsewhere.
I have a 2006 Sienna. I use my van to train and haul dogs….a lot of them. I keep my middle row seats in my garage. Not being able to remove the middle seats would be a deal breaker. Really, why would Toyota do this anyway?
I tried to buy from Longo but they refused to even put me on the list. So I end up with RAV4 Prime at MSRP after waiting a year. Keyes Toyota same thing. Their service department sucks too but Longo is 40 miles away. But I still don't understand why he used word FATAL. No one or no thing died except AMD's reputation.
My wife and I, we got lucky and bought our Sienna in Summer of 2021. Bought it for $47K for the XLE. We love the van. Only $15K left on the car loan with a 3% rate.
Wow! The non-removable back seats is a total dealbreaker for me. Being able to take out the middle row of seats turns the last model Sienna from a great people hauler, to a supreme utilitarian van that beats almost any pickup or SUV for moving stuff. Glad you made this video - nice work!
Yeah, that may make me back out of my July 2022 order. I have a 2012. It was fine when my children were kids, they're out of the house now and it's been almost exclusively a cargo van for 5 years with the 2nd row seats removed. Much more room than any SUV. I've even driven my sheep around in it. Toyota keeps taking stuff away. Like no heated side rear-view mirrors on my 2022 LE Corolla whereas my 2014 LE had them. Or the standard spare tire here. You don't DO that. Little nickel-and-diming adds up after a while and ticks me off.
Yep. Dealbreaker for us as well. We have the 2nd row seats out all the time in our 2015 Odyssey, and we also did with our 2004 Sienna. Both vans were great, but it will be another Ody for us when the time comes.
You can remove the second-row seats, although it’s not recommended because you’ll need to disconnect the seats’ side airbag wires and the airbag warning light will illuminate in the dash. I’d hate to mess around with airbag stuff.
@@PattyKuluCakes - There are YT videos that show adding a resistor to the seat connector to turn off the airbag warning light. There is still a couple of small seat mounting brackets that stick up a bit higher than the floor but that could be covered with plywood floor covering.
I totally feel for everyone’s frustration! After 9 months on a waitlist, in absolute need of a new van, I have finally been allocated one for middle to end of next month. Each dealer plays by their own set of rules. Some are first come first serve, some won’t sell without a ridiculous amount of additional features that you don’t want but they force you to pay for, some won’t sell to anyone out of state, and some have ridiculous markups! We could’ve gotten one awhile ago if we wanted to drive 10 hours away and the markup: $15,000. Not a joke. My advice is to call as many dealerships as you can, and find one that refuses to charge “market adjustment fees”. I was fortunate enough to find a dealership near me that is like that.
@@innersoul287my dealer in Florida, honors sticker price, and no markups. But, he will only order vehicles for customers in his area. My Sienna took 51 weeks to arrive.
I got lucky and only waited 2 months because I made a million phone calls and it happened to call the right dealer on allocation day. The kick sensors for the sliding doors were a huge selling point for me. Holding my 18-month-old in my arms and my 4-year-old special needs son's hand with my other, it's so great to be able to open the door without letting go of his hand and having him potentially take off in a parking lot to get hit by a car (which he is apt to do if I let go of his hand). I'm so happy to be in this van that makes us feel so much safer when we leave the house 😀 not to mention all the safety features this has when compared to my 9-year-old CUV. Disappointed that couldn't Toyota put TSS 3.0 in the 2023 though. Thanks for another great video, helps me not regret my choice 😁
I had a runner. I tried one of those harnesses with a leash. Every time I put it on him he laid on the floor and had a tantrum. 😲🧚♀️ hang in there momma. It gets easier! Glad you got your car. ❤
Good critical assessment from a techs perspective on the pros and cons of the toyota sienna. The interior and exterior have been thoroughly examined and critiqued to allow the future owner to evaluate how best it suits his or her requirements. The camera work was very decent and was sympathetic to the viewers observations. All in all a job very well done.
Still own and drive a 2004 Sienna with 201,000 miles. Quite simply the best vehicle I have ever owned. We bought it (reluctantly) when the kids were small for sporting events and summer trips. I quickly saw the benefits of a MV over an SUV. I have replaced a radiator and flex pipe. That's it. Never burns or leaks oil. Gave our son a 2005 Camry V6 and it is going strong at 151,000. Only bummers with these are timing belts instead of chains.
My mother used her 2004 Sienna for her drapery business. Extremely reliable and she loved it. After giving it to my sister and then getting it back after a few years, it was still in great condition and she used it as a primary vehicle after her business slowed down. It had about 300,000 until it got totaled in an accident. The regular maintenance was what kept it in great condition and I cannot remember any major repairs that were ever done.
I have a 2008 sienna and love it. I'm the original owner and it has never had a problem. It only has 40,000 miles so I had to part with it, but I think some day I need to get a newer one.
Our Sienna is arriving next week... AFTER MORE THAN 15 MONTHS! We could have purchased a FWD much much sooner but for the AWD it has taken this long. And we had to upgrade the trim to Woodland Edition to get that. We are getting it for retail price so no markup which we are thankful for.
Congrats you can get your car next week! Mine LE AWD is still waiting I ordered it on 2021 and my dealer tells me that the car will not come this year! I am in Vancouver Canada.
@@ymy72579ify Is your brother living in Canada? I heard from my dealer said if you use your car for business purpose like Uber then you will get it quicker! So frustrating!
The two little fins beside the side mirrors actually do something. They keep the mirrors from making a howl or whistle from laminar air flow. The 2014 Tundras started having that issue after the facelift, Toyota added the little turbulence inducing fin and viola! No more noise.
Bro doesn't want to hear science and design. He's more about giving us empty glass pontifications. Seriously, how can anyone take this channel seriously when they make statements of absolution regarding subjects they have zero knowledge of. But I guess it worked, they got my click. FML
We have a 2021 XSE and just drove over 2500 miles. Five people and three dogs. We've had three odysseys, but this Sienna was fantastic and we prefer it. And we got 32-33mpg doing 75-80 with both AC units on. We love the hybrid - around town we get 36-40mpg. We don't tow but the sienna never feels under powered. It is more than adequate our whole trip. It never struggles to get up to speed or to maintain speed.
That's right, I have 2021 LE I drove back and forth from Texas to Georgia with 5 and cargo full. Really love it 5 start on this vehicle. And I have the old one too 2005 with 200k miles on it still running great too.
AMD, I am green with envy towards the lucky person who ends up with this Sienna. 😉😉 On the serious subject of availability, you really have to ask how Toyota can launch the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX from the same Princeton plant when they cannot come close to meeting the current demand for the Sienna and Highlander. 🤔
they prolly don't intend to be certain about all the Highlanders and Siennas, bcuz those are lower margin than Grand H and Lexus. This trend is what all the makers are doing including Honda which has not been producing base models at all! Terrible trend and likely part of the inflation numbers in total dollars terms. Horrific for america, which is not a country that has a great recent history of money-sense.
I’m a Toyota tech here in Canada. The 12v battery drain was such an issue here in the winter these were being towed in nonstop. The fix was to replace the kick sensors for the power doors. My neighbour has one and I immediately disabled the kick feature and his battery issues were gone. I still think the Sienna has better quality than Honda and Chrysler vans.
@@tigerrider6711 The winters here can reach up to -30C so the batteries go flat just like that, hybrid or not. Most customers don’t drive long enough. The door control module also drains the battery while the car is off.
My daughters Sienna 23 let a rock thru the grille and put a hole in the radiator. Toyota did not put a protective mesh behind the grille in Sienna 2023. Beware. A 2 month old car.
I ordered a 2022 Le plus package in March 2022 at MSRP, picked up my 2023 Le plus in Feb 2023 at MRSP. (~$500 More). To bad I love it. Dealership offered more to buy it back. Long time local reputable dealer.❤
Got a brand new 2022 sienna XLE AWD WITH the spare tire in windchill pearl last year. $500 below msrp. Wait time: a few weeks. Around $46500. Fit and finish was amazing for mine. Leather. Comfy. Four zone ac. Fricken loved it. Perfect. Sold it to carvana and made $8000 after I realized it wasn’t going to replace my 2008 sequoia tho.
I'm in Twin Cities, MN and waited only a month for my Camry TRD which was being built in early March and I have so much respect for Walser Toyota for not using low inventory/high demand to charge me more. Love your videos, please keep making them
@@elmirmisir-zada8470 I admire them for bringing out the TRD Camry. It is a rare example of increasing performance and reducing prices at the same time. 2023 will be the last year of a V6 Camry so enjoy yours.
@@rightlanehog3151 Yep, I was planning to keep 18 Camry SE and maintained it religiously until I heard that next year Camry will be without V6 engine option and after checking prices of used TRD I reserved mine and it's less than a month old! Thank you btw
We bought our 2019 Sienna in 2020, one year old with 40,000km because I had no interest with a hybrid system for my use case. Glad I did! Currently the same year and trim as my Sienna, ones with more mileage than mine currently have, they have gone UP as used cars! I've seen ones with more miles than I have, with asking prices $4-6000 MORE than what I paid for mine 3 years ago! Insane!
I totally agree with the statement about “why build a great van that you can’t get”. Going on 9 months now since ordering. Still not available. What a terrible marketing strategy. I’m now thinking about going with the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid because at least I could find one and test drive as well.
Pacifica is a much more refined driving experience and a nicer overall package, but reliability is questionable...and I'm a Chrysler van fan. The AWD Pacifica would be a better bet.
