Efficient, Hybrid-Only Powertrain. While most minivans on the market try to emulate rugged SUVs with burly V6 engines, the 2023 Toyota Sienna does things a little differently. Toyota only offers the Sienna as a hybrid. That means the Sienna gets mega fuel economy figures.
Every Sienna comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors for a combined output of 245 horsepower. Models with all-wheel drive (AWD) get a third electric motor that drives the rear wheels. The powertrain doesn’t offer the most power and results in lackadaisical acceleration, but fuel economy is stellar.
The 2023 Sienna is rated to get up to 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (FWD) and 35 mpg combined with AWD. These are the best figures for the class, as the only other hybrid available, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid that’s actually a PHEV, gets up to 30 mpg combined.
So Many Trims.Toyota offers the Sienna in a total of seven trims. It’s a dizzying lineup with an option for nearly every buyer. The Sienna checks all of the boxes for buyers, as it’s available in an affordable LE trim, a sporty XSE model, a rugged Woodland Edition, and an upscale Platinum.
For 2023, Toyota has added a new 25th Anniversary Edition to celebrate the Sienna’s 25th birthday. Only 2,525 units of the trim will be built and all of them will be based on the XSE, but get a unique paint job, special wheels, unique roof rails, bespoke badges, and revised exterior mirrors. The cabin gets black leather upholstery with silver stitching, a JBL audio system, heated and ventilated front seats, special logos, and a wireless charging pad.
While the XSE and Woodland Editions stand out as being two trims that will appeal to most Sienna buyers, we think the lower XLE is the way to go. It feels nicer than the base LE with keyless entry, quad-zone climate control, power-adjustable front seats, a sunroof, synthetic leather upholstery, and heated front seats, but won’t break the bank with a price tag of $42,030 (with destination).
Doesn’t Look Like A Van. Minivans from yesteryear came off as boring and dull. That’s something the Sienna doesn’t fail from, as it has one of the more stylish designs in the class. The Sienna’s aggressive look isn’t for everyone, but it’s hardly a safe design.
Depending on the trim, the Sienna goes full on aggressive with the XSE that has a massive grille, a sharp front fascia, and angular headlights. For a minivan that can actually tackle some light dirt trails, there’s the Woodland Edition that comes with extra ground clearance, roof rails, a tow hitch, and smaller 18-inch wheels.
Not As Spacious As Rivals. While the Sienna’s interior design is just as daring as the minivan’s exterior, the cabin isn’t nearly as versatile as some of its competitors. The Sienna’s second row seats aren’t removable, which makes the minivan a secondary choice for consumers that need maximum cargo space for large items. The third row doesn’t fold completely flat into the floor, either.
Because of its unremovable second-row seats, the Sienna doesn’t offer the same cargo capacity as its rivals. The Toyota has up to 101 cubic feet of total cargo space, which trails rivals like the Kia Carnival that has 145.1 cubic feet of total cargo space and the Honda Odyssey that has 144.9 cubic feet of cargo space.
Final Thoughts. The 2023 Toyota Sienna tries its best to act like an SUV, but it’s very clearly a minivan and a good minivan at that. It attempts to take minivans in a new direction than the competition with an efficient hybrid powertrain, sporty and rugged trims, and a bold design. It doesn’t have the same performance, tech features, or versatility as rivals.
The Kia Carnival is another minivan that has a rugged design, but it also features high-tech features, upscale trims, and a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine.
The Chrysler Pacifica is one of the few minivans to be available with an electrified powertrain. It also stands out because of its Stow ‘n Go seats, impressive infotainment system, standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, and available AWD system.
