2021 Toyota Sienna Pros vs Cons

The 2021 Toyota Sienna has a modern design, and it may surprise people with what it has to offer. Not just any regular minivan, the Sienna is powerful, elegant, and athletic. As one would hope, its cabin has many special features. It can be a perfect vehicle for gathering up friends and family and heading out on fun adventures together.

What's New for 2021?

There are actually many things that have been changed about the Toyota Sienna for the 2021 model year. Toyota decided that it was time to freshen up this minivan, and it certainly did so in a bold manner. From the exterior, the Sienna now looks a lot more athletic and stylish, with slightly angled features and many sculpted elements in the body.

Another notable change is that the Sienna now comes with a hybrid powertrain. The company though it was time to make this minivan more eco-friendly. In what may be a surprising move, Toyota went ahead and made the hybrid powertrain part of all Sienna trims.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2021 Toyota Sienna – The Pros

1. An Efficient Powertrain

As mentioned, the Toyota Sienna is now entirely a hybrid vehicle. The minivan is powered by two electric motors and a 2.5-liter engine. All together, these combines can generate 245 horsepower. This is a fairly respectable amount for a vehicle of this size.

Of course, the real benefit to this configuration is fuel efficiency. The Sienna can earn up to 36 miles per gallon. It will be hard to pass on a vehicle of this type with such great mileage. There are multiple drive modes that can be used to adjust how the vehicle performs. One of those drive modes is Eco, which encourages efficiency, and another is EV. EV mode uses electric power only, and it can be used for short periods of time.

2. Features All-Wheel Drive

The 2021 Sienna comes standard as a front-wheel-drive vehicle, but it's available with all-wheel drive. This can be important for people who may have to occasionally deal with wintry weather or otherwise rough terrain. Since the Toyota has on-demand all-wheel drive, the minivan can make the appropriate adjustments when necessary. In other words, the driver doesn't need to anticipate issues or manage the system in any way. The vehicle can detect slippage and can shift power to the front or rear wheels, depending on the situation.

3. Ready to Tow

A towing package is available on the Sienna. With the proper equipment, the minivan can tow up to 3,500 pounds. This gives people the freedom and capability they need to transport heavy items with them. This could be important for work, but in most cases, it would give people the ability to bring their outdoor equipment with them as they head out of town.

4. Advanced Exterior Lighting

Even the base version of the Toyota Sienna has nice features on its exterior. LED headlights, LED taillights, and LED Daytime Running Lights are examples of the premium components that are standard. Higher trims can be upgraded with Bi-LED headlights, LED-strip Daytime Running Lights, and wide-angle LED fog lights.

5. Convenient Access

The Toyota Sienna comes with power-sliding side doors to make it easier for people to get in and out of the second and third rows of seating. Instead of having to muscle the doors open or closed, a passengers can simply push a button. This feature can be very attractive to anyone with young children. Similarly, the power liftgate can open in a hands-free manner. This function can be handy if anyone is loaded down with bags or other cargo items.

6. Impressive Technology

As a Toyota, the Sienna is loaded with high-tech elements. A nine-inch touchscreen is standard, and it comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It even includes SiriusXM so people can access more entertainment options. With the Wi-Fi Connect program, the minivan can act as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Those who like to stream media content or play online games will really appreciate being able to stay connected.

Navigation is an available add-on. It can be helpful to have instant access to turn-by-turn directions when heading to an unfamiliar location. Navigation can prove useful even when people are driving on familiar roads. This is because it can provide information about traffic and road conditions. Armed with that data, people can more efficiently get from one point to another.

7. Large Cabin

It's no secret that the Toyota Sienna is a large vehicle. It has an overall length of over 200 inches. This gives people in the three rows of seating plenty of space to spread out. In the front, there is 40.3 inches of leg room. Second-row leg room almost matches that mark. The third row is almost equally comfortable, with 38.7 inches of leg room. Not all three-row vehicles have this type of space, so this is a key part of why the Sienna is such a popular model.