I’ve just bought the Sienna Hybrid and happy with the power train, great gas mileage and the 600 miles range capability. Excellent headlights with good visibility, good handling for a minivan, very good safety features thanks to Toyota safety sense standard. I love the blind spot monitors, radar controlled cruise control, auto parking brakes, rear lane tracking assist and going driving instruments, Apple car play connectivity especially for music and Google maps. However the rest of the new van is a step back comparing to the previous Sienna generations. My family has 3 Siennas, a 2005 LE with 3.3L V6; a 2008 XLE with 3.5L V6. The 2005, Sienna is the best design I got 325K still runs great; I love the timing belt of the 3.3L V6 extremely smooth and quiet running. I don’t mind replacing timing belt at every 100K miles. 3.5L V6 timing chain is too noisy and consumes slightly more fuel. The latest Sienna hybrid’s only advantage is its hybrid engine with impressive 36 mpg Vs 19/23 mpg. The rest of the new Sienna are disappointing i.e. seats Too firm, thin and flimsy. Seat fabric is rough and uncomfortable. Middle seat of second row is a joke compared to 2005 (threat seat is for punishing someone). Cup holders design is a joke because none of them fit my Bubba water bottles and they are positioned to black AC vents, and access to the climate control switches. Inferior and in adequate interior lighting and taillights illumination in LE trim. Extremely dim cargo area lamp. Taillights illumination is just two small red dots. Floor carpet is cheap and thin like Walmart after market. Cup holders on floor for second row seats? Yuck! Trunk is smaller than previous Generation Sienna and uneven cargo floor especially the tire jack really protruding and annoying. Missing the electric rear vent windows. Missing the the cubby storage with lids in front doors for front passenger. Missing the footlights for second row when sliding doors open. Missing front door puddle lights (LE). Very cheap 3rd row seats that don’t fold down completely and won’t stay flat. Missing the power lumbar support for driver. Interior lamps not lit up fully when unlocking doors. Missing illumination on the look taillight assemblies on the rear lift gate. Why 12V battery in cargo instead engine bay? Rear window glass area is too small. AC is noticeably less powerful than previous generations. It seems have some issues with keeping up at high 90s temperatures and automatic climate control is annoying and take too much time to get it right not to mention adding complexity and cost. Overall I love the Hybrid Sienna but Toyota must replace the interior/exterior designer team for next model refresh coming up soon in 2025. This new Toyota Sienna hybrid interior reminds me of the awful 1996 Mercury Villager, our first minivan.
I had this model when it came out in 2021 (since sold but only because I didn't need a van any longer). The one thing I want to mention as a fatal flaw concerns the OEM hitch, or any hitch for that matter. Because of the low body clearance AND because of the long overhang behind the back wheels, the hitch will absolutely hit asphalt in low to mid grades, whether a sloped driveway, some speedbumps, curbs, etc. It was extremely annoying how low the assembly is. I sent photos of the hitch being 1/2" off the ground as I attempted to enter someone's driveway, but, of course, they don't admit to a design flaw. If I had a bike rack installed, the whole thing would be well into the ground. Moral of the story, if a hitch is on top of your list, you may want to reconsider.
@@jposerio2433 appreciate the suggestion, but it's not physically possible to be a few inches higher than the OEM at the lowest point, which is the RECEIVER. Even if a hidden hitch creeps up further into the chassis, its receiver is still exactly in the same location no matter what. Toyota screwed this design up and should have made the receiver poke out of a spot within the bumper, if anything. Anything below the bumper is waaaaay too low.
Exactly why I’m ‘stuck’ driving a Highlander instead of the overall better Highlander. The rear end design of the sienna is terrible for 2” receiver hitches.
@@robgrossi2368 The Eco Hitch is indeed higher and you have to make a cut into the bumper cover for the receiver part. The bottom most point of the receiver is 10” from the ground. The other solution and what I would do if I owned one and Toyota should do as an option (not the silly Woodland edition) is install a 2” lift kit on the van. Available as an aftermarket product it significantly improves ground clearance and improves the look of this porky looking thing.
Just looked at torkliftcentral, 2021-24 Sienna EcoHitch. Photo shows under-bumper mount, appears to be 5 inches above ground. Please give info on the model that would be 10 inches above ground. Tnx!
Just subscribed! My wife & I just put in an order for a new Sienna XLE - we were told it’s at least a 9 month wait. As I was going through the build I realized that you can’t get the standard white in the XLE trim, Toyota forces you to pay up for the White Pearl color ($425). We wanted the Red first (which is Pearl only) and were going to settle with white till I saw we’d have to pay up either way, so we bit the bullet on that. Our dealer - Leith Toyota in Raleigh, NC does NOT charge over MSRP but you are forced into ordering your vehicle, no matter the model, with some options that the Southeast Toyota Distributors require. Compared to one of the other local dealers that was marking up their vehicles $2,500, it’s worth the wait. Thanks for the detailed review and God Bless!
We got waitlisted for a 2022 Sienna in February 2022 and after making some small trade offs on features that were on our nice to have list we got one in October of 2022. We do love the van and it is perfect for our family that we knew was expanding when we ordered it.
Sure, I'd love to get mid-30s MPG in my current and future minivans, but as someone with 20 years of minivan experience (all with zero mechanical problems), I will gladly sacrifice that remarkable efficiency for the ability to make the second AND third rows of seats disappear. I am also alarmed that one of Toyota's most commonly used engines can develop serious condensation issues from repeated short trips. No doubt Toyota will correct this problem in future versions of the engine, but it's something that will never be a concern in my naturally aspirated V6 minivans. This was a great video; and as always, thanks for your expertise and candid reporting!
Curious what your van ownership has been with such fantastic luck? I’ve got close to 30 years of van ownership experience and haven’t been quite so lucky. I’m 66 and way past kids but the practicality of a van for my hobbies and utility can’t be beat. IMHO every van should have 2nd and 3rd row quick removable seats (aka my old Dodge and Chrysler mini vans), or a fold into the floor 3rd row and quick removable 2nd row, or the Stow N Go on the Pacifica is very slick. Nice flat load floor. My current van is a 2006 Mazda MPV with just 168K. Bought from FL with low mileage and no rust it’s a nice size for me now. Both middle seats pop right out and I totally removed the 3rd row and use the well for storage. Totally flat load floor that I use for car camping and carrying bikes. My daughter has a 2021 Sienna and loves it. She took out the 2nd row seats. I’d love one of these new ones as well but the cost is to much.
Although our minivan lifestyles seem very similar, I can't boast your experience with high-mileage vehicles. My wife and I generally look to "buy new" between 90K and 100K miles (8-10 years). But with that said, we're prepared to drive our 2015 Grand Caravan as long as it takes to get out of the current seller's market. I often think about getting an SUV or pickup, but dollar-for-dollar, there's nothing like life with a minivan.
I have the 23' Sienna, and I love it. Best road trip vehicle ever. It is a very slow engine but it is not noticeable as a daily driver. I thought the Sienna was going to struggle up mountain passes but it does not due to the torque from the electric motor
I had 2023 fwd sienna and I raced with my friend 2020 v6 sienna mine is actually faster in every way , but you need to get to the engine screaming noise when you have hard acceleration,but the van is not slow at all
So true. We have been on wait list three months and they told us the same as you mentioned we will have to $10k over MSRP, if one ever does come in. We have three more months before we are able to get our deposit back. May have to go with a Honda Odyssey. Just need to convince the better half.
Thanks for the video! Our 2005 Sienna is ready to be retired. We've looked at other minivans, and even with the 'cons', we've decided to go with Toyota again.
For those who never drove a hybrid/plug in/EV, those car have a lot hidden advantages over gas car in daily use, obvious quite smooth,one HUGE advantage is you can run the A/C without the engine running, that’s a great advantage if you want to camping or just napping on the parking lot
Down in North Miami dealership the XLE which has an MSRP of $44k has a $10-30k markup. The sales guy sales their dealer price is $77k but price is negotiable and he was basically offering it for $55k. Of course a laughed it him and walked away. I had the same experience 2years ago when I was interested in a RAV4 Prime, with a 50% markup. This sort of dealership behavior is disgraceful and prevents me from investing in Toyota.
Fot owners making long trips on the Interstates like from Florida to Baltimore, the 610 mile cruising range on a single tankful would be a real winner! Even though the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid has slightly better highway MPG (36 vs 34), the comparative puny fuel tank yields just some 410 mile cruising range. The Sienna's cruising range means that just one mid-trip fueling stop on a one-way trip would all that would be needed!
As the previous owner of a 2003 sienna, I love that placement of the spare tire. Definitely should come standard, but I guess if you are trying to save gas, whatever... I think that being prepared to handle a flat tire is more important. Also, that flimsy plastic cover over it is not acceptable they should have made a more durable little hinged door for it. It should have steel alloy rims at this price point for sure. A hub cap is a hub cap no matter what you call it, and they suck so bad, especially when you lose one. If the rav4 has steel alloy rims, then this van should have them for sure its a far superior vehicle than an suv in my opinion, I wish this van had real bumpers like the 2003 one. That one was a v6 it lasted 20 years, and I put 260,000 miles on it best vehicle I have ever owned.
Doesn't matter if Toyota increases production, most dealers will continue to mark them up because every family wants one. I'm really glad I bought mine before the craziness started. Got mine pretty much at invoice price.
In Asheville, NC, the markup was $1,000. I didn't like paying any markup, but It was what it was. So for people in higher price areas, I suggest you reserve a Sienna from a dealership in the southern US and then fly down to pick it up. The markup and the ticket will be less than $2,000.
very thorough and informative! influenced my concepts of purchasing a Toyota van......completely disappointed by not being able to remove the 2nd row seats!
The reason we did not buy the Sienna IS the fact that the second row seats do not fold flat and are not removeable. We were surprised by this and then found the Highlander with both a second row and third row fold flat seats. That gives me just over 80 inches of length from the back of the front seats to the rear door and that is why we bought the Highlander over the Sienna. Oh and the OEM trailer hitch for the Highlander fits into the rear valance perfectly and also provides some protection from any impacts back there. Great design for sure.
As always, thankful for TCCN and his reviews. After sitting in one I immediately noticed how tall the front seats were. Felt like I was sitting on a phone book. Looking seriously at the odyssey, that v6 sounds amazing fitted to the ZF 9. Will miss the toyota reliability.
These issues do matter. I recall that we waited 8 month for our 1982-83 Civic. It was a great family car that rusted out quickly. It took 20 years for my parents to even look at a Japanese brand again.
That was always the Achilles heel of Japanese brands, wasn't it? Over and over you ended up with a car that still started at the touch of a key but it didn't matter because it was ready to fold in half over a pothole. It's a good thing they've moved away from that.
@@JeredtheShy Yes. Rust, poor heaters, underpowered, and a reputation (maybe not deserved) of being death traps in accidents. People tend to forget about those things when they start reminiscing about how great they were.
Seeing many comments here about obscene dealer markups. Same here in Australia. Think I’ll just keep pushing my daily down the road for another 100k’s and see how things are then.
