If you are looking for a minivan that can do it all, you might want to consider the 2024 Toyota Sienna. The Sienna is not only spacious, versatile, and comfortable but also efficient, stylish, and well-equipped. It is the only minivan in the market that offers a standard hybrid system across all trim levels, delivering a class-leading fuel economy of up to 36 mpg combined. It also has a distinctive exterior design that stands out from the crowd, a modern and ergonomic interior that caters to your needs, and a host of advanced safety and technology features that enhance your driving experience. We will review the 2024 Toyota Sienna in detail and see how it compares to its competitors.
What's New for the 2024 Toyota Sienna?
The Toyota Sienna was completely redesigned for 2021, so there are not many changes for 2024. However, there are some minor updates and a new package that make the Sienna even more appealing for families looking for a practical and efficient minivan.
The most notable change for the 2024 Toyota Sienna is the introduction of the XSE Premium package, which adds some luxury and convenience features to the sporty XSE trim level. The XSE Premium package includes leather seats with eight-way power adjustability and memory function for the driver, a power passenger seat, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with memory, heated side mirrors, puddle lamps, orange highlight stitching, a wireless charging pad, kick-activated power sliding doors and liftgate, and a 10-inch color head-up display. The package also adds a premium JBL sound system with 12 speakers and dynamic navigation, as well as a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display, HDMI input, remote control, and two wireless headphones. The XSE Premium package costs $5,000 and is only available on the front-wheel-drive XSE models.
Other changes for 2024 include some styling tweaks and color options. The XSE AWD and Woodland models get darker wheels that match the ones on the front-wheel-drive XSE models. The LE and XLE models get darkened chrome headlamps. The Woodland model also gets a new exclusive color called Cement, which replaces Magnetic Gray Metallic. The Woodland model is a special edition that was introduced in 2021 as a collaboration with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF). It features increased ground clearance, roof rails with crossbars, black sports trim, unique badges, and a $250 donation to NEEF for every unit sold.
The rest of the 2024 Toyota Sienna lineup remains largely unchanged from the previous model year. The Sienna is still offered in five trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. All models come with a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produce a combined output of 245 horsepower. A third electric motor is added to the rear axle to provide all-wheel drive on select models. The hybrid system is paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) that delivers smooth and seamless acceleration. The Sienna can also run on electric power alone for short distances at low speeds.
How Does It Drive?
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is not a minivan that prioritizes performance over efficiency. It is not as quick or as agile as some of its rivals, such as the Honda Odyssey or the Kia Carnival. However, it is not sluggish or sloppy either. It has enough power to handle most driving situations with ease, such as merging onto highways or passing slower vehicles. It can also tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, which is respectable for its class. The CVT does a good job of keeping the engine in its optimal range without causing too much noise or vibration. The hybrid system also provides instant torque from the electric motors, which enhances responsiveness and drivability.
The new Toyota Sienna also impresses with its ride quality and handling. It has a well-tuned suspension that absorbs bumps and road imperfections without compromising stability or control. It has a refined and quiet cabin that isolates wind and road noise effectively. It has a light and accurate steering that makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces or around corners. It has a confident and composed demeanor that inspires confidence behind the wheel. It also has a regenerative braking system that recovers energy from deceleration and braking to recharge the hybrid battery. However, the brakes can feel a bit grabby and inconsistent at times, which can make it hard to come to a smooth stop.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna's main selling point is its outstanding fuel economy. It is the most efficient minivan in the market by a wide margin, thanks to its hybrid system and aerodynamic design. It can travel up to 640 miles on a single tank of gas, which is remarkable for a vehicle of its size and weight. It also has an EV mode that allows it to operate on electric power alone for up to 1.2 miles at speeds up to 18 mph. This can be useful for driving in parking lots or in stop-and-go traffic. The Sienna also has three other drive modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport. Normal mode provides a balanced performance, Eco mode optimizes fuel efficiency, and Sport mode enhances throttle response and steering feel.
How Is The Interior?
