Toyota has revealed the 4th generation Sienna minivan for the North American market. The lineup includes the ‘Limited’, ‘XSE’ and a new ‘Platinum’ trim. The XSE is a “sporty” one among the lineup, although you might wonder why would anyone want a sporty van.
Anyway, the new Sienna is built on the TNGA-K platform. The design of the vehicle is a combined effort of CALTY’s Newport Beach and Ann Arbor studios. While the front fascia sports the brand’s latest design language, the side profile with its bold character line running over the wheel arch reminds you of the one on the new Highlander. Apparently, the front fascia was inspired by the iconic Shinkansen bullet train.
At the rear, the taillamp design flows seamlessly into the sculpted body with thin bands of LED signatures. There’s also an integrated black taillight canard that apparently improves aerodynamic performance.
This is an all-new vehicle from the ground up, including a new chassis platform as well as a new electrical platform. The development of the fourth generation Sienna was a huge undertaking but we always worked towards one single mission—to make the best van yet. – Monte Kaehr, Chief Engineer
As mentioned, the XSE is a sportier variant with sporty front & rear bumpers, black grille, dark 20-inch split 5-spoke wheels, black ORVMs and black roof rails.
The fresh interior is loaded with features and technology. Depending on the variant, these include 4-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility, a 10-inch color head-up display, a digital rear-view mirror, 12-speaker JBL audio system, 7 USB ports, and Toyota Connected Services.
At the rear, the optional Super Long Slide second-row captain chairs slide 25 inches for maximum comfort. Buyers can also add on-board vacuum and refrigerator.
Safety has been given the top priority. The new Sienna packs a total of 10 airbags. As for the active safety, the 2021 Sienna comes standard with second-generation Toyota Safety Sense (TSS 2.0), which includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Trace Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Road Sign Assist.
Moving on to the business end of the story, the 4th generation Sienna is powered by a hybrid powertrain. It combines a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors (one on the rear axle), forming an AWD. The Toyota Hybrid System II is claimed to deliver a system output of about 183 kW (245 bhp/249 metric hp) and a combined 33 MPG fuel economy. Transmission is an eCVT. There’ll also be a front-wheel-drive model which loses the rear electric motor.
During off-the-line starts, the Hybrid AWD pre-emptively sends up to 80% of driving force to the rear wheels to help prevent front-wheel slip, Toyota said. Torque distribution varies with conditions, from 100:0 in constant-speed driving to 20:80 on slippery surfaces. It is indicated on the 7-inch MID.
There are EV, Normal, Eco and Sport driving modes to choose from, which are fairly self-explanatory. The EV mode allows electric-only driving at low speeds for short distances.
All versions of the 2021 Sienna are rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg). Accessories and options include a rooftop carrier, bike rack, tow hitch, and factory optional 1,500-watt inverter with 120V AC outlet.
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