The Sienna can fit a lot of cargo, even if all the seats are in place. The dedicated cargo area in the back has a volume of over 33 cubic feet. When the third row is lowered, there is about 75 cubic feet of space. When taking into account all the space behind the front row, there is 101 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

8. Safety Is a Priority

The Toyota Sienna has the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 package. It comes with a handful of driver-assist technologies that can be utilized to stay safer on the roads. If a potential issue is detected, a driver can be alerted to the situation. It can do a good job of preventing frontal collisions and accidents that may occur as a result of a driver drifting out of a lane. The safety package also comes with adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.

There are many vehicles in the market that don't offer blind spot monitoring as a standard feature. Fortunately, the Sienna does offer this component in its base model. It comes together with rear cross-traffic alert.

9. Luxury Materials Available

Riding in the Toyota Sienna can be a very pleasant experience. The base model has fabric seats, and all the others either have SofTex or leather seats. The front seats can be heated and ventilated in addition to being power-adjustable and coming with power lumbar support. The second row might be the most coveted section. The available captain's chairs can come with a super-long-slide feature and provide an ottoman for lower leg support. It's just like what one could find in a living room at home, and it's a seat that people might be arguing over.

10. Fun Extras

The Sienna has so much going for it. Taking it to the next level are some bonus elements. For example, it can have seven USB ports so everyone has a chance to charge their devices. The digital rearview mirror can provide an unobstructed view of what's behind the vehicle. Finally, this minivan can have a power lift-up seat built into it, which is useful for people with limited mobility.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2021 Toyota Sienna – The Cons

1. Second-Row Seats Don't Fold Flat

There are some situations in which people need to maximize storage space in their vehicles. Carrying furniture, bikes, or any other bulky item can be easier if there is a flat floor in which things can be slid back and forth. Unfortunately, the Sienna doesn't make it easy to create a flat floor. When folding the seats, they don't become completely flat, and to remove the seats from the cabin, it can take some time.

2. Could Be More Powerful

It's great that the Sienna is now a hybrid model. What isn't so great is that Toyota scarified horsepower in order to make that happen. In comparison with some other minivans and the 2020 Sienna, the 2021 Sienna doesn't have as much horsepower. Most people won't be bothered by this, but there definitely will be some who will be.

3. Don't Take it Off-Roading

Yes, the Sienna has all-wheel drive as an option, but it's really not suited for rugged off-roading. Plus, the suspension system won't be able to handle too many challenges. If the vehicle is taken on rough roads, people should be prepared to feel every bump. The sport-tuned suspension can make a difference, but it still can't do what a more premium suspension system might be able to.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

Minivans have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Fortunately, minivans are now equipped with modern technology and are designed to be comfortable and versatile. The Sienna still manages to stand out in its class.

2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

Chrysler gives the market a solid option with its Pacifica. The Pacifica can come with a standard powertrain or a hybrid one. Note that the Pacifica Hybrid is a plug-in model. While the standard Pacifica has available all-wheel drive, the hybrid version of the Pacifica does not have AWD as an option.

In terms of the cabin, the Sienna has the edge over the Pacifica. Its top trims have slightly nicer amenities than what is found in the Chrysler. Plus, the Sienna has the more sizable cabin.

2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

There is a bit more overall passenger space in the Sienna than in one of its closet competitors, the Honda Odyssey. This could become significant if anyone is planning on loading a lot of people into the minivan for long road trips. The Odyssey doesn't stack up in terms of fuel efficiency, as it just can't compete with the hybrid equipment in the Toyota.

Conclusion

With the Toyota Sienna, the good definitely outweighs the bad. There are so many things to like about the Sienna, and consumers will likely be pleased with how advanced this vehicle is. Toyota made a smart move by making this minivan much more energy efficient than it was in the past. This, along with the available amenities that are offered with the Sienna, make it quite attractive.