Toyota Sienna minivan is a roomy, reliable people-hauler

The Toyota Sienna minivan, a roomy and reliable transporter of people, pets and things, is unchanged for 2020 but does introduce an enticing new Nightshade Edition package. The package is available on SE models, and only with four exterior colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Celestial Silver Metallic, Salsa Red Pearl, and Super White. All Midnight Edition interiors are black.

The Nightshade Edition package ($700) is available for front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions. It adds a black sport mesh front grille, black door handles, black 19-inch wheels (18-inch for all-wheel drive), a black spoiler, black mirror caps, and black Toyota badges.

The Toyota Sienna has seating for eight when equipped with a second-row bench, or seven if captain’s chairs occupy that space.

Sienna’s second-row seats don’t fold into the floor, they require physical removal to free up that space for cargo. It’s a disadvantage compared to some of Sienna’s competition, but Sienna earns bonus points for being the only minivan available with all-wheel drive.

There are five Sienna trim levels: L, LE, SE, XLE, and Limited. All trims except the L are available with all-wheel drive, and there are Premium levels for the top three trims.

Toyota Mobility offers the LE and XLE models with an Auto Access Seat that has a 330-pound lift capacity.

The 2020 Sienna base pricing begins with the front-drive L grade with eight-passenger seating, at $32,685. The top-of-the line Limited Premium with seven-passenger seating and all-wheel drive goes for $50,460. These prices include a $1,120 destination charge.

Sienna’s engine is a 3.5-liter V6 producing a hearty 296 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. Along with its partner, an eight-speed automatic transmission, it propels the Sienna admirably and without fanfare. Undue engine noise isn’t the only sound suppression inside Sienna. Wind noise and road noise get the No Trespassing treatment, too.

Sienna’s pleasant ride, including the absorption of serious bumps in the road, is one of its most noteworthy qualities. Another nicety is Sienna’s maneuverability. Judging strictly from the looks of its enormous interior, you’d expect to be making a lot of three-point turns. But no, Sienna’s turning radius is tight. It can swirl on streets that would stymie most people haulers.

Fuel economy ratings for the Sienna I drove, an AWD Limited Premium model, are 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. Toyota recommends regular unleaded gasoline.

2020 TOYOTA SIENNA LIMITED PREMIUM AWD

Base price, including destination charge: $50,460

Price as driven: $51,602

Mary Lowry is an independent automotive writer who lives in Snohomish County. She is a member of the Motor Press Guild, and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturers as a one-week loan for review purposes only. In no way do the manufacturers control the content of the reviews.