The new Toyota Sienna has a spacious and versatile interior that can accommodate up to eight passengers in comfort and style. It has a modern and ergonomic dashboard that features a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and Wi-Fi hotspot compatibility. It also has a 7-inch digital instrument cluster that displays vital information such as speed, fuel level, hybrid system status, and driver assist features. The Sienna also offers a 10-inch color head-up display on the Platinum trim and the XSE Premium package that projects key information onto the windshield, such as speed, navigation, and lane departure warning.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna has comfortable and supportive seats that provide ample headroom and legroom for all occupants. The front seats are heated and ventilated on the Limited and Platinum trims and the XSE Premium package. The second-row seats are either captain's chairs or bench seats, depending on the trim level and configuration. The captain's chairs are heated on the Limited and Platinum trims and the XSE Premium package. They also have a long-slide feature that allows them to move forward or backward by up to 25 inches, which can create more legroom for the third-row passengers or more cargo space behind them. The bench seat can seat three people and has a stowable middle seat that can be removed to create a pass-through to the third row. The third-row seats are split-folding and have a one-motion stow feature that allows them to fold flat into the floor with a simple pull of a lever.
The new Toyota Sienna has a generous and flexible cargo area that can accommodate various items and configurations. It has 33.5 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. It also has an underfloor storage compartment that can hold small items or the spare tire. The Sienna also has several storage cubbies and cupholders throughout the cabin, as well as four USB ports, two 120-volt outlets, and an available wireless charging pad. The Sienna also offers hands-free power sliding doors and liftgate on the Limited and Platinum trims and the XSE Premium package that can be opened or closed by waving a foot under the sensors.
What Are The Safety And Technology Features?
The 2024 Toyota Sienna comes with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assist features that enhance visibility, awareness, and protection on the road. It comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also comes standard with a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, rear seat reminder, ten airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, brake assist, smart stop technology, hill start assist control, tire pressure monitor system, and ToyotaCare (a no-cost maintenance plan for two years or 25,000 miles).
The new Toyota Sienna also offers some optional safety and driver assist features that provide extra convenience and assistance on the road. These include front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, bird's eye view camera with perimeter scan, digital rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive front-lighting system with auto-leveling headlights, rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display (which can also display images from the backup camera), HDMI input (which can also display images from external devices), remote control (which can also control some vehicle functions), two wireless headphones (which can also connect to Bluetooth devices), kick-activated power sliding doors (which can also open or close automatically when approaching or leaving the vehicle), and a 10-inch color head-up display (which can also show turn-by-turn directions).
How Does It Compare To Its Competitors?
The 2024 Toyota Sienna faces some tough competition from other minivans in the market, such as the Honda Odyssey, the Kia Carnival, the Chrysler Pacifica, and the Dodge Grand Caravan. Each of these minivans has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice for you may depend on your personal preferences and needs. Here is a brief comparison of how the Sienna stacks up against its rivals in terms of performance, efficiency, space, features, and price.
- Performance: The Sienna has the lowest horsepower rating among its competitors but compensates with its hybrid system that provides instant torque and smooth acceleration. The Odyssey has the highest horsepower rating at 280 hp but also the lowest torque rating at 262 lb-ft. The Carnival has a balanced performance with 290 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The Pacifica offers both a gas-only and a plug-in hybrid option, with the latter having a combined output of 260 hp and an electric range of 32 miles. The Grand Caravan has the most outdated powertrain, with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque.
- Efficiency: The Sienna is the clear winner in this category, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 36 mpg combined for the front-wheel-drive models and 35 mpg combined for the all-wheel-drive models. The Pacifica plug-in hybrid comes close, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg combined and an electric equivalent of 82 MPGe. The Odyssey has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 22 mpg combined for all models. The Carnival has an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 23 mpg combined for the LX, EX, and SX trims and 22 mpg combined for the SX Prestige trim. The Grand Caravan has the worst fuel economy among its competitors, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
- Space: The Sienna has a spacious and versatile interior that can seat up to eight passengers and carry up to 101 cubic feet of cargo. However, it is not the most spacious minivan in its class. The Odyssey has slightly more passenger space than the Sienna, with up to 163.6 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to the Sienna's 162.5 cubic feet. The Odyssey also has more cargo space than the Sienna behind the first row, with up to 144.9 cubic feet compared to the Sienna's 101 cubic feet. However, the Sienna has more cargo space than the Odyssey behind the second and third rows, with up to 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row compared to the Odyssey's 92.3 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row. The Carnival has slightly less passenger space than the Sienna, with up to 168.2 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to the Sienna's 162.5 cubic feet. However, it has more cargo space than both the Sienna and the Odyssey behind all rows, with up to 145.1 cubic feet behind the first row, up to 86.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row. The Pacifica has similar passenger space as the Sienna, with up to 165 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to the Sienna's 162.5 cubic feet. However, it has less cargo space than both the Sienna and the Odyssey behind all rows, with up to 140.5 cubic feet behind the first row, up to 87.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 32.3 cubic feet behind the third row. The Grand Caravan has the least passenger space among its competitors, with up to 156.1 cubic feet of passenger volume compared to Sienna's 162.5 cubic feet. It also has the least cargo space among its competitors behind all rows, with up to 140.3 cubic feet behind the first row, up to 83.3 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 31.1 cubic feet behind the third row.