I bought a 2024 Sienna that comes with two years of maintenance. I was surprised that they only change oil every 10,000 miles. I live in the warmer parts of Texas but am concerned about condensation buildup in the engine oil. We drive about 12,000 miles a year so seems like an oil change every 10 months is a bad idea.
I own two Siennas. 2013 XLE and a 2019 XLE Premium. One of the main reasons I fell in love with the Sienna was I could remove the second row seats. The other thing I scratch my head over is the hybrid factor. I am aware that the price per gallon of gasoline fluctuates drastically at times but on the highway my 2019 XLE gets around 26-28 MPG. The cost difference between a new one and mine could be a LOT of gasoline. Just not sure of thinking sometimes.
Don't got for the hybrid if gas costs is the only motivator. You will lose too much money at the trade in. You are never going to earn that money back bc of the hybrid system.
I have the 2020 Limited Premium AWD Sienna. With AWD I'm hard pressed to see it do better than 20 MPG on the highway. Usually it's around 18 to 19 in the city too. I was seriously thinking about a 2023 for the better mileage, but being 6'3" I'm seriously reconsidering if I would even fit because of this video. I think was an excellent video, but I was noticing how many areas have been sized down probably to shave off a few pounds. When I bought my first 2007 sienna it was my last ditch attempt to find a toyota that I could fit in without my head hitting the ceiling with the seats all the way down. So I think with the 2023 it's come full circle where I was tempted because of the price of gas, but I think the cramped quarters would be the deal breaker for me.
@@ao4v0ws The question is: How much extra do you have to pay for a new Sienna? Is you insurance going to go up? Do you have personal property tax in your state? Salestax? All these things matter to make an informed decision for a new car if reducing the petrol bill is the main motivator. This is math!
I have a 2014 and my son has the hybrid. In a mountain road, mine passes cars easily, his 2022 hybrids makes lots of noise and drags. You gonna pay twice as much and regret trading it.
@@ao4v0ws im 6'. I still have lots of headroom for the front driver seat to go up with the seat, like 6 inches or more. plenty of headroom. go sit in one.
100% Agree! I would love to get a Sienna up here in Canada for the posted MSRP, but it's $10,000-$15000 overpriced. I'm looking toward the Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey because even with the ridiculous gas prices here, it actually ends up being less. Also I can drive out of a lot with an Odyssey or a Carnival at anytime instead of waiting up to a year for a Sienna.
I purchased 4 Toyota Seinna's for our company. I switched from the Odyssey to Toyota for three main reasons -firstly, I find they make more durable vehicles than Honda, secondly, I am hoping the hybrid will save fuel expenses over time, and thirdly because their base model is actually CHEAPER than the Odyssey which is why I find your post confusing. Either you are comparing upgraded Toyota models to low end Honda models, or your dealership is trying to screw you because the Toyota base model is retail price is cheaper in my province than any Odyssey model retail price.
Love this guy - he always does a solid breakdown and comes across as very genuine (not pushing the product). For a car novice (like me) his tips are extremely helpful and accessible
I had a Sienna XLE V6 AWD as a company car and can't tell you how much I hate the fact it's no longer available. On long trips, the V6 engine was beautifully composed, and merging onto highways or moving quickly into oncoming traffic was never a problem. After driving the new 4-banger, I'm moving on to another option.
They should have kept the old design 2011-2018 and just tweaked it a bit for exterior and for the V6 using an auto start/stop technology. This way a v6 AWD could achieve 22/26 mpg instead of 18/22. This newer Sienna sucks 4cyl come on TOYOTA, cheaper interior/exterior and super high price. FAIL TOYOTA FAIL!!
Thanks for saying that!! It's 3-5 years in Canada for XSE AWD/LIMITED AWD. I couldn't find any dealers in Alberta, Canada, who could order the 25th edition. Ordered XSE tech pkg and need to wait for 3+ years!
I love the fact I have the trailer hitch not because I tow, that hitch with tow ball / hitch skid/ recovery mount with D-ring is the bump stop for those who can't park properly. I like to back into parking spot when possible. LoL.
Don't forget about the hitch being good protection when bottoming out over curbs/driveways. Noisy yeah, but at least it's not plastic being ripped off. LOL Not to mention adds a little bit more strength if you were to be rear-ended, but it's probably way too low for that.
I’m so glad I still have my 2013 sienna. It has removable 2 nd row seats. The spare tire is underneath the car. I have a middle seat that stashed away in the back. Very well designed car. Also smart looking.
the inspiration of the front end of this Sienna is that of the famous bullet train in Japan. If you look at the front of the train you will see a likeness.
I been waiting 8 months to get 1 in Texas. The dealership don't take custom orders, just what Toyota send them. Price in today standards is reasonable because of the gas mpg. I think is a great investment for anyone, not just family. 36 to 38 mpg is ridiculous good.
Totally agree the point of fatal problem! It is a worse buying situation in Canada, wait time maybe 2 years plus. Whats the point of Toyota thought and plans? I guess Toyota wants to save the limited parts or resouces for making more profitable margin models during the auto parts shortage periods. But it made consumers frustrated.
Yep, Sienna and Highlander Hybrids look good on paper but when you try to buy one they quickly become very bad deals. Plenty of other choices from dealers not trying to screw you over.
After one year of your video, still shortage of supplies. Dealers added $499 on nitrogen tires, $2999 for tinted windows, $1800 for theft prevention, $1999 for clear coat protection, $999 for interior protection, on and on...... LE base always comes with PLUS package. It is so sad for A Toyota loyal customer who has to pay $500 to fart their 4 tires.
The fatal flaw is real. Wanted an XLE AWD. Local dealer says they can't even get one. Have to step up to a Woodlands or XSE. $50k+ for a minivan and that's before markups!
Ha, the XSE is the most wanted. I see one XSE for like 20 other models here. I wanted XSE only but Longo would not even put me in line. I was even willing to get Anniversary Edition. Still No. But no one died so it was not fatal.
Also as a side note about the mid row seats, at some point somebody planned on having them removable. When you remove them, it does not trigger any errors on the dashboard or in the computers body control module, it recognizes that the mid row seat weight sensors and seat belt sensors have been removed. It even no longer shows the red warning lights to have the midrow buckle up when you turn the van on on the infotainment screen left of the volume dial. I believe the only reason they made them non-removable was because of the airbag in the seat. Also the seat track doesn't come out easily, since one of the bolts to remove the seat track completely is underneath the gas tank. I have my midrow seats removed because I use my van for delivery, the standard three and a half Ohm resistor still fools the airbag system.
Toyota voids your warranty on the entire car since you removed the 2nd row and tricked the safety system. I was told that by the local Toyota dealership.
@@meenam300zx toyota would have to prove how my changes caused whatever failure was there. The Magnuson-Moss warranty act means they cannot simply "void" a warranty like that. If an engine fails, they would have to prove HOW your seat removals was the cause, which they could not. your dealer is wrong, and should be shown the MM warranty act in the USA.
@@meenam300zx oh, and the dealership tried this with me when it still had warranty coverage. they caved as soon as I asked them how my removing the seats and tricking the airbag system had anything to do with the brakes or suspension.
Just got my 25th Anniversary over a week ago. A little over MSRP being out-of-state, and waited just shy of 2 months. Super comfortable and the kids love it. 600mi in and still using the first tank of gas.. the flaw is build quality, there are many areas they cut the metal didn’t really finish well, and the plastics feel cheap
We test drove three Sienna vans and all three were super slow and had all sorts of creeks, rattles and a lot of wind noise on the interstate. We drove a Platinum, XLE and a Limited, and they were all the same. Just as he tell you in this video, everyone of them seemed cheep inside and was more like a Taxi than a luxury van. If Lexus offered this van with "a lot" more luxury it would be a hit.
I owned a 2009 Sienna and when you laid the 3rd row seats down and removed the second row seats, you had a nice flat surface all the way from the front seats to the rear hatch. I traded that for a 2015 Sienna and am not happy when I remove the second row seats there are rails sticking up above the floor that cannot be removed. How can you lay an air mattress on that? You can't without building some kind of false floor to cover the rails. I decided that was the last Sienna I would ever buy and now with the 2023 not being able to even remove the 2nd row seats, I know I will never own another Sienna.
toyota doesn't care if you don't buy another, they aren't making it for people to sleep on the floor, which coincidently why I have a 2014 sienna myself.
I bought a 2022 sienna last year for 6k above msrp. And it wasn't even the color and trim that I wanted. But whatever, i still love the hybrid sienna. It's a great minivan. I was lucky and didn't wait at all. But you basically will have no freedom in choosing the trim and options you want.
I would really miss the removable second row seats. My mom has a previous gen Sienna and it can just about carry 4x8 sheets of plywood if you take them out.
I've been looking to replace my 2007 Highlander with a 2023 Sienna, and three issues are making me consider keeping the Highlander (besides it still being a great road trip car after 216,000 miles). First is the non-removable middle seats. Second is the low hitch height. Third is the cost. (It ticks me off I could trade in my car and get less thwn $1500 on Monday and would have to spend 6x that to buy it back on Tuesday. New and used car prices are just too high lately, and it's partially supply vs. demand and patially price gouging.)
Seats can be removed. Just wont be quick release. Get an ECO Hidden Hitch by Torklift. Fantastic hitch with 10” of clearance to the bottom of the receiver. Or install a 2” aftermarket lift kit which helps ground clearance all around.
You are 100% correct on the fatal flaw. You can make the best car in the world but if you can't one what's the point. I've been trying to get one for over a year but I refuse to pay >$5k markup.
My hubby took out my second row seats and plugged the airbag sensors with one available after market. I actually bought them from a guy that has a really good TH-cam channel that shows how to remove them. He a bit of a genius and figured out the specs for the plugs and built them on a 3d printer. They work great. No false sensor read outs.
@@meenam300zx this isn't true. If they refuse to fix something, the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act states that the dealer has to prove that your modifications caused the issue.
We purchased a 2022 Sienna XLE in Canada, and the there wasn’t even a spare tire option. There were in the other models. Go figure. Instead they have an electric air pump that can also put some tire sealant into the tire. I would have gladly paid extra for a spare tire…
Awesome video/review. I am a mom of 3, love to drive. We have been wanting to trade our 2015 Highlander for ‘23 Sienna. It feels good to know that there are reviews like these that are mildly technical but very educational for moms like me who doesn’t know anything about cars but really do love to drive.
