2021 Toyota Sienna Review

Name: 2021 Toyota Sienna Review
Brand: Toyota
Price: 30999 USD

2021 Toyota Sienna LE 8-Passenger Passenger Minivan Exterior

2021 Toyota Sienna Limited 7-Passenger Passenger Minivan Exterior

+414

Minivans are so similar and fundamentally good now that being the best means doing all of the little things right. The Sienna certainly covers the comfort, space, safety and technology basics well. You also get great fuel economy. But a disappointing driving experience holds the Sienna back from clinching the top minivan spot.

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2021 Toyota Sienna Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Hybrid powertrain provides excellent fuel economy
Roomy interior that's easy to get in and out of
Unobstructed views thanks to big windows and available surround-view camera
Available all-wheel drive

Cons

Slow acceleration, especially with a full load of people and cargo aboard
Brakes feel uneven, making it hard to come to a smooth stop
Second-row seats can't be removed

What's new

The Sienna has been fully redesigned for 2021
Standard hybrid powertrain replaces previous V6 engine
New interior packs improved tech and even more passenger and cargo space
Part of the fourth Sienna generation introduced for 2021

Overview

The Toyota Sienna is one of the most recognizable minivans on the market. This is due in no small part to the "Swagger Wagon" ads that defined the last-generation model early in its life cycle. Though the quirky marketing — and Toyota's reputation for above-average reliability — helped carry the previous Sienna for nearly a decade, a new minivan would need more than a rapping family to connect with modern buyers. Enter the redesigned 2021 Sienna.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Sienna LE 8-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$122/mo

$183/mo

Avg. Compact Minivan

Calculate my fuel costs

Clearly, Toyota thinks fuel economy is one way to stand out. Gone is last year's 3.5-liter V6; in its place is a hybrid powertrain that uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It's essentially the same system that Toyota uses in its RAV4 Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid, and it produces 245 horsepower. That's a far cry from the outgoing model's 296 hp. But in return you get an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in combined driving.

The rest of the 2021's Sienna's changes are more evolutionary, with improved technology features and a new center console design that's more like a SUV's. The Sienna's biggest competitors — the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica — are both excellent thanks to their clever and usable interiors, comfortable rides and wide array of features. The Sienna comes up short in a few areas — check out our Expert Rating for the details — but overall it's a solid pick.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

8.0

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.0/10

How does the Sienna drive? The Sienna's hybrid-only powertrain means it's ultra smooth to accelerate but also a lot slower than its peers, taking an extra second to reach 60 mph compared to most other vans (including the outgoing Sienna with a V6). This slower acceleration isn't evident when you're just cruising around town. But you'll notice it when you're merging onto the highway or going up grades.

The Sienna isn't the most nimble minivan in the class, but it holds its own. It drives more like a car than an SUV. The steering is weighted well to cruise for hours down the highway. It's also light and easy to turn during low-speed maneuvers.

Emergency braking performance is OK, but the bigger deal is the pedal's sometimes awkward grabby feel. That can make it hard to consistently stop smoothly.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Sienna? We had no complaints after spending hours in the driver's seat. Its wide range of adjustability gets much of the credit, though this is a common feature in the class. Optional ottoman-style footrests in the second row plus a huge range of fore-aft sliding create a business-class-like feel and give the Sienna an edge in second-row comfort. Optional four-zone climate control is one more zone than competitors have (three-zone is standard) and is effective at keeping the cabin cozy, hot or cold.

Noise is an area of concern. So long as the engine isn't working hard, the cabin is quiet, even serene. When you ask for power, the whole cabin will know. The engine and CVT drone considerably. Optional in-car voice projection, which sends front passenger voices through the rear speakers and headsets, helps as a work-around. You can save the shouting for when you really need it.

Interior

9.0/10

How’s the interior? The Sienna pulls ahead of the pack in this area. It sits at a height that makes it easy to slide in and out of. The driving position is excellent and versatile. We're fans of the large central touchscreen with two exceptions: the glare that it throws off in midday sun and some far-side buttons that feel a bit out of reach. All other primary controls are placed logically and function as expected.

There's naturally good visibility out of the cabin. An optional surround-view camera system can provide a see-through view of the Sienna to make things even easier. There's also a digital rearview mirror that solves the issue of seeing past headrests or high-piled cargo in the back. The sliding doors and rear hatch have a no-touch open and closing feature. Just swipe your foot to operate them.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? The infotainment system uses a combination of a quick-responding touchscreen and physical buttons. The redundancy lets you choose your preference for menu access. The native navigation is accurate and easy to read, and the system's voice commands respond well to natural language. Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration is also standard.

