I rented a 2022 Toyota Sienna XLE a couple of weeks ago. I drove around Los Angeles metro area with 7 passengers. After 200 miles (mostly freeway), the car averaged 42 mpg. Crazy good number for a minivan!
@@hedgehogthesonic3181 Yeah, V8s are sadly an anachronism. I could get an IS500, but chugging a V8 at a stop light to go to work is ridiculous. It's out of tune with what's going on in the world.
@@aluisious Yeah, i don't see what is the problem here. V8 are terrible for daily commute, and the amount of fuel wasted on these is terrible. It is better if these engines are gone for good.
Dear Toyota, offer a Prime Sienna, make the 2nd row seats removable, and give us a more updated infotainment system and then I will even consider looking at you over the PacHy.
I'm pretty sure the following new design mini van won't able to remove their seats even without airbag. More states require rear passenger buckle seatbelt on the road therefore it need sensor underneath the seat
@Jean Toronto Raptors Sometime people needs 4x8 plywood or drywall on their van. If the seats are removable then life much easier. But, since toyota decide only hybrid system on their van that mean they want you focus on people more than cargo
@@yujuwan3104 people always talk about 4x8 plywood and drywall like they are building room additions and sheds 4x a year. It can fit vertically, if you need more just rent the Home Depot truck for $20 for 75mins. Don’t have to get your interior dirty and damaged. Plus if you’re looking for a minivan you probably have kids. I rather rent a truck than pull out child seats, seat back organizers, bins, etc out of the van.
Great review Alex! I just bought a 2021 Toyota sienna XSE front wheel drive with the 1500 W inverter option. Yes it has the 20 inch wheels. My first tank driving home from the dealer was 41 miles per gallon over the 400 mile trip, I varied my speed for optimal break-in. Not exceeding 70 miles an hour. I am currently on my second tank and I am getting 42 miles per gallon in urban 55 mile in under driving with hilly conditions. Absolutely love my Toyota sienna! Without a doubt I made the right decision to get it. Nothing better than Toyota reliability! Yes if you are looking for lots of power this Van has very adequate power! But if you want to be a racer with a V6 then that would be a better option for you. Personally I love getting 42 miles per gallon, with driving over 650 miles on a single tank! Also if you want to drive 85 mph don’t expect to get that kind of mileage.
I see no reason for the Highlander hybrid to exist now. The sienna is just better and also it’s a lot cheaper to start with than the Highlander hybrid. 34.5K for the sienna hybrid LE vs 38.5 K for the Highlander hybrid LE
@@naveenthemachine Larger SUVs have cost more than minivans for more than a decade, while being much worse at carrying people and cargo. Yet SUVs and CUVs continue to sell like hotcakes.
@@joshua.harazin that also depends, our family got a Pathfinder for the purpose of having a AWD vehicle mainly carrying 4 or 5 people and occasionally 5 or 6. We wanted to get a AWD Van like the Sienna, but at the time of purchasing, the Pathfinder costs $37k CAD and Sienna costs $47k+ if we want an AWD model, granted that the Sienna is a true 7 passenger vehicle vs Pathfinders' 5+2, it's still s compromise we are willing to make for over $10k difference...
Am I the only one who thinks it’s incredibly dangerous to put a bag or anything not restrained inches away from the gas and brake pedals? That centre console cubby is a no no for me
Traditional minivans have often had wide-open space in that area instead, allowing for all kinds of stuff to be placed there. If it’s in a bag, I doubt it will be a problem. Maybe don’t place your bowling ball there. :)
My 07 sienna lets me fold the seats and or take them out. Not being able to remove seats doesn't seem wise. Or at least limits the benefits of a minivan.
@@jsac3939 You have to check, but they had an actual rental department. They were significantly cheaper then Enterprise, Alamo, etc. However, call each dealership in your area. They aren't all the same rental price. In my area one was $120 a day, the other was $75 a day. You can guess which one I went with.
16 years / 168,000 miles on my like new 2006 SEINNA from new… I have maintained as required and never had any dealer required pairs … all those required maintenance were done on time …22/28 mpg mileage at 75ave mph !!!
Yes & whitout this big intruding console please , I want to go to the rear without going outside .Idealy a very basic model without all the electronic gizmo.
@@cc300 the PacHy has similar reliability as the new Sienna according to Consumer Reports. The Sienna is new and most surveys are using predicted reliability but if Toyota RAV4 is any indicator the Pacifica matches it.
@@telluridelover2417 on PacHy Facebook page they are trading in 2-year old for new and making money with the $7,500 and additional incentives. So it is always under B2B warranty and hybrid warranty is not even half used up.