I worked with Raja out in Toyota of Seattle. The waitlist for the Sienna van was 2yrs in dealerships. I went to and Raja and he helped me secure one in 2 months and I didn't pay a dollar over MSRP. That dealership does not do markups. I have the platinum edition in Pearl White and I have no need to ever remove back seats. The van has been phenomenal in our experience. My one small gripe is I wish the television screen was 4k video. Not a deal breaker but would be nice since it's a luxury top model. Seats are also wayyyy more comfortable too. If you wanna get one sooner and you're in the area speak to Raja. If you tell him Raul Zepeda mentioned you he'll help you get one sooner. : ).
Having to growing up with a 1998 Sienna and now helping my friend upgrade to a minivan from a Rav4, the Sienna is definitely on the list. With the limited supply, my friend offered my dad 10k CAD for family Sienna only since it has less than 89000km and in factory condition. Living in Canada, AB, I haven't seen much of the 1 gen on the road in good condition.
While Toyota has a great product they are failing the marketplace with insufficient inventory, adding options customers cannot choose to skip, and a dealer network that is by and large driven by greed. Nearly all the dealers in the NW are "requiring" potential customers to pay over MSRP. No thanks!
Just went to a dealer today near Austin, TX. The wait time is 1.5-2 years. Can you imagine in 2025, when the next generation sienna is out, and you are going to pick up your 2023 model?
Enjoyed your review of the 2023 Sienna. I have been doing my research and considering if I want to upgrade my 2014 Sienna to this one or something else. I see you hit on many of the talking points but downgraded some of the concerns. For example, the acceleration issue has shown great concern in more than mountains and uphill with full capacity. There are many concerns regarding acceleration in open road passing. I feel you should have also pointed out that Sienna has the lowest HP of the top 4 minis. The other top concern I'm seeing is regarding excessive engine or muffler noise. You did an excellent job on pointing out the new one sided exhaust system, but didn't discuss this concern much. I have owned 3 Sienna and 2 Carolla. I plan to go for a test drive before making my mind up. I hope other informed shoppers do the same, as well as review consumer complaint sites. I will not pay a markup for the vehicle. As stated, we've been a Toyota family for decades, but before you get me upside down on a loan/ note, I'd rather see what the competitor/ Honda is offering.
After doing a lot of dealer research, I found and bought my new 2024 XSE from Moses Toyota Lexus in West Virginia under the window sticker MSRP. Under $50,000! That’s right folks! No dealer price hike and BS add-ons, just because they can, like in the state in which I currently live. And, yes it’s all there, with excellent list of optional equipment. So worth the research and the four hour drive!
I would drive across the country for good deal,or fly and drive back . I’m old and have grown up with Toyota, in fact just bought new 2024 corolla hatchback, just 2 months ago. Now I want to buy one of these sienna and trade in my new corolla but feel stuck because we live in such a greedy society that I refuse to loose money on bran new car with 1k miles. I go back to same dealer to inquire about trade in for newer sienna they want to pound me with the fact it’s a used car now so they can lowball me on getting this sienna. Well you can keep your sienna.AMD is correct, these siennas have a lot of cup holders but they are so cheaply looking inside, have looked at several and though I still want one I’m not willing to overpay for one. Especially seeing I have a used car now with 1k miles.😡😡😡
I was an old fan of the Mini-Vans before the Previa and I did like the Previa it was unique, but the Sienna has never appealed to me. I am actually looking for one of the older Mini-Vans with the 22-RE engine for my own classic collection.
I miss being able to access the back from the front seats without going outside. My older sienna allowed me to help my kids in the back in the middle of a down pour or subzero snow storm
13:00 those two air smoothers on the triangle absolutely do something. They help reduce turbulence by straightening the air flow which reduces drag. Manufacturers don’t spend on little things like that unless they see a return. Especially Toyota. They won’t spend one penny if they don’t see it necessary.
Agreed. I've seen similar tiny fins on the 1st gen IS300/200. Although, some of them seem to be stuck on with an adhesive while the rest were molded into the body. Apparently they also help with some wind noise, but don't quote me on it.
Are you aware of any issues regarding the buildup of highway deicing salt and it's impact on wiring, switches and rust between the underbody plastics and the metal under body of the van? On a vehicle without these plastic shields any debris can be easily washed off. Not so on this van.
This minivan is gorgeous - they absolutely nailed the bullet train design. I rent this for road trips with the family - +40mpg hwy >80mph with 5 adults and luggage. Smooth in town and easy to drive. Not as fast as the outgoing V6 from previous years.
I'm so HAPPY to still be rolling in my 1998 Sienna XLE with 275,000 miles. It has atleast 100,000 to go. Such a good reliable ride ( only additive used is MARVEL MYSTERY OIL).
In Los Angeles, Northridge Toyota refused to drop their markups of $ 6000-12,000 for their Sienna. Their marketing is deceptive. They will make you sign a precontract agreement to get you the car within 1-2 months to secure the allocation but charge you unreasonable markups. They claim their inventory is low by keeping their dealership lot empty so they can set you up for a trap. I just walked away.
"markups of $ 6000-12,000 " that's obcene...I guess it's easier than using a gun to rob you...Never, NEVER go to that dealership..
Northridge Toyota can eat 💩
the sad truth is this Sienna MSRP is 4000 lower than highlander hybrid. So Toyota is making significantly less money on these models, which means Sienna is gonna be on backorder in most places. I wanted this vehicle for 3 yrs now but there was never a point you have any negotiation room at the dealership.
Inventory is low…
I would not pay it
FYI for anyone wondering @20:35 when the middle row is pushed forward all the way, you get 6 FT of space to the rear.
I’ve had mine for 2 full years and still love it. I average 38-41 mpgs in the warmer months, 32-36 in winter. ( Limited AWD w/ spare tire & roof rails)
A van like this should be able to load a 4x8 sheet of plywood easily or more big stuff easily. 6’ is really poor for something this large as is the design of non removable seats. Does Toyota not realize that is a very desirable feature people want? My daughter has the 2021 version Sienna and has both her middle seats permanently removed (she shows dogs and fills the entire back with crates and show stuff) and at least for the 2021 models you can buy an aftermarket dongle that plugs into the airbag connector that shuts off the dash warning light. I’m gonna guess someone has figured this out for the 22 and 23 models also. Still IMHO the seats should be quick release removable should you want to pop one or both back in as needed. Dumb move Toyota.
6 feet of space in the back when the second seat is folded up won't allow you to haul a stack of 4x8 foot plywood. That kills it for me. Being able to have an open flat area is the reason I bought my first van, a 1992 Plymouth Grand Voyager. Being able to haul a lot of people, sheets of plywood, lumber and make a sleeping bed in the back have always been my reasons for buying a van. If it can't do that, I will look
elsewhere.
What's the height inside, floor to ceiling. Curious if I can get bikes inside with other cargo. Tia
I have a 2006 Sienna. I use my van to train and haul dogs….a lot of them. I keep my middle row seats in my garage. Not being able to remove the middle seats would be a deal breaker. Really, why would Toyota do this anyway?
@@jeffjohanson3830 I agree about the option of removing the seats, however, thinking that a minivan should be able to carry 4x8 sheets is goofy AF.
Spoiler: "One FATAL Flaw" is just a click bait. He was referring to the waiting period and dealer markups
Thanks!
Thanks😂
It is a serious problem.
Thank you!
I tried to buy from Longo but they refused to even put me on the list. So I end up with RAV4 Prime at MSRP after waiting a year. Keyes Toyota same thing. Their service department sucks too but Longo is 40 miles away.
But I still don't understand why he used word FATAL. No one or no thing died except AMD's reputation.
My wife and I, we got lucky and bought our Sienna in Summer of 2021. Bought it for $47K for the XLE. We love the van. Only $15K left on the car loan with a 3% rate.
Wow! The non-removable back seats is a total dealbreaker for me. Being able to take out the middle row of seats turns the last model Sienna from a great people hauler, to a supreme utilitarian van that beats almost any pickup or SUV for moving stuff. Glad you made this video - nice work!
Yeah, that may make me back out of my July 2022 order. I have a 2012. It was fine when my children were kids, they're out of the house now and it's been almost exclusively a cargo van for 5 years with the 2nd row seats removed. Much more room than any SUV. I've even driven my sheep around in it.
Toyota keeps taking stuff away. Like no heated side rear-view mirrors on my 2022 LE Corolla whereas my 2014 LE had them. Or the standard spare tire here. You don't DO that. Little nickel-and-diming adds up after a while and ticks me off.
Yep. Dealbreaker for us as well. We have the 2nd row seats out all the time in our 2015 Odyssey, and we also did with our 2004 Sienna. Both vans were great, but it will be another Ody for us when the time comes.
It is still possible to remove the rear seats, just a bit less convenient.
You can remove the second-row seats, although it’s not recommended because you’ll need to disconnect the seats’ side airbag wires and the airbag warning light will illuminate in the dash. I’d hate to mess around with airbag stuff.
@@PattyKuluCakes - There are YT videos that show adding a resistor to the seat connector to turn off the airbag warning light. There is still a couple of small seat mounting brackets that stick up a bit higher than the floor but that could be covered with plywood floor covering.
I totally feel for everyone’s frustration! After 9 months on a waitlist, in absolute need of a new van, I have finally been allocated one for middle to end of next month. Each dealer plays by their own set of rules. Some are first come first serve, some won’t sell without a ridiculous amount of additional features that you don’t want but they force you to pay for, some won’t sell to anyone out of state, and some have ridiculous markups! We could’ve gotten one awhile ago if we wanted to drive 10 hours away and the markup: $15,000. Not a joke.
My advice is to call as many dealerships as you can, and find one that refuses to charge “market adjustment fees”.
I was fortunate enough to find a dealership near me that is like that.
Where ? I would like to get one around sticker price
@@innersoul287
Serra Toyota Saginaw, MI
@@innersoul287Jim Bagan toyota Lake Tahoe they have a xle available to deliver in couple months.