- Features: The Sienna has a modern and well-equipped interior that offers a range of features that enhance comfort, convenience, entertainment, and safety. It has a standard 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and Wi-Fi hotspot compatibility. It also has a standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0) suite of safety and driver assist features that include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also offers some optional features that are not available from its competitors, such as a 10-inch color head-up display, a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display and HDMI input, and a kick-activated power sliding doors and liftgate. The Odyssey has a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Wi-Fi hotspot compatibility. It also has a standard Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver assist features that includes a collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane keeping assist system, traffic sign recognition, and auto high-beam headlights. It also offers some optional features that are not available on the Sienna, such as a CabinWatch camera that lets you monitor the rear passengers on the touchscreen, a CabinTalk in-car PA system that lets you communicate with the rear passengers through the speakers or headphones, and a Magic Slide second-row seat that lets you adjust the position and configuration of the second-row seats. The Carnival has a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It also has a standard Kia Drive Wise suite of safety and driver assist features that includes forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, lane following assist, lane keeping assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, rear occupant alert with ultrasonic sensors, and rearview monitor with dynamic parking guidance. It also offers some optional features that are not available on the Sienna or the Odyssey, such as a blind-spot view monitor that displays a live video feed of your blind spot on the instrument cluster when you signal a lane change, a passenger view camera that lets you check on the rear passengers on the touchscreen without turning your head, and a VIP lounge seat package that adds power-adjustable leg extensions and wing-out headrests for the second-row seats. The Pacifica has a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It also has a standard SafetyTec suite of safety and driver assist features that includes blind spot monitoring with rear cross path detection, park sense rear park assist with stop, pedestrian automatic emergency braking, full-speed forward collision warning plus, lane departure warning plus, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. It also offers some optional features that are not available on the other minivans, such as a FamCam interior camera that lets you zoom in on the rear passengers on the touchscreen, a Uconnect Theater system that adds two 10-inch touchscreens for the second-row passengers with built-in games and apps, and a Stow' n Vac integrated vacuum cleaner that can reach all rows. The Grand Caravan has the most basic infotainment system among its competitors, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen with no smartphone integration. It also has the fewest safety and driver assist features among its competitors, with only a standard ParkView rear backup camera and an optional ParkSense rear park assist system.
- Price: The Sienna has a competitive starting price of $38,580 for the base LE trim level, which is slightly higher than the Odyssey's starting price of $37,790 for the LX trim level but lower than the Pacifica's starting price of $40,245 for the Touring trim level. The Carnival has the lowest starting price among its competitors, with $33,275 for the LX trim level. The Grand Caravan has the highest starting price among its competitors, with $41,995 for the SE trim level. However, the Grand Caravan is only available in Canada and is expected to be discontinued soon. The Sienna also has a competitive top-end price of $53,635 for the Platinum AWD trim level, which is lower than the Odyssey's top-end price of $54,390 for the Elite trim level and the Pacifica's top-end price of $55,845 for the Pinnacle AWD trim level. The Carnival has the highest top-end price among its competitors, with $57,275 for the SX Prestige trim level.
Conclusion
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is a hybrid minivan that offers a great combination of efficiency, space, features, and value. It is the most fuel-efficient minivan in the market, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of up to 36 mpg combined. It also has a spacious and versatile interior that can seat up to eight passengers and carry up to 101 cubic feet of cargo. It also has a modern and well-equipped interior that offers a range of features that enhance comfort, convenience, entertainment, and safety. It also has a competitive price range that starts from $38,580 and goes up to $53,635.
The Sienna is not perfect, however. It is not as powerful or as agile as some of its rivals. It also has less cargo space than some of its rivals behind the first row. It also has some optional features that are not available on some of its rivals, such as a blind-spot view monitor or a FamCam interior camera. However, these are minor drawbacks compared to the Sienna's many strengths. If you are looking for a minivan that can do it all while saving you money on gas, you might want to consider the 2024 Toyota Sienna.
- Add new comment
- 413 views