Interior tech features worth mentioning include a handy cabin intercom system, Wi-Fi connectivity and a generous number of USB ports for all three rows. We found the advanced driving aids to be excellent too. Adaptive cruise control is tuned well to avoid the heavy and sudden brake application we see from some other brands.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? All minivans are masters of utility, and the Sienna is no exception. There's a deep well for cargo storage behind the third row that also has hooks on the seatback. The third row can be manually folded and stows almost flat into the floor, and the second-row seats slide far forward, offering a great cargo solution. One big drawback is the second-row seats aren't removable as they are in other minivans, which greatly reduces the maximum cargo capacity.

Storage for personal items is equally good. There are 16 cupholders, multi-level door pockets, and a large shelf between the front passengers that is perfect for a handbag. For car seats, the attachment points are extremely easy to access. There are four in the seven-passenger Sienna and five in the eight-passenger. Buckles are easy for booster-age kids to use.

Fuel Economy

10.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? Chrysler gave us the first plug-in minivan. If you ran out of EV charge, its hybrid mode still returned an EPA-estimated 30 mpg. That was mind-blowing minivan fuel economy at the time. But the new hybrid Sienna is rated by the EPA at 36 mpg combined (36 city/36 highway). And as we discovered, it's capable of much more.

After nearly 500 miles with a front-wheel-drive Sienna, we vastly outperformed the EPA estimates. We averaged 42.7 mpg overall, including 44.8 mpg on our mixed-driving evaluation route of just over 115 miles. We can't wait to see if the all-wheel-drive version performs as well. Wow.

Value

8.5/10

Is the Sienna a good value? Our Sienna test vehicle wasn't a final production unit, but it felt really well built and was free of squeaks and rattles. Surfaces that are frequently touched — steering wheel, armrests, etc. — are soft-touch and well padded. All these aspects add to the general upscale sense you get from this interior.

Though a base Sienna starts a bit higher than other base models, it's comparably priced when its peers are equipped with features to match. The top trim is a tad more expensive but offers value-added features such as all-wheel drive that some competitors don't. It has a strong warranty for hybrid components and roadside assistance and is the only one to offer two years of free scheduled maintenance.

Wildcard

7.5/10

For those who prioritize how a car drives, the Sienna's brakes may be a deal-breaker. Sometimes they grab too much, sometimes too little, and sometimes they work fine. This factor carries a lot of weight for us and is an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise great minivan.

That aside, the Sienna gets a lot of the fundamentals right and offers some bonus elements too. Its exterior styling certainly shows more personality than any other minivan. And some of its more novel interior features include a built-in vacuum, a refrigerator that gets legitimately cold for drinks and snacks, and second-row seats that recline with footrests like you're in an airline business class. Oh, and we've seen this hybrid get well over 40 mpg. That's a wild card if we've ever seen one.

Which Sienna does Edmunds recommend?

The base LE trim comes relatively well equipped, but we suggest stepping up a tier to the XLE trim. It adds more features and opens up the options list to include things that aren't available on the LE.

2021 Toyota Sienna models

The 2021 Toyota Sienna is available in five trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum. Each comes with a hybrid powertrain that uses a four-cylinder engine. Total system output is 245 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on all trims. Depending on the trim, the Sienna is available with either an eight-passenger (second-row bench seat) or a seven-passenger (second-row captain's chairs) configuration.

LE
Standard features for this base trim include:

LED headlights
Power-sliding side doors
Three-zone automatic climate control
Second-row sunshades
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Seven USB ports
9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Six-speaker audio system

An optional LE Plus package adds:

Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Black roof rails
Sunroof
Eight-speaker audio system
Wireless charging pad

Every Sienna also comes with these advanced driver aids:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane departure warning with steering assist (alerts you if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane and steers the Sienna back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
Automatic high beams
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)

XLE
Features builds on the LE with:

Keyless entry with push-button start
Four-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable passenger seat
Sunroof
Eight-speaker audio system
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Simulated leather upholstery
Heated front seats
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
120-volt household-style power outlet

An optional XLE Plus package adds:

Black roof rails
Wireless charging
12-speaker JBL audio system
Integrated navigation system

XSE
Stepping up to the XSE gives the Sienna a sporty appearance with black exterior trim, a mesh grille and exclusive seat trim. It's equipped like the XLE but comes standard with the navigation system. An optional XSE Plus package adds:

Black roof rails
Wireless charging
12-speaker JBL audio system

Limited
The Limited model ditches the XSE's sporty touches and instead builds on the XLE with features such as:

Power-folding exterior mirrors
Chrome roof rails
Wireless charging pad
Leather seating
Third-row sunshades
Available extendable footrests for second-row captain's chairs
Standard 12-speaker JBL audio system

Platinum
The top-of-the-line Platinum trim includes everything on the Limited, plus:

Bi-LED headlights
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the Sienna and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Premium leather seating
Available extendable footrests for second-row captain's chairs
Heated steering wheel
Heated second-row seats

Optional for every trim except the LE is an Entertainment package that includes a rear-seat entertainment system with a rear overhead display and wireless headphones. A digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area) is optional for the Limited and Platinum.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#3 out of 14 among Minivans

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Toyota Sienna from 2008-2022.}

$481/yr

vs. $549/yr
for Average Minivan

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.93x/yr

vs. 1.47x/yr
for Average Minivan

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.5%

vs. 12.5%
for Average Minivan

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Toyota Sienna.

5 (39%)

4 (15%)

3 (18%)

2 (16%)

1 (12%)

3.5

67 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

It's pretty ok (17,000 mile update)

Chris's family van, 08/05/2021

2021 Toyota Sienna Limited 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

We have a 2021 Limited AWD Sienna and we traded in a 2011 Honda Odyssey Elite which I really loved. Unfortunately, at only 175,000, it needed a new motor and it left us stranded on the side of the road three times. With a family to think about, it was not worth keeping it any longer. So now with the Sienna, we have driven just under 4,200 miles and I think I can give a fair review as of … now. First, it is NOT worth the $51,XXX price tag for a Limited model! This is a 45k vehicle at most. Heated and cooled seats are nice but it's lacking a heated steering wheel. Birds-eye view camera should be standard on the Limited trim package instead of not even being offered. No LED interior lights and the one, tiny light in the rear storage area is laughable how worthless it is. I ended up replacing all the interior lights with brighter, LEDs. The JBL sound system is only ok. The JBL upgrade in our 2011 Prius sounds MUCH better. Also, the rear entertainment system is so darn complicated and buggy that I'd stay clear from it. We don't even like using it to the kids' disappointment. Toyota connect, in spite of the name, does NOT like to connect and is also glitchy. We were never able to get the van's mobile hot-spot to work and now the free trial is over so we missed that opportunity. As far as power goes, it's fine for 90 percent of the total driving we do. Loaded down with four people, bikes, luggage, and going up a steep hill, yes, there's a little bit of a strain and loud whine from the CVT and motor but I'm still getting more than 30MPGs. In the same scenario with the Odyssey, I was in the low 20s if there was a tailwind. The hold-stop feature a super nice function for school dropoffs and pickups, and drive-throughs. The voice recognition function works great for us, the navigation is far better than the navigation system in the Odyssey. Dynamic cruise control and all the safety functions are helpful and nice to have, and it's a lot quieter than the Odyssey. It also feels classier than the Odyssey and, in my opinion, looks much better than any other minivan. The driving feel was like the 2011 Odyssey which is a good thing. Overall, I'd probably buy it again because of the MPGs and AWD alone but I'd wait until prices go down when supply catches up and Toyota offers incentives again. (UPDATE) 17,xxx miles After many more miles with this van, I still enjoy driving it. We now have towed a camper trailer (avg. 18 mpgs), hauled bags of mulch, and taken many more road trips with our kids and family. I've been consistently getting in the upper 30s and low 40s MPGs which is absolutely AMAZING and we get a lot of exterior compliments from people of all ages everywhere we go. In fact, our neighbors are looking for one but they are having a hard time and dealership markups are outrageous. I stand by my, it's not a $51,xxx vehicle. The technology feels outdated but I've at least had better luck with the rear entertainment hookup. My kids can see a movie but sometimes the sound does not want to play. After a couple restarts, we'd get it to work again. I've turned off lane-centering because it ping-pongs you down highways and lane keep assist because it's just annoying.