@@innersoul287my dealer in Florida, honors sticker price, and no markups. But, he will only order vehicles for customers in his area. My Sienna took 51 weeks to arrive.
What happens if they say waitlist for parts and repairs ask you to pay 5000 for a 500 part with six month wait list.
Boycott such companies.
I got lucky and only waited 2 months because I made a million phone calls and it happened to call the right dealer on allocation day. The kick sensors for the sliding doors were a huge selling point for me. Holding my 18-month-old in my arms and my 4-year-old special needs son's hand with my other, it's so great to be able to open the door without letting go of his hand and having him potentially take off in a parking lot to get hit by a car (which he is apt to do if I let go of his hand). I'm so happy to be in this van that makes us feel so much safer when we leave the house 😀 not to mention all the safety features this has when compared to my 9-year-old CUV.
Disappointed that couldn't Toyota put TSS 3.0 in the 2023 though.
Thanks for another great video, helps me not regret my choice 😁
And how much over MSRP did you pay to get one on Allocation Day?!
I'm so glad you got one before me. May Allah bless your children with goodness throughout their lives. Ameen.
I had a runner. I tried one of those harnesses with a leash. Every time I put it on him he laid on the floor and had a tantrum. 😲🧚♀️ hang in there momma. It gets easier! Glad you got your car. ❤
Good critical assessment from a techs perspective on the pros and cons of the toyota sienna. The interior and exterior have been thoroughly examined and critiqued to allow the future owner to evaluate how best it suits his or her requirements. The camera work was very decent and was sympathetic to the viewers observations. All in all a job very well done.
Still own and drive a 2004 Sienna with 201,000 miles. Quite simply the best vehicle I have ever owned. We bought it (reluctantly) when the kids were small for sporting events and summer trips. I quickly saw the benefits of a MV over an SUV. I have replaced a radiator and flex pipe. That's it. Never burns or leaks oil. Gave our son a 2005 Camry V6 and it is going strong at 151,000. Only bummers with these are timing belts instead of chains.
My mother used her 2004 Sienna for her drapery business. Extremely reliable and she loved it. After giving it to my sister and then getting it back after a few years, it was still in great condition and she used it as a primary vehicle after her business slowed down. It had about 300,000 until it got totaled in an accident. The regular maintenance was what kept it in great condition and I cannot remember any major repairs that were ever done.
I enjoyed my 2005 sienna all the way to 350,000 and traded it in as a running well maintained van towards a new Venza. They made some great vans
me too. my 2006 sienna minivan has around 220,000 i love it and unless i find a perfect 2023 minivan i won't give my old one away.
I have a 2008 sienna and love it. I'm the original owner and it has never had a problem. It only has 40,000 miles so I had to part with it, but I think some day I need to get a newer one.
We have a 2011. Love it. Always maintained it. Costs a bit at the mechanic but love how it drives
Our Sienna is arriving next week... AFTER MORE THAN 15 MONTHS! We could have purchased a FWD much much sooner but for the AWD it has taken this long. And we had to upgrade the trim to Woodland Edition to get that. We are getting it for retail price so no markup which we are thankful for.
Congrats you can get your car next week! Mine LE AWD is still waiting I ordered it on 2021 and my dealer tells me that the car will not come this year! I am in Vancouver Canada.
@@adrianlo3228 You making payments on a vehicle you don’t have?
@@ThatHFTGuy I just put the deposit only! I can take it back anytime if I decide not to wait anymore!
My brother is still waiting after 2 years on xse trim
@@ymy72579ify Is your brother living in Canada? I heard from my dealer said if you use your car for business purpose like Uber then you will get it quicker! So frustrating!
The two little fins beside the side mirrors actually do something. They keep the mirrors from making a howl or whistle from laminar air flow. The 2014 Tundras started having that issue after the facelift, Toyota added the little turbulence inducing fin and viola! No more noise.
Bro doesn't want to hear science and design. He's more about giving us empty glass pontifications. Seriously, how can anyone take this channel seriously when they make statements of absolution regarding subjects they have zero knowledge of. But I guess it worked, they got my click. FML
Just by looking we can clearly see that he is not an aerodynamicist to say that in addition the 'recessed' handles contribute to aerodynamics.
We have a 2021 XSE and just drove over 2500 miles. Five people and three dogs. We've had three odysseys, but this Sienna was fantastic and we prefer it. And we got 32-33mpg doing 75-80 with both AC units on.
We love the hybrid - around town we get 36-40mpg. We don't tow but the sienna never feels under powered. It is more than adequate our whole trip. It never struggles to get up to speed or to maintain speed.
Best gas mileage in their class..
That's right,
I have 2021 LE I drove back and forth from Texas to Georgia with 5 and cargo full. Really love it 5 start on this vehicle. And I have the old one too 2005 with 200k miles on it still running great too.
😂
AMD, I am green with envy towards the lucky person who ends up with this Sienna. 😉😉 On the serious subject of availability, you really have to ask how Toyota can launch the Grand Highlander and Lexus TX from the same Princeton plant when they cannot come close to meeting the current demand for the Sienna and Highlander. 🤔
they prolly don't intend to be certain about all the Highlanders and Siennas, bcuz those are lower margin than Grand H and Lexus. This trend is what all the makers are doing including Honda which has not been producing base models at all! Terrible trend and likely part of the inflation numbers in total dollars terms. Horrific for america, which is not a country that has a great recent history of money-sense.
Profit Margin
I’m a Toyota tech here in Canada. The 12v battery drain was such an issue here in the winter these were being towed in nonstop. The fix was to replace the kick sensors for the power doors. My neighbour has one and I immediately disabled the kick feature and his battery issues were gone. I still think the Sienna has better quality than Honda and Chrysler vans.
The high voltage battery doesn’t help charge the 12V system when the van is turned on?
@@tigerrider6711 The winters here can reach up to -30C so the batteries go flat just like that, hybrid or not. Most customers don’t drive long enough. The door control module also drains the battery while the car is off.
My daughters Sienna 23 let a rock thru the grille and put a hole in the radiator. Toyota did not put a protective mesh behind the grille in Sienna 2023. Beware. A 2 month old car.
I ordered a 2022 Le plus package in March 2022 at MSRP, picked up my 2023 Le plus in Feb 2023 at MRSP. (~$500 More). To bad I love it. Dealership offered more to buy it back. Long time local reputable dealer.❤
Congratulations on having the brains and backbone to pay MSRP. 👏👏I hope the Sienna gives decades of reliable service.
Got a brand new 2022 sienna XLE AWD WITH the spare tire in windchill pearl last year.
$500 below msrp. Wait time: a few weeks. Around $46500.
Fit and finish was amazing for mine. Leather. Comfy. Four zone ac.
Fricken loved it. Perfect. Sold it to carvana and made $8000 after I realized it wasn’t going to replace my 2008 sequoia tho.
I'm in Twin Cities, MN and waited only a month for my Camry TRD which was being built in early March and I have so much respect for Walser Toyota for not using low inventory/high demand to charge me more. Love your videos, please keep making them
Have you seen his TRD Camry review?
@@rightlanehog3151 Yes and I respectfully disagree with him about Camry TRD
@@elmirmisir-zada8470 I admire them for bringing out the TRD Camry. It is a rare example of increasing performance and reducing prices at the same time. 2023 will be the last year of a V6 Camry so enjoy yours.
@@rightlanehog3151 Yep, I was planning to keep 18 Camry SE and maintained it religiously until I heard that next year Camry will be without V6 engine option and after checking prices of used TRD I reserved mine and it's less than a month old! Thank you btw
I removed second raw sit without a problem. All I have to do is imitate safety bag - 2.2 Ohm resistor.
Oh really then you have tracks in the way to deal with. Then comes the warranty void. 73
We bought our 2019 Sienna in 2020, one year old with 40,000km because I had no interest with a hybrid system for my use case. Glad I did! Currently the same year and trim as my Sienna, ones with more mileage than mine currently have, they have gone UP as used cars! I've seen ones with more miles than I have, with asking prices $4-6000 MORE than what I paid for mine 3 years ago! Insane!
Same with my Tacoma purchased in Jan 2020, however it has level off this year as the covid supply issues are diminished.
We love our 2017 SE sienna, does great on gas, plenty of power from the awesome 3.5 and the 8 spd is so smooth
I hope Toyota is watching this! Excellent, competent and reasonable review.
I totally agree with the statement about “why build a great van that you can’t get”. Going on 9 months now since ordering. Still not available. What a terrible marketing strategy. I’m now thinking about going with the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid because at least I could find one and test drive as well.
Drive the Pacifica. Mine is dead nuts quiet in highway.
Pacifica is a much more refined driving experience and a nicer overall package, but reliability is questionable...and I'm a Chrysler van fan. The AWD Pacifica would be a better bet.
@@plmn93 drives as smooth as butter, like a greased eel. Agree that reliability is always an issue with ChryCo products. Sad, as it’s a great van.
Hybrid Pacifica doesn’t have stow and go sadly but being a PHEV is pretty neat.
I’ve just bought the Sienna Hybrid and happy with the power train, great gas mileage and the 600 miles range capability. Excellent headlights with good visibility, good handling for a minivan, very good safety features thanks to Toyota safety sense standard. I love the blind spot monitors, radar controlled cruise control, auto parking brakes, rear lane tracking assist and going driving instruments, Apple car play connectivity especially for music and Google maps. However the rest of the new van is a step back comparing to the previous Sienna generations. My family has 3 Siennas, a 2005 LE with 3.3L V6; a 2008 XLE with 3.5L V6.
The 2005, Sienna is the best design I got 325K still runs great; I love the timing belt of the 3.3L V6 extremely smooth and quiet running. I don’t mind replacing timing belt at every 100K miles.
3.5L V6 timing chain is too noisy and consumes slightly more fuel.
The latest Sienna hybrid’s only advantage is its hybrid engine with impressive 36 mpg Vs 19/23 mpg.
The rest of the new Sienna are disappointing i.e. seats Too firm, thin and flimsy.
Seat fabric is rough and uncomfortable. Middle seat of second row is a joke compared to 2005 (threat seat is for punishing someone).
Cup holders design is a joke because none of them fit my Bubba water bottles and they are positioned to black AC vents, and access to the climate control switches.
Inferior and in adequate interior lighting and taillights illumination in LE trim.
