2018 Toyota Sienna | CarGurus Test Drive Review 

Awesome review. We bought our SE Sienna before we even found out we were expecting. We needed more space. Something that can tow a small trailer. And something that I can still modify since I'm a car guy. Half a year of ownership and 20K later we have no complaints. Handles well, gets decent fuel mileage and we have put so much big things in it, that we feel it has paid itself off!

First of all, I really enjoyed your review, so many of the things you say are true. I saw so many reviews before purchasing my 2019 Sienna in the XLE trim. @ 3:18 on this video is the perfect example of why I bought a minivan vs an SUV. I have a newborn that requires me to fully open my rear door to put my baby and his seat in the vehicle and when you're stuck in a tight parking situation, it's extremely frustrating trying to open a sedan or SUV door, however, with a sliding door, it's a breeze. I also upgraded brakes front and rear with drilled/slotted rotors & ceramic pads. I think it's the most important upgrade you can do to make this already safe mini van even safer.

My mom drives a 2016 Toyota Sienna SE, its actually pretty fun and comfy in there.

Not in the market for a van but watched cause of Chris! No bs. Love it.

I'm anxiously waiting for our 2019 XLE Premium to arrive 🎉

Am copying a reply I posted here as it seems to apply to a lot of the comments.... I have one. Bought it as we had an invalid relative - I am male, 220lbs, 6'1" - to be seen in such a vehicle .... well, let's say not my ideal - but... family. Gotta tell you, I love this thing. It drives like a much smaller vehicle. Want to know my loading strategy when packing the thing ... I don't got one!! Chuck in the back and done. Roomy for me, much more so than any sedan etc. Bullet proof. Love it. (Not a Toyota rep. or anything - just a very surprised owner).

CarGurus. The Sienna now has the D4-S engine with both Direct and Multi-Port Injection, eliminating the intake valve carbon build up problems with Direct Injection only engines.

Best family van in my opinion.

best review I ever heard, kudus to you...

Recently bought a 2018 Toyota Sienna XLE we drove in the rain for the first time the rain noise coming off the road from the tires was so bad that you could not hear to carry out a normal conversation it like they didn't put sound deadening. under the inner wheel whale or rockerpanel carpet or inner Fender Well was well wondering if anybody else has had this problem

Chris, I know one of your fellow CarGurus peers have already reviewed it, but given your vehicle performance experience I would appreciate it if you would please review the 2018 Kia Stinger. C'mon, man, give into your inner hooligan ... again!

Love the review!! It’s 2024, we just lost our 2009 Honda Odyssey with 266,000 miles due to an accident. Should I still consider this 2018 Toyota sienna as a replacement??? or should I be considering a different van or year?

Awesome! I am seriously considering this van due to an upcoming grand son. I currently drive 2015 Camry XLE and Toyota's are reliable

Regarding safety, AWD are safer, and sport-tuned cars are safer as they stops better and handles better than other minivans. I do not see if other cars are any "safer" at that level in their class. It only seems like a safer is marginal and hard to tell the difference. I think the margins depend on your luck, I wonder if anybody will die or live because of those marginal safety differences. Better stopping and handling will save a lot more from accidents than other vans. I'd choose Sienna SE over any other vans for safety, and resale value. It's just better car than any other vans. I had SE since 2011, and I'd choose the recent model which is quieter and faster. I've pushed to the limit on the mountain roads and I was so surprised that I was able to beat other many front wheel "sport" cars. I love driving and drifting and all, but for a van, this is most sporty minivan in the market. Based on my test driving Honda's too soft compare to SE Model. Toyota limited is smooth, but SE is much sporty overall. All other mini vans are far off from the Honda and Toyota's level, so I would not even mention it. You won't regret choosing Honda Odessey, but if you want Sporty minivan, Toyoto Sienna SE is the best and if you want AWD, again Toyota Sienna is the only minivan that offers that option.

Looks good

Buying a mini van... be a great weekend camper

I don’t understand why the masculinity of some men are so fragile when it comes to minivans. Men are suppose to be the practical ones and not the fashionistas.

We're buying one to be converted into a wheelchair accessible van. AWD is not compatible if you're looking to convert the van for a ramp.

Hope they modified the 8 speed auto trans, so that it now knows when to upshift and downshift, without imparting whiplash. 🙄 For the added one mpg, I’d opt for the old 6 speed.......

I just bought a 2018 limited - my 3rd Sienna. I bought a 2018 so that I could get the ottoman seats and a few extra features that were dropped in 2019. Toyota Canada has weird Ideas.

If it isn't the safest maybe it should be the cheapest...Price is the most inhibitive thing when it comes to these things followed by the image which is why at the same price point the cuv/suv will win everytime...These vehicles need all/as many aero cheating doodads as possible and composite panels where applicable...Maybe there should be a racing series featuring only mini vans to garner more love and it can be sponsored by Pirelli or Continental; I'd watch it.

