Toyota’s Sienna has earned bragging rights among minivans for equipping every model in its lineup with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. A four-cylinder engine and an electric motor join forces, and together they make 245 horsepower.
The EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of a front-wheel-drive Sienna are 36 mpg for city, highway, and combined driving. An all-wheel-drive Sienna is rated 34 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 35 mpg combined. However, “some people are saying” their Sienna gets even higher numbers.
Sienna is offered in six trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional on every trim except the fancy Woodland Edition, which comes standard with AWD.
Seven-passenger or eight-passenger seating capacity is available depending on trim level. The former configuration has second-row captain’s chairs while the latter gets a bench seat in the middle.
Sienna’s interior design is updated for 2025, and the minivan’s radar-based seat reminder system becomes a standard feature. Toyota’s latest infotainment system is installed, with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen for all models except the base LE’s 8-inch screen.
The infotainment system’s touchscreen has smartphone-like operation, so it’s easy to use, if your patience threshold isn’t uncommonly low. Mine is, but I still found it to be an intuitive setup.
A vacuum cleaner and refrigerated box are standard on the Platinum grade and optional on the Limited. Availability of a digital gauge cluster is expanded to more models.
Toyota can take a bow for providing Sienna with a comfortable and spacious interior, relaxed ride, convenience and connectivity features galore, and gobs of safety and driver-assistance equipment. The clever inclusion of bins, cubbies, trays, and other spaces for stowage of personal items of all sizes is another achievement not to be overlooked.
I was especially fond of the well-mannered behavior of Sienna’s power sliding side doors. Controlled by the key fob or a small button integrated into the door handle, they went into action without fanfare: opening, closing and sliding, smoothly, gently and quietly.
The rough and noisy performance of typical sliding doors is what dampens my enthusiasm for minivans. Not the usual tiresome “uncool” criticisms they’ve been given.
2025 TOYOTA SIENNA PLATINUM AWD
Base price: $56,905
Price as driven: $59,869
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
