Let’s say someone is looking for a vehicle. Their criteria are something spacious, can hold six to eight people, and has a fuel-efficient answer. Here’s the answer: minivan. I’m glad you agree with me. Popular in the 90s and early 2000s, minivans are known as “boring”. Toyota has a plethora of SUVs, but they still sell the Sienna. This latest generation is hybrid-only with either front- or all-wheel-drive. Can the 2024 Toyota Sienna Hybrid XSE AWD compare with other vans and SUVs?
Although the front end looks like it’s shared with other models, the rest of the Sienna is pure minivan. That front end has slanted headlights along with a black piece and silver pieces of trim. The grille is too big, but the front end is a little generic Toyota. From the front fender to the rear, this is a pure minivan with plenty of mirrors and large power-operated sliding doors. This Sienna XSE had Blueprint blue paint with 18-inch wheels which made it quite noticeable. The best part of the Sienna is the rear end with a power-operated tailgate, semi-slanted tail lights, and a large Sienna logo.
Step inside, and you’ll find plenty of space. Looking ahead of the driver is a steering wheel with controls for media and safety features. You get all the necessary information from the instrument cluster, but there is no real customization. Next to the driver is an optional 9-inch touchscreen with a good-sounding JBL 12 Speak sound system. There are buttons next to the screen and the layout is decent. You can get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Climate controls are separated switches and are simple to use on the go.
Both sliding doors are power-operated, and the driver has sliding-door buttons above them. A large shifter is next to a few cups and a wireless charging pad. My only complaint is the shifter is mounted quite high. Otherwise, the heated seats are very comfortable, and six USB chargers. Moving to the middle row, the second-row Captain’s chairs are also comfortable with their armrests. An optional Rear Entertainment System came with an 11.6-display display with two wireless headphones. There is a lot of space in the trunk, and all seats can be folded down.
Powering all Siennas is a 2.5-liter hybrid inline-four. This makes 245 horsepower and 199 lb-ft. With a CVT gearbox and all-wheel-drive, the Sienna can get from 0-60 MPH in 7.7 seconds. Outright acceleration isn’t the Sienna’s strong suit. Typical of other Toyota hybrids, the engine can groan and feel a bit sluggish. Still, it has enough power. Cornering is typical of other minivans meaning there is some body lean. The brakes are also okay, with the bite-point in the middle of the pedal.
Sienna’s purpose is to be a frugal minivan, and it hit the mark. I hit around 35 MPG which surprised me. Even when you have to jam on the throttle, you’ll get around 27 MPG. On the highway, the Sienna feels stable and comfortable. Utilizing the climate control was easy, as was using the safety features. The Sienna comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0. This has adaptive cruise, pre-collision, lane assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. All of those worked well except for the automatic high beams. They weren’t the best when it came to switching off.
As a fan of minivans, I can say the 2024 Toyota Sienna is an excellent minivan. It does exactly what it’s made to do. There’s a good-looking exterior along with a comfortable and easy-to-use infotainment system. Out of the lineup, this XSE AWD is the one I would get. I enjoy the color. Add in the frugal engine, and you have yourself one of the best minivans on the market. Even against its SUV brethren, the Sienna can stand on its own.
_websize.jpg)