Extremely dim cargo area lamp.
Taillights illumination is just two small red dots.
Floor carpet is cheap and thin like Walmart after market.
Cup holders on floor for second row seats? Yuck!
Trunk is smaller than previous Generation Sienna and uneven cargo floor especially the tire jack really protruding and annoying.
Missing the electric rear vent windows. Missing the the cubby storage with lids in front doors for front passenger. Missing the footlights for second row when sliding doors open. Missing front door puddle lights (LE). Very cheap 3rd row seats that don’t fold down completely and won’t stay flat. Missing the power lumbar support for driver. Interior lamps not lit up fully when unlocking doors. Missing illumination on the look taillight assemblies on the rear lift gate.
Why 12V battery in cargo instead engine bay? Rear window glass area is too small.
AC is noticeably less powerful than previous generations. It seems have some issues with keeping up at high 90s temperatures and automatic climate control is annoying and take too much time to get it right not to mention adding complexity and cost.
Overall I love the Hybrid Sienna but Toyota must replace the interior/exterior designer team for next model refresh coming up soon in 2025. This new Toyota Sienna hybrid interior reminds me of the awful 1996 Mercury Villager, our first minivan.
I had this model when it came out in 2021 (since sold but only because I didn't need a van any longer). The one thing I want to mention as a fatal flaw concerns the OEM hitch, or any hitch for that matter. Because of the low body clearance AND because of the long overhang behind the back wheels, the hitch will absolutely hit asphalt in low to mid grades, whether a sloped driveway, some speedbumps, curbs, etc. It was extremely annoying how low the assembly is. I sent photos of the hitch being 1/2" off the ground as I attempted to enter someone's driveway, but, of course, they don't admit to a design flaw. If I had a bike rack installed, the whole thing would be well into the ground.
Moral of the story, if a hitch is on top of your list, you may want to reconsider.
Use Torklift Ecohitch Hidden Trailer Hitch. Better design and few inches higher on the ground compare from the Factory one.
@@jposerio2433 appreciate the suggestion, but it's not physically possible to be a few inches higher than the OEM at the lowest point, which is the RECEIVER. Even if a hidden hitch creeps up further into the chassis, its receiver is still exactly in the same location no matter what. Toyota screwed this design up and should have made the receiver poke out of a spot within the bumper, if anything. Anything below the bumper is waaaaay too low.
Exactly why I’m ‘stuck’ driving a Highlander instead of the overall better Highlander. The rear end design of the sienna is terrible for 2” receiver hitches.
@@robgrossi2368 The Eco Hitch is indeed higher and you have to make a cut into the bumper cover for the receiver part. The bottom most point of the receiver is 10” from the ground.
The other solution and what I would do if I owned one and Toyota should do as an option (not the silly Woodland edition) is install a 2” lift kit on the van. Available as an aftermarket product it significantly improves ground clearance and improves the look of this porky looking thing.
Just looked at torkliftcentral, 2021-24 Sienna EcoHitch. Photo shows under-bumper mount, appears to be 5 inches above ground. Please give info on the model that would be 10 inches above ground. Tnx!
Just subscribed!
My wife & I just put in an order for a new Sienna XLE - we were told it’s at least a 9 month wait. As I was going through the build I realized that you can’t get the standard white in the XLE trim, Toyota forces you to pay up for the White Pearl color ($425). We wanted the Red first (which is Pearl only) and were going to settle with white till I saw we’d have to pay up either way, so we bit the bullet on that. Our dealer - Leith Toyota in Raleigh, NC does NOT charge over MSRP but you are forced into ordering your vehicle, no matter the model, with some options that the Southeast Toyota Distributors require. Compared to one of the other local dealers that was marking up their vehicles $2,500, it’s worth the wait.
Thanks for the detailed review and God Bless!
We got waitlisted for a 2022 Sienna in February 2022 and after making some small trade offs on features that were on our nice to have list we got one in October of 2022. We do love the van and it is perfect for our family that we knew was expanding when we ordered it.
2023 Sienna owner here - Thank you for making this thorough video with all the good information about how long things may last!!!
Sure, I'd love to get mid-30s MPG in my current and future minivans, but as someone with 20 years of minivan experience (all with zero mechanical problems), I will gladly sacrifice that remarkable efficiency for the ability to make the second AND third rows of seats disappear. I am also alarmed that one of Toyota's most commonly used engines can develop serious condensation issues from repeated short trips. No doubt Toyota will correct this problem in future versions of the engine, but it's something that will never be a concern in my naturally aspirated V6 minivans. This was a great video; and as always, thanks for your expertise and candid reporting!
Curious what your van ownership has been with such fantastic luck? I’ve got close to 30 years of van ownership experience and haven’t been quite so lucky. I’m 66 and way past kids but the practicality of a van for my hobbies and utility can’t be beat. IMHO every van should have 2nd and 3rd row quick removable seats (aka my old Dodge and Chrysler mini vans), or a fold into the floor 3rd row and quick removable 2nd row, or the Stow N Go on the Pacifica is very slick. Nice flat load floor. My current van is a 2006 Mazda MPV with just 168K. Bought from FL with low mileage and no rust it’s a nice size for me now. Both middle seats pop right out and I totally removed the 3rd row and use the well for storage. Totally flat load floor that I use for car camping and carrying bikes. My daughter has a 2021 Sienna and loves it. She took out the 2nd row seats. I’d love one of these new ones as well but the cost is to much.
Although our minivan lifestyles seem very similar, I can't boast your experience with high-mileage vehicles. My wife and I generally look to "buy new" between 90K and 100K miles (8-10 years). But with that said, we're prepared to drive our 2015 Grand Caravan as long as it takes to get out of the current seller's market. I often think about getting an SUV or pickup, but dollar-for-dollar, there's nothing like life with a minivan.
I have the 23' Sienna, and I love it. Best road trip vehicle ever. It is a very slow engine but it is not noticeable as a daily driver. I thought the Sienna was going to struggle up mountain passes but it does not due to the torque from the electric motor
Since it’s a smaller engine, does it have the same pull as the regular v6 engine.
Car and driver just tested minivans and the sienna was actually one of the faster ones. Minivans in general are just heavy and slow.
I had 2023 fwd sienna and I raced with my friend 2020 v6 sienna mine is actually faster in every way , but you need to get to the engine screaming noise when you have hard acceleration,but the van is not slow at all
My 23 Sienna has no issues with power. If I accelerate too hard, it spins the front tires on dry pavement.
So true. We have been on wait list three months and they told us the same as you mentioned we will have to $10k over MSRP, if one ever does come in. We have three more months before we are able to get our deposit back. May have to go with a Honda Odyssey. Just need to convince the better half.
Thanks for the video! Our 2005 Sienna is ready to be retired. We've looked at other minivans, and even with the 'cons', we've decided to go with Toyota again.
For those who never drove a hybrid/plug in/EV, those car have a lot hidden advantages over gas car in daily use, obvious quite smooth,one HUGE advantage is you can run the A/C without the engine running, that’s a great advantage if you want to camping or just napping on the parking lot
Yes it comes on hand the time when the battery depletes.
I love my 2004 Tacoma and my 2006 Corolla both with manual transmissions.
Keep up the great work, wish I was local to you.
Down in North Miami dealership the XLE which has an MSRP of $44k has a $10-30k markup. The sales guy sales their dealer price is $77k but price is negotiable and he was basically offering it for $55k. Of course a laughed it him and walked away. I had the same experience 2years ago when I was interested in a RAV4 Prime, with a 50% markup. This sort of dealership behavior is disgraceful and prevents me from investing in Toyota.
Fot owners making long trips on the Interstates like from Florida to Baltimore, the 610 mile cruising range on a single tankful would be a real winner! Even though the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid has slightly better highway MPG (36 vs 34), the comparative puny fuel tank yields just some 410 mile cruising range. The Sienna's cruising range means that just one mid-trip fueling stop on a one-way trip would all that would be needed!
"Not the end of the world"... Hearing this is very encouraging considering what's going on in the world.
Great info! Good job.
As the previous owner of a 2003 sienna, I love that placement of the spare tire. Definitely should come standard, but I guess if you are trying to save gas, whatever... I think that being prepared to handle a flat tire is more important. Also, that flimsy plastic cover over it is not acceptable they should have made a more durable little hinged door for it. It should have steel alloy rims at this price point for sure. A hub cap is a hub cap no matter what you call it, and they suck so bad, especially when you lose one. If the rav4 has steel alloy rims, then this van should have them for sure its a far superior vehicle than an suv in my opinion, I wish this van had real bumpers like the 2003 one. That one was a v6 it lasted 20 years, and I put 260,000 miles on it best vehicle I have ever owned.
Doesn't matter if Toyota increases production, most dealers will continue to mark them up because every family wants one. I'm really glad I bought mine before the craziness started. Got mine pretty much at invoice price.
Not just Toyota, since 2019, vehicle prices have increased dramatically, whether it is BMW, MB, LEXUS, etc…….😂
Good for you.
Great Nice looking and comfortable mini van, my wife got the 2023 XSE Hybrid, she paid $57K out the door
In Asheville, NC, the markup was $1,000. I didn't like paying any markup, but It was what it was. So for people in higher price areas, I suggest you reserve a Sienna from a dealership in the southern US and then fly down to pick it up. The markup and the ticket will be less than $2,000.
No markup from my dealer in FL.
very thorough and informative! influenced my concepts of purchasing a Toyota van......completely disappointed by not being able to remove the 2nd row seats!
The reason we did not buy the Sienna IS the fact that the second row seats do not fold flat and are not removeable. We were surprised by this and then found the Highlander with both a second row and third row fold flat seats. That gives me just over 80 inches of length from the back of the front seats to the rear door and that is why we bought the Highlander over the Sienna. Oh and the OEM trailer hitch for the Highlander fits into the rear valance perfectly and also provides some protection from any impacts back there. Great design for sure.
@@Glf65297 I wish the Sienna had that. I'd have one in a minute.
@@Glf65297 Thanks
I previously had an Odyssey. I only removed the second row seats twice in 12 years.
3 years in Toronto!!! I cancelled my booking after a year. Toyota you really messed up here .
