The 2024 Toyota Sienna: A Hybrid Minivan That Doesn’t Suck
The minivan segment is not known for being exciting or innovative. Most minivans are bland, boring, and practical vehicles that serve one purpose: to haul people and stuff. But what if there was a minivan that could do more than that? A minivan that could offer style, performance, efficiency, and technology without compromising on space, comfort, or reliability? A minivan that could challenge the status quo and redefine the category?
Enter the 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan that doesn’t suck. The Sienna is the only minivan in the market that comes standard with a hybrid powertrain, delivering class-leading fuel economy of up to 36 mpg combined. It also offers a spacious and comfortable interior with plenty of standard tech and driver-assistance features, but the hybrid powertrain lacks power and refinement. The Sienna is not perfect, but it is a bold and distinctive choice for minivan buyers who want something different.
The Sienna’s Hybrid Powertrain: A Blessing and a Curse
The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain is the main selling point of the vehicle, but it is also its biggest weakness. The Sienna uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to produce a combined output of 245 horsepower. This is enough to move the Sienna with adequate acceleration, but it is far from thrilling. The Sienna is slower than many competitors, such as the Kia Carnival, the Honda Odyssey, and the Chrysler Pacifica. The Sienna also suffers from a noisy and unrefined engine that groans in protest under heavy acceleration, penetrating the otherwise quiet cabin.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna’s hybrid powertrain does have some advantages, though. The Sienna is the most fuel-efficient minivan in the market, achieving an EPA-estimated 36 mpg combined for the front-wheel drive models and 35 mpg combined for the all-wheel drive models. This is significantly better than the gas-only competitors, which range from 22 to 25 mpg combined. The Sienna also has a large fuel tank of 18 gallons, giving it a range of over 600 miles on a single fill-up. The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain also allows it to qualify for federal tax credits of up to $1,500, making it more affordable than it seems.
The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain is a blessing and a curse. It offers exceptional fuel efficiency and environmental benefits, but it sacrifices power and refinement. The Sienna’s hybrid powertrain is not for everyone, but it is a unique and appealing option for those who value economy over performance.
The Sienna’s Interior: Spacious, Comfortable, and Tech-Savvy
The Sienna’s interior is where the vehicle shines. The Sienna offers a spacious and comfortable cabin that can accommodate up to eight passengers in three rows of seating. The Sienna has ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for all occupants, and the seats are supportive and well-cushioned. The Sienna also has a large cargo area that can swallow up to 101 cubic feet of stuff with the second and third rows folded down. The Sienna’s interior is versatile and flexible, with multiple storage compartments, cup holders, and USB ports throughout.
The Sienna’s interior is also tech-savvy, with plenty of standard and available features to keep the driver and passengers entertained and connected. The Sienna comes standard with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM compatibility. The Sienna also comes standard with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, a six-speaker sound system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a wireless charging pad. The Sienna offers several optional features, such as a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 10-inch head-up display, a 12-speaker JBL sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system with two 11.6-inch screens, and a 360-degree camera system.
The Sienna’s interior is spacious, comfortable, and tech-savvy. The Sienna offers a premium and refined cabin that can rival some luxury vehicles. The Sienna’s interior is one of the best in the segment, and it is a major reason to consider the vehicle.
The Sienna’s Safety: Standard and Comprehensive
The Sienna’s safety is another strong point of the vehicle. The Sienna comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a suite of advanced driver-assistance features that includes:
- Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection
- Full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control
- Lane departure alert with steering assist
- Lane tracing assist
- Road sign assist
- Automatic high beams
These features are designed to help prevent or mitigate collisions, and they work well in most situations. The Sienna also comes standard with blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, which helps the driver detect vehicles in the blind spots and warn of approaching traffic when backing up. The Sienna offers some optional safety features, such as front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, which helps the driver park safely and avoid hitting obstacles.
The Sienna’s safety is standard and comprehensive. The Sienna offers a high level of protection and peace of mind for the driver and passengers. The Sienna’s safety is one of the best in the segment, and it is a major reason to trust the vehicle.
The Sienna’s Style: Polarizing and Distinctive
The 2024 Toyota Sienna’s style is the most controversial aspect of the vehicle. The Sienna features a bold and aggressive design that is meant to stand out from the crowd. The Sienna has a large and angular grille, sharp and sleek headlights, sculpted and muscular fenders, and a dynamic and sporty profile. The Sienna’s style is polarizing and distinctive. Some people may love it, while others may hate it. The Sienna’s style is a matter of personal preference, but it is undeniable that the Sienna has a strong and unique personality.
The Sienna’s style is also varied and customizable, with six different trim levels to choose from. The Sienna’s trim levels are:
- LE: The base model, which comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual power sliding doors, and cloth seats.
- XLE: The mid-level model, which adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, hands-free power sliding doors, and SofTex seats.
- XSE: The sporty model, which features 20-inch dark wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a more aggressive front and rear bumper, and SofTex sport seats.
- Limited: The luxury model, which offers 18-inch chrome wheels, a dual-pane moonroof, a power liftgate, and leather seats.
- Platinum: The top-of-the-line model, which includes 20-inch chrome wheels, a digital rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone climate control system.
- Woodland: The off-road model, which comes with 18-inch dark wheels, a 1,500-watt power outlet, a roof rack, and a 2-inch lift kit.
The Sienna’s style is polarizing and distinctive. The Sienna offers a bold and aggressive design that is meant to attract attention and make a statement. The Sienna’s style is not for everyone, but it is a unique and appealing option for those who want something different.
The Sienna’s Verdict: A Hybrid Minivan That Doesn’t Suck
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is a hybrid minivan that doesn’t suck. The Sienna offers a lot of advantages, such as:
- Class-leading fuel efficiency
- Spacious and comfortable interior
- Plenty of standard and available tech and safety features
- Bold and distinctive style
- Six different trim levels to choose from
The Sienna also has some drawbacks, such as:
- Lack of power and refinement
- Noisy and unrefined engine
- Second-row seats that can’t be removed
- Polarizing and controversial design
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is not perfect, but it is a solid and impressive vehicle that deserves consideration. The Sienna is a hybrid minivan that doesn’t suck, and it is a worthy contender in the segment.
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