Lots of good points in this review. Crash test score is what makes me hesitant to consider this family hauler more seriously than I would a 2019 Kia Sedona (they upgraded their cage structure in 2018). The only thing I don't like about the Sedona vs Sienna is that the Sienna has a center seatbelt integrated into one of the outboard second row seats, but in the Sedona, they made the questionable decision to have the center second-row seatbelt come from the ceiling, which looks awful.

So you say you would go with a top safety pick, but it's also the only minivan with autonomous emergency braking. If your minivan stops before you have a crash it definitely makes it safer than one that can't stop the vehicle. It's really hard to say, IMO, which is safer. A better rating in one crash test or autonomous braking, but either way I think "safer" is subjective in this case.

"A dashboard that is about practicality over style." Translation: It's ugly as sin, but it works.

Chris, do you also review power tools? If not, I highly recommend you start doing so. Your style is highly suited for appliances and power tools!

If you make enough to claim a full $7,500 Federal Tax Credit + any State incentives + any Electric Utility incentives (you can sometimes claim this yearly) consider a 2018 Pacific Plug In Hybrid. Possible HOV lane access as well. Yes the '18 has AA & ACP, no Stow 'N Go but you can remove the 2nd row seats.

No problem with the looks, would love to have one but just a few things like no 8 passenger awd, run flat tires, old design, no Android Auto and 1000 lbs towing. Granted its the only AWD minivan but still.... its weak.

Wow,my first house was only $50 thou,

he suggests we buy a non reliable national brand just for safety

God almighty, if I was a teenager, I'd hate to deal you while dating one of your daughters. But, your auto reviews are superb!.

I hate how it has a big grill like a mouth in 2018

this sales pitch is extremly weak

12:58 Chrysler has the Pacifica S and Pacifica S Hybrid

Cost of these is way too high and ridiculous for a platform over a decade old.

We need Vellfire and Alphard in America. Not sienna!

I love this car , but ...

All that money and no Apple car play? Well that’s a deal killer.

My wife took our Sequoia to a car seat check hosted by our local sheriffs department. The senior representative told my wife “You sure have a smart husband for picking a Sequoia” she said “Why is that?” He said “Body in frame is much more survivable in an accident, in a minivan, the kids are in the crumple zone, I told my daughter that If she was shopping for a minivan, I would pay the difference for my grandkids to be in a large body on frame SUV.” Not long after this, my wife was rear ended by a used Cadillac Escalade on a test drive, the Sequoia damage buffed out, the Escalade looked like a Transformer punched it in the front.

Nice try

that toyota sienna se red color is cooling minivan may united States was Japanese faster 2018 toyota minivan sienna new sport style future red color minivan awd 117 MFH 19 city 27 highway 29 mile 2.96 horsepower D45 engine 3.5 V6 2.66 horsepower 115 mfh 18 city 25 highway 21 miles 245 pounds toqurs 2016 toyota sienna xle may united States Government can paying 200 million dollars toyota minivan factory in state of Indiana was article toyota sienna pass in 1998-2018 new toyota sienna recome United State and Canada vehicle makers 93.8% sale 300 million u.s dollar🗽💵🚐

#new2018toyotasienna🚐

It's cheaper than Innova

a 2016 Suburban has most cargo than this mini van, I ranted one and I took measurements.

Toyota is so slow in implementing technology, they are dinosaurs. Why only the top of the line gets 360 camera? Safety sense is antique compared to Subaru's features. No apple carplay? no android auto? WTF?

DO NOT BUY this vehicle!This Sienna platform has a tire issue and potential safety issue that Toyota have not addressed yet. You will notice the excessive and uneven tire wear at 13K to 16K miles which it already out of warranty at 12K or 12 months and won’t cover even with extended warranty! Buy a different minivan not this! Honda has more features all new platform at the same price!

I think any van is a waste of money. There are so many SUV's out there that can carry 7 people such as the Ford Expedition, Mitsubishi Outlander, Chevy Suburban and much more. I don't know if anyone notice but Toyota uses every word to describe this bulky car but the pine word it does not use is 'van'. Look at any commercial and you won't find them saying that word because just saying that word makes people such as myself think of a big fat car that only family's buy and is not a cool car to own. These are such a big waste its unreal. Why not buy a SUV that has real class and can handle a lot more than a van? Plus just to have almost everything your paying close to $40,000 which is crazy for a bulky van and where it can't go off road, rarely has AWD, has a long ass, and is way over priced. Yes a Chevy Suburban cost at least $50,000 but at least it has class and style and is way more comfortable to ride that this front wheel drive van...please people look for an alternative. Also I like to point out, every time I see these, they look so used and over worked that people that own them don't even bother cleaning them up but use them for hauling cargo like some u-haul...this is seriously a waste of long term spending when you look at the 10 year time frame of owning it

We need Vellfire and Alphard in America not sienna!