Good and the bad, nothing in between

Wralph, 01/07/2021

2021 Toyota Sienna XSE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I got my XSE- premium, FWD in early December, this is my fourth Sienna lease. I have three kids, do a lot of surface street driving in Michigan, most trips are within 5 miles from my house. There are also semiannual vacations in Florida that we drive all the way in our minivan. The Good: Highly improved milage. I’m getting around 26MPG driving around town in eco mode (I used to get …

This is not a Toyota

Mel, 10/28/2021

2021 Toyota Sienna XLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

First of all I'm a ver big Fan of Minivans (Sienna's for sure) I had a 2001, 2007, 2010, 2013 and now a 2021 XLE, the quality and the performance of the old models was by far better I really love the 2013 unfortunately was total loss and thinking about the new redesigned model 2021 was a easy decision, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE test drive it before you buy, I buy believing it was a TOYOTA … SIENNA and is by far not the legendary name... The Good: -MPG I used for 3700 miles and 3 months and average 33.4 MPG very good and with a large gas tank made the trips longer with less gas stops - the redesigned model made look very nice and more like a SUV than a Minivan - Wireless no touch sliding door opener and wireless trunk opener THE BAD - I had the White Pearl, well it has 2 colors white pearl outside and on the inside trim and trunk flat white - The interior is way buy way smaller than before, not hanger on the driver side, the passenger seat is very heigh and cannot take down, the center console looks fine and modern but is in-practical no much storage space and with 1 less glove compartment made more limited, and no coins storage as well -The XLE trim should be more luxury stuff like the old models that included leather seats, entreatment system, 3rd road curtains, better sound system and more, this new XLE comes with less features than before to up-sell you the Limited or Platinum, the new Non leather seats are and look VERY VERY cheap, I paid $47K for a Minivan that feels like $25K - Trunk space is smaller and cargo space ever tighter the height on back trunk door made it way smaller than the older model - the windows on the trunk is smaller and reduce visibility - The finishes on this 2021 model are very cheap, the carper on the front floor are very bad looks like they made the minivan on a hurry - No spare tire - the third seat on the second row is way smaller than older version ... not useable for an adult or big kid - Sound system on the XLE trim is not upgraded as before JBL and is just OK - the backup camera is Horrible, again a $50K car with $20K features, my 2016 Lexus has a much better camera than this Sienna, on the Camera no guiding moving lines adjust with rotation, is just straight line - Toyota Connect Doesn't WORK, Alexa Feature NO Work, took it to dealer and expended 3 hours they couldn't fix it, they dont know how to fix it or make it work, dont waste time and effort on that.... Conclusion: I sold it within 3 months, thanks God used cars are now more expensive than new, is not worth the money and I hope Toyota correct those issues otherwise will loose that segment, design is Ok, the Quality finished BAD BAD BAD,... no represent Toyota name

There’s good news and not so good news

Jspear1957, 03/01/2021

2021 Toyota Sienna XLE 7-Passenger 4dr Minivan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

The style, the tech and the awesome fuel economy make this a standout. I would have bought one were it not for two issues. First, you can’t take the middle row seats out. They fold into a 20 inch wide blob as high as the front seats. Floor space is limited to 76”, not the typical 96”. This was a killer for me BUT, the front seat was woefully uncomfortable, compared with my 19 Odyssey. It …

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2021 Toyota Sienna videos

2021 Toyota Sienna Review: One Year and 17K Miles in Our Toyota Minivan | Long-Term Review

The Toyota Sienna is one of the most popular minivans on the market and, about a year ago, we added one to our long-term fleet. In this video, Ryan ZumMallen from Edmunds reviews what it's been like to live with the 2021 Toyota Sienna Platinum for the past year. Ryan talks about what…

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2021 Sienna Highlights

Trim:

LE 8-Passenger

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$34,460
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	36 MPG
Cost to Drive	$122/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	33.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Sienna models:

Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection: Warns of potential front impacts, including one involving a pedestrian or cyclist, and automatically engages the brakes.
Blind-Spot Monitoring: Monitors your blind spots for other vehicles and illuminates a warning signal on the outside mirrors.
Lane Departure Alert w/Steering Assist: Monitors the vehicle's position in its lane and corrects the steering so the vehicle doesn't leave the lane unintentionally.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver3 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover14%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2021 Toyota Sienna Review

2021 Toyota Sienna Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Sienna does Edmunds recommend?

2021 Toyota Sienna models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

It's pretty ok (17,000 mile update)

Good and the bad, nothing in between

This is not a Toyota

There’s good news and not so good news

2021 Toyota Sienna videos

2021 Toyota Sienna Review: One Year and 17K Miles in Our Toyota Minivan | Long-Term Review

2021 Sienna Highlights

Safety

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