As always, thankful for TCCN and his reviews. After sitting in one I immediately noticed how tall the front seats were. Felt like I was sitting on a phone book. Looking seriously at the odyssey, that v6 sounds amazing fitted to the ZF 9. Will miss the toyota reliability.
The 10 speed is better than the zf9. The zf9 has been noted as jerky
10 speed is smooth and good gas mileage. Can get 32mpg on highway
Thanks very much for the Sienna tour. It makes me even more greatful that my ‘03 Honda Odyssey is still going strong.
These issues do matter. I recall that we waited 8 month for our 1982-83 Civic. It was a great family car that rusted out quickly. It took 20 years for my parents to even look at a Japanese brand again.
That was always the Achilles heel of Japanese brands, wasn't it? Over and over you ended up with a car that still started at the touch of a key but it didn't matter because it was ready to fold in half over a pothole. It's a good thing they've moved away from that.
@@JeredtheShy Yes. Rust, poor heaters, underpowered, and a reputation (maybe not deserved) of being death traps in accidents. People tend to forget about those things when they start reminiscing about how great they were.
Your point about turning it into a cargo van not being a good idea is PERFECT. This saved me from considering this year for just that purpose.
Seeing many comments here about obscene dealer markups. Same here in Australia. Think I’ll just keep pushing my daily down the road for another 100k’s and see how things are then.
I bought a 2024 Sienna that comes with two years of maintenance. I was surprised that they only change oil every 10,000 miles. I live in the warmer parts of Texas but am concerned about condensation buildup in the engine oil. We drive about 12,000 miles a year so seems like an oil change every 10 months is a bad idea.
Thank you for the very comprehensive review I appreciate everything in it. God bless you and your family
I own two Siennas. 2013 XLE and a 2019 XLE Premium. One of the main reasons I fell in love with the Sienna was I could remove the second row seats. The other thing I scratch my head over is the hybrid factor. I am aware that the price per gallon of gasoline fluctuates drastically at times but on the highway my 2019 XLE gets around 26-28 MPG. The cost difference between a new one and mine could be a LOT of gasoline. Just not sure of thinking sometimes.
Don't got for the hybrid if gas costs is the only motivator. You will lose too much money at the trade in. You are never going to earn that money back bc of the hybrid system.
I have the 2020 Limited Premium AWD Sienna. With AWD I'm hard pressed to see it do better than 20 MPG on the highway. Usually it's around 18 to 19 in the city too. I was seriously thinking about a 2023 for the better mileage, but being 6'3" I'm seriously reconsidering if I would even fit because of this video. I think was an excellent video, but I was noticing how many areas have been sized down probably to shave off a few pounds. When I bought my first 2007 sienna it was my last ditch attempt to find a toyota that I could fit in without my head hitting the ceiling with the seats all the way down. So I think with the 2023 it's come full circle where I was tempted because of the price of gas, but I think the cramped quarters would be the deal breaker for me.
@@ao4v0ws The question is: How much extra do you have to pay for a new Sienna? Is you insurance going to go up? Do you have personal property tax in your state? Salestax? All these things matter to make an informed decision for a new car if reducing the petrol bill is the main motivator. This is math!
I have a 2014 and my son has the hybrid. In a mountain road, mine passes cars easily, his 2022 hybrids makes lots of noise and drags. You gonna pay twice as much and regret trading it.
@@ao4v0ws im 6'. I still have lots of headroom for the front driver seat to go up with the seat, like 6 inches or more. plenty of headroom. go sit in one.
100% Agree! I would love to get a Sienna up here in Canada for the posted MSRP, but it's $10,000-$15000 overpriced. I'm looking toward the Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey because even with the ridiculous gas prices here, it actually ends up being less. Also I can drive out of a lot with an Odyssey or a Carnival at anytime instead of waiting up to a year for a Sienna.
me too. I got Carnival instead and i Love it!!
I purchased 4 Toyota Seinna's for our company. I switched from the Odyssey to Toyota for three main reasons -firstly, I find they make more durable vehicles than Honda, secondly, I am hoping the hybrid will save fuel expenses over time, and thirdly because their base model is actually CHEAPER than the Odyssey which is why I find your post confusing. Either you are comparing upgraded Toyota models to low end Honda models, or your dealership is trying to screw you because the Toyota base model is retail price is cheaper in my province than any Odyssey model retail price.
No joke, dealers in my area are marking them up 20k. TRD Pros are only marked up 14k
@@AJ-to8lb 100% my dealership is trying to screw me. It's an issue where I am living.
18 months on the waiting list and counting here in Metro Vancouver…
Love this guy - he always does a solid breakdown and comes across as very genuine (not pushing the product). For a car novice (like me) his tips are extremely helpful and accessible
I had a Sienna XLE V6 AWD as a company car and can't tell you how much I hate the fact it's no longer available. On long trips, the V6 engine was beautifully composed, and merging onto highways or moving quickly into oncoming traffic was never a problem. After driving the new 4-banger, I'm moving on to another option.
the down side for the old sienna is only 15~18mpg.
I’ll take the 35mpg combined any day over the old V6. It’s a family hauler, not a race car.
@@smrtguy77777 Me too.. and more reliable.. Those v6s more prone to oil leaks as they aged.
Did you put it in the higher power mode?
They should have kept the old design 2011-2018 and just tweaked it a bit for exterior and for the V6 using an auto start/stop technology. This way a v6 AWD could achieve 22/26 mpg instead of 18/22. This newer Sienna sucks 4cyl come on TOYOTA, cheaper interior/exterior and super high price. FAIL TOYOTA FAIL!!
Thanks for saying that!! It's 3-5 years in Canada for XSE AWD/LIMITED AWD. I couldn't find any dealers in Alberta, Canada, who could order the 25th edition. Ordered XSE tech pkg and need to wait for 3+ years!
I love the fact I have the trailer hitch not because I tow, that hitch with tow ball / hitch skid/ recovery mount with D-ring is the bump stop for those who can't park properly. I like to back into parking spot when possible. LoL.
I like to have a rear hitch because it makes it very easy to jack up the back of the car for tire rotations and what not.
Don't forget about the hitch being good protection when bottoming out over curbs/driveways. Noisy yeah, but at least it's not plastic being ripped off. LOL Not to mention adds a little bit more strength if you were to be rear-ended, but it's probably way too low for that.
I’m so glad I still have my 2013 sienna. It has removable 2 nd row seats. The spare tire is underneath the car. I have a middle seat that stashed away in the back. Very well designed car. Also smart looking.
the inspiration of the front end of this Sienna is that of the famous bullet train in Japan. If you look at the front of the train you will see a likeness.
Best Video I have seen. Thank you for your Support of Finding a Great Vehicle. You have given the Opportunity to buy my Toyota Sienna.
Cheers
I been waiting 8 months to get 1 in Texas. The dealership don't take custom orders, just what Toyota send them.
Price in today standards is reasonable because of the gas mpg. I think is a great investment for anyone, not just family. 36 to 38 mpg is ridiculous good.
same suspension toyota has been using for over 15 years simple and very solid. less parts means less problems!
Totally agree the point of fatal problem! It is a worse buying situation in Canada, wait time maybe 2 years plus. Whats the point of Toyota thought and plans? I guess Toyota wants to save the limited parts or resouces for making more profitable margin models during the auto parts shortage periods. But it made consumers frustrated.
Yep, Sienna and Highlander Hybrids look good on paper but when you try to buy one they quickly become very bad deals. Plenty of other choices from dealers not trying to screw you over.
After one year of your video, still shortage of supplies. Dealers added $499 on nitrogen tires, $2999 for tinted windows, $1800 for theft prevention, $1999 for clear coat protection, $999 for interior protection, on and on...... LE base always comes with PLUS package.
It is so sad for A Toyota loyal customer who has to pay $500 to fart their 4 tires.
Spare tire should be standard on all trims.
The fatal flaw is real. Wanted an XLE AWD. Local dealer says they can't even get one. Have to step up to a Woodlands or XSE. $50k+ for a minivan and that's before markups!
Ha, the XSE is the most wanted. I see one XSE for like 20 other models here. I wanted XSE only but Longo would not even put me in line. I was even willing to get Anniversary Edition. Still No. But no one died so it was not fatal.
I can't believe I just watched a 37 minute video and not once forwarded,this analysis is top notch
The flaw is, what's the point of making a great minivan that no one can get when it's about year wait time. I AGREE 10000000%
Also as a side note about the mid row seats, at some point somebody planned on having them removable. When you remove them, it does not trigger any errors on the dashboard or in the computers body control module, it recognizes that the mid row seat weight sensors and seat belt sensors have been removed. It even no longer shows the red warning lights to have the midrow buckle up when you turn the van on on the infotainment screen left of the volume dial. I believe the only reason they made them non-removable was because of the airbag in the seat. Also the seat track doesn't come out easily, since one of the bolts to remove the seat track completely is underneath the gas tank. I have my midrow seats removed because I use my van for delivery, the standard three and a half Ohm resistor still fools the airbag system.
Toyota voids your warranty on the entire car since you removed the 2nd row and tricked the safety system. I was told that by the local Toyota dealership.
@@meenam300zx toyota would have to prove how my changes caused whatever failure was there. The Magnuson-Moss warranty act means they cannot simply "void" a warranty like that. If an engine fails, they would have to prove HOW your seat removals was the cause, which they could not. your dealer is wrong, and should be shown the MM warranty act in the USA.
@@meenam300zx oh, and the dealership tried this with me when it still had warranty coverage. they caved as soon as I asked them how my removing the seats and tricking the airbag system had anything to do with the brakes or suspension.
Toyota says warranty is void if you remove 2nd row...
@@larryc1616 and the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act says they can't do that.
Just got my 25th Anniversary over a week ago. A little over MSRP being out-of-state, and waited just shy of 2 months. Super comfortable and the kids love it. 600mi in and still using the first tank of gas.. the flaw is build quality, there are many areas they cut the metal didn’t really finish well, and the plastics feel cheap
how much you pay for it?
Ahmed - Thanks for the review, I was thinking of getting one, probably now get an odyssey.
We test drove three Sienna vans and all three were super slow and had all sorts of creeks, rattles and a lot of wind noise on the interstate. We drove a Platinum, XLE and a Limited, and they were all the same. Just as he tell you in this video, everyone of them seemed cheep inside and was more like a Taxi than a luxury van. If Lexus offered this van with "a lot" more luxury it would be a hit.
