2023 Toyota Sienna

From the sedan to the humble minivan, many car classes have been gobbled up by the insatiable SUV, but some still hold out, and the Toyota Sienna is one of them. This handsomely styled minivan is Toyota's answer to strong competitors such as the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica. This Japanese minivan seems to cover all the bases and then some; it looks good, it offers tons of space (with seating for up to eight), and its 245-horsepower hybrid powertrain delivers class-leading fuel economy. Like all cars, the Sienna has a few drawbacks; it's not much fun to drive, lacks power, and its brake feel is wooden. Can efficiency be enough to take it to the top? In this Sienna review, we find out.

The most affordable route to Toyota Sienna ownership comes via the base LE, which has a starting MSRP in the US of $36,135. It's followed by the XLE at $41,445 and the XSE at $43,695. After this, the Toyota Sienna price goes up by nearly $4,000 for the 25th Anniversary Edition at $47,420, while the Limited is only a little more expensive at $48,395. Topping the lineup is the Platinum at a cost of $51,595. There is also the Woodland Edition that costs $46,945 slotted in there.

These prices all represent the trims in their least expensive guise, but upgrading to AWD will add $2,000 to the bill on the LE, XLE, and Limited, and $760 to that of the XSE, 25th Anniversary, and Platinum. Prices are also exclusive of tax, licensing, and registration costs, along with a $1,335 delivery and processing fee.

When it comes to spending time behind the wheel of the Sienna, the news is mixed. This is undoubtedly a comfortable machine and feels effortless to guide around city streets thanks to its soft suspension and light steering. On the highway, the steering feel becomes a touch heavier, and the Sienna always feels planted and confident. And that's where the buck stops; this is not an entertaining car to drive (not that most minivans are) and it doesn't particularly like being thrown around fast corners. The hybrid powertrain delivers deliciously smooth power in town, and it is quick enough to keep up with traffic, but when called on, the engine feels gutless and makes us miss the old V6 option, especially when merging or overtaking, which requires some planning. Independent testing shows that the Sienna can scoot to 60 mph in around 7.7 seconds.

Minivans have always held a special place in the US car market, and despite being under threat from the ever-popular SUV, they still thrive in their little corner of the market. The Sienna is Toyota's sharpest blade and enters the battle equipped with an efficient hybrid powertrain and good looks, but it falls short of being the best in class. There's a lot to like about this car; it looks great, sips fuel, and is very comfortable, but it's held back by niggly things like non-removable second-row seats and more prominent issues such as a weak engine and unsatisfactory braking system. Competitors like the Honda Odyssey do it better, but none can touch this Toyota for efficiency.

If we were buying a new 2023 Toyota Sienna, we'd opt for either the XSE or Limited grade. If you can live without a sunroof, sunshades, ventilated front seats, and the JBL audio system, the XSE grade offers the best all-around package for $43,695 with front-wheel-drive or $44,455 with AWD. The XSE grade still includes stand-out features like the super long-slide captain's chairs, blind-spot monitoring, SofTex sport seats, sport-tuned suspension, and 20-inch wheels. The Limited Trim adds the aforementioned features and undercuts the pricey Platinum grade without missing out on any must-have options. If you want everything we like about the XSE and various of the most desirable Limited features, the 25th Anniversary Edition may be a compelling choice, but you'd have to hurry, because only 2,525 of them will be made.