I owned a 2009 Sienna and when you laid the 3rd row seats down and removed the second row seats, you had a nice flat surface all the way from the front seats to the rear hatch. I traded that for a 2015 Sienna and am not happy when I remove the second row seats there are rails sticking up above the floor that cannot be removed. How can you lay an air mattress on that? You can't without building some kind of false floor to cover the rails. I decided that was the last Sienna I would ever buy and now with the 2023 not being able to even remove the 2nd row seats, I know I will never own another Sienna.
Right and the new Carnival/Sedona is even worse.
toyota doesn't care if you don't buy another, they aren't making it for people to sleep on the floor, which coincidently why I have a 2014 sienna myself.
2023 carnival u can remove all seats with 8 seat configuration and it is flat.
With Pacific, even the second row hides away. On my 2014 Sienna, I have 2 inch foams that cover the rails.
I will keep my older Sienna with flat floor forever. I used to put a mattress back there too and close the doors. Moving was awesome.
Great end to end assessment. Always appreciate getting "The good, the bad, and the ugly".
I bought a 2022 sienna last year for 6k above msrp. And it wasn't even the color and trim that I wanted. But whatever, i still love the hybrid sienna. It's a great minivan. I was lucky and didn't wait at all. But you basically will have no freedom in choosing the trim and options you want.
You do such a great job of reviewing vehicles. Thank you very much!
I would really miss the removable second row seats. My mom has a previous gen Sienna and it can just about carry 4x8 sheets of plywood if you take them out.
"Just about"? Either it fits or it doesn't.
@@joshm3342 it fits with the door shut. there's just no wiggle room
I love the 2.5L port injected engine in my '18 RAV4 XLE hybrid. Why? OLD SCHOOL!!
I've been looking to replace my 2007 Highlander with a 2023 Sienna, and three issues are making me consider keeping the Highlander (besides it still being a great road trip car after 216,000 miles). First is the non-removable middle seats. Second is the low hitch height. Third is the cost. (It ticks me off I could trade in my car and get less thwn $1500 on Monday and would have to spend 6x that to buy it back on Tuesday. New and used car prices are just too high lately, and it's partially supply vs. demand and patially price gouging.)
My 09 highlander would likely be 5-6k to trade in.and probably cost 9k to buy back. Its silly what is happening in the car market
Seats can be removed. Just wont be quick release. Get an ECO Hidden Hitch by Torklift. Fantastic hitch with 10” of clearance to the bottom of the receiver. Or install a 2” aftermarket lift kit which helps ground clearance all around.
You are 100% correct on the fatal flaw. You can make the best car in the world but if you can't one what's the point. I've been trying to get one for over a year but I refuse to pay >$5k markup.
try autonation. they don't do the markups.
My hubby took out my second row seats and plugged the airbag sensors with one available after market. I actually bought them from a guy that has a really good TH-cam channel that shows how to remove them. He a bit of a genius and figured out the specs for the plugs and built them on a 3d printer. They work great. No false sensor read outs.
You just voided your entire warranty. That's according to Toyota.
@@meenam300zx this isn't true. If they refuse to fix something, the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act states that the dealer has to prove that your modifications caused the issue.
This is cool! Why buy a minivan and take out all the seats though - why not just buy a cargo van?
@@user5871 Flexibility. Kids to hockey one day, 4x8 plywood the next day.
@@user5871 This. If Toyota or more likely scummy dealers do try that it would be an easy court case
We were on a waiting list in Sept and one arrived in November.... we are happy with it... but will keep the oil changed every 6 mo . Thanks,
We purchased a 2022 Sienna XLE in Canada, and the there wasn’t even a spare tire option. There were in the other models. Go figure. Instead they have an electric air pump that can also put some tire sealant into the tire. I would have gladly paid extra for a spare tire…
Awesome video/review. I am a mom of 3, love to drive. We have been wanting to trade our 2015 Highlander for ‘23 Sienna. It feels good to know that there are reviews like these that are mildly technical but very educational for moms like me who doesn’t know anything about cars but really do love to drive.
As noted by others, would love you to review the Honda Odyssey for comparison-please!
Yes please!
Yes please review the Odyssey
Yes please
I worked with Raja out in Toyota of Seattle. The waitlist for the Sienna van was 2yrs in dealerships. I went to and Raja and he helped me secure one in 2 months and I didn't pay a dollar over MSRP. That dealership does not do markups. I have the platinum edition in Pearl White and I have no need to ever remove back seats. The van has been phenomenal in our experience. My one small gripe is I wish the television screen was 4k video. Not a deal breaker but would be nice since it's a luxury top model. Seats are also wayyyy more comfortable too. If you wanna get one sooner and you're in the area speak to Raja. If you tell him Raul Zepeda mentioned you he'll help you get one sooner. : ).
Having to growing up with a 1998 Sienna and now helping my friend upgrade to a minivan from a Rav4, the Sienna is definitely on the list. With the limited supply, my friend offered my dad 10k CAD for family Sienna only since it has less than 89000km and in factory condition. Living in Canada, AB, I haven't seen much of the 1 gen on the road in good condition.
Ordered mine on Feb 2022 and will receive it in the next 2-4 weeks per my dealership that didnt charge me a penny over MSRP!
While Toyota has a great product they are failing the marketplace with insufficient inventory, adding options customers cannot choose to skip, and a dealer network that is by and large driven by greed. Nearly all the dealers in the NW are "requiring" potential customers to pay over MSRP. No thanks!
wow amazing car
Just went to a dealer today near Austin, TX. The wait time is 1.5-2 years. Can you imagine in 2025, when the next generation sienna is out, and you are going to pick up your 2023 model?
Enjoyed your review of the 2023 Sienna. I have been doing my research and considering if I want to upgrade my 2014 Sienna to this one or something else. I see you hit on many of the talking points but downgraded some of the concerns. For example, the acceleration issue has shown great concern in more than mountains and uphill with full capacity. There are many concerns regarding acceleration in open road passing. I feel you should have also pointed out that Sienna has the lowest HP of the top 4 minis. The other top concern I'm seeing is regarding excessive engine or muffler noise. You did an excellent job on pointing out the new one sided exhaust system, but didn't discuss this concern much. I have owned 3 Sienna and 2 Carolla. I plan to go for a test drive before making my mind up. I hope other informed shoppers do the same, as well as review consumer complaint sites. I will not pay a markup for the vehicle. As stated, we've been a Toyota family for decades, but before you get me upside down on a loan/ note, I'd rather see what the competitor/ Honda is offering.
This van has plenty of power for all situations. The engine noise isn’t pleasant but it’s a mini van not a sports car.
After doing a lot of dealer research, I found and bought my new 2024 XSE from Moses Toyota Lexus in West Virginia under the window sticker MSRP. Under $50,000! That’s right folks! No dealer price hike and BS add-ons, just because they can, like in the state in which I currently live. And, yes it’s all there, with excellent list of optional equipment. So worth the research and the four hour drive!
Big congrats! Just made my fleet vehicle order for a ‘24 XLE. Midnight black exterior, chateau interior! Who needs an Escalade? 😎
I would drive across the country for good deal,or fly and drive back . I’m old and have grown up with Toyota, in fact just bought new 2024 corolla hatchback, just 2 months ago.
Now I want to buy one of these sienna and trade in my new corolla but feel stuck because we live in such a greedy society that I refuse to loose money on bran new car with 1k miles.
I go back to same dealer to inquire about trade in for newer sienna they want to pound me with the fact it’s a used car now so they can lowball me on getting this sienna. Well you can keep your sienna.AMD is correct, these siennas have a lot of cup holders but they are so cheaply looking inside, have looked at several and though I still want one I’m not willing to overpay for one. Especially seeing I have a used car now with 1k miles.😡😡😡
I was an old fan of the Mini-Vans before the Previa and I did like the Previa it was unique, but the Sienna has never appealed to me. I am actually looking for one of the older Mini-Vans with the 22-RE engine for my own classic collection.
I miss being able to access the back from the front seats without going outside. My older sienna allowed me to help my kids in the back in the middle of a down pour or subzero snow storm
13:00 those two air smoothers on the triangle absolutely do something. They help reduce turbulence by straightening the air flow which reduces drag. Manufacturers don’t spend on little things like that unless they see a return. Especially Toyota. They won’t spend one penny if they don’t see it necessary.
Agreed. I've seen similar tiny fins on the 1st gen IS300/200. Although, some of them seem to be stuck on with an adhesive while the rest were molded into the body. Apparently they also help with some wind noise, but don't quote me on it.
I would imagine small appendages like these are more to reduce wind noise than anything else?
That lack of bumper is a serious concern...maybe you can weld an old bumper to something you can plug into the trailer hitch
Sad to see a lot of Toyotas feeling cheap and not well put together anymore.
This was very complete and informative. I have not seen anything so detailed. Thank you!
Are you aware of any issues regarding the buildup of highway deicing salt and it's impact on wiring, switches and rust between the underbody plastics and the metal under body of the van? On a vehicle without these plastic shields any debris can be easily washed off. Not so on this van.
Our 2011 Sienna SE has $195k miles on it 🎉🎉🎉🎉 and is still bullet proof.
Planning on getting a new Sienna soon!
This minivan is gorgeous - they absolutely nailed the bullet train design. I rent this for road trips with the family - +40mpg hwy >80mph with 5 adults and luggage. Smooth in town and easy to drive. Not as fast as the outgoing V6 from previous years.
I bet this Gets 40MPG fully loaded… dont know why you typed that nonsense 😂
It took me 14 months to get mine, worth the wait and the dealer sold it to me for sticker price NOT over like so many l heard about…..
@@ONHARDY I dont need one.. You keep of the maintenance’ this Van Will Last until your ready to trade it..🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
The best mileage I get on my 23 Sienna was 36.3 mpg on the interstate. Don’t know if it will improve on cross country trips.
@@robertheinkel6225 Do you have a roof rack? I've rented different Siennas and all were average better than 36 on hwy- at least 5%.
I'm so HAPPY to still be rolling in my 1998 Sienna XLE with 275,000 miles. It has atleast 100,000 to go. Such a good reliable ride ( only additive used is MARVEL MYSTERY OIL).