@@normt430 usually I don’t fall for “1 sample size” long term test for reliability evaluation, but the C&D long term test was shocking. They replaced the entire 16 kWH battery pack and several other things. www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a22688297/2018-chrysler-pacifica-hybrid-reliability/
Alex, i know you said you would get the hybrid Pacifica, would you still get the Pacifica for long term ownership? I am debating between the two and I planning on keeping my car at least 10 years+. Given that Chrysler is not reliable, do you think the Pacifica hybrid would last that long? Thank you
I was hesitant on Pacifica's reliability as well. But the 2020 Pacifica got a 5/5 (top rating) from Consumer Reports on Reliability...I was shocked! And considering the major difference in the 2021 model is mostly cosmetic, I'm betting that 2021 will be reliable too. I got the Pacifica hybrid about 2 months ago (it was Alex's 2021 Pacifica hybrid video that swung me over from the Sienna) and have no regrets at all.
Get Sienna 2021 if you are looking for reliability. Also 34-36 MPG is not bad. I got 2021 Sienna right when it came to market in November 2020 and its almost one year now. Not a single problem so far. Its my wife's daily office commute and we took it to 9 hours drive one time and 4.5 hours several times. Just one advise, get a higher trim if you are going to use third row in Sienna, because pushing second row seat manually to go back on the third row is a pain. Also basic LE 8 seats trim doesn't have space for spare tire in trunk.
l live in a mountainous area, where some of the climbs are 4-5 miles long. Can anyone tell me how long the electric motor's power last before it runs out and leaves just the 4 cylinder engine to pull the van?
I feel sad for people who go into debt to buy a minivan, pay cash and buy a cheaper van. Your kids will thank you for college fund instead of how they rode in a van
The Sienna has had AWD for over a decade. Honda could have put AWD in by now but their strategy all these years has been to push customers to the AWD Pilot
5:07 On my old previous gen Sienna I didn’t even need my feet , the side doors opened themselves on the road thanks to a manufacturing recall . I really didn't like this except when my mother-in-law sat beside .
My old sienna opened the door by itself on the highway before when there was no shoulder on the highway. I had 2 pull over on the grass and pray my cargo didn't fall out.
Thanks for the great info! Overall I really like the Sienna! The screen is a disappointment as is the middle seat situation and the cheap-out front passenger seat (why don't they just give you identical, fully adjustable front seats?)! I love the center console area and actually prefer the styling compared to the Carnival (even if that means it looks like a minivan)! Those package configurations make no sense at all!
Toyota needs to fix the taillights illumination, it’s just too dark for safe night driving. The whole lamp assemblies need to be illuminated instead of two small blobs of red light at night
Great review. While I'm impressed by the Sienna generally and it's interesting that Toyota went aggressive in style and making it hybrid only, they really need to get 1) the braking performance up to par with this powertrain and compared to the competition and 2) the lower trim lines to have better materials quality and fit and finish. I've read this in other reviews, even if not mentioned directly here.
Just got ours 2 days ago, and the fuel consumption was just half liter more than our rav4s 5.9 l/100km, just amazing and the response was better than i was expecting!
@@aliendroneservices6621 was 32.5 a few weeks ago. Still no where near 35 mpg. Especially when PacHy is getting +80 mpge on daily driving is more double the Sienna Hybrid.
8:25 despite this , is gonna be the first thing I'm gonna do If i buy one , after that : a dremmel job to get rid of the big intrusive console . I need a passage to go to the rear . Cargo version please !
Is there a reason the steering wheel in the Sienna is about 1.5 inches off-centre from the driver's seat towards the right? I thought this was a design error in the previous generation of the Sienna but the steering wheel in the new Sienna is off-centre too. If you're left-handed, it will drive you nuts because you can't rest your elbow on the door sill and steer one-handed--the steering wheel is too far away.
The Carnival is not available with all-wheel-drive. Unless I missed something. So that's a pretty important distinction if AWD is a must-have. If the plug-in Pacifica had a three-person second row, I'd be signing the check right now.
Toyota hybrids are unique. Recommend to anyone who wants to use less fossil fuels. It's not going to be same as regular engine. Highly recommend Toyota vehicles. Less maintenance and higher resale. Not sure hybrid retain value as eventually have to replace batteries. Like and would consider this vehicle. Currently drive Prius V wagon - not exciting or purdy.. but economical!
The point of having the hatch button up high is to prevent kid operating it. It might cause injuries to kids since they might not really pay much attention
Non removable middle seats is a non issue. I don’t know about you people but I’m not buying a 50k minivan and immediately going on a Home Depot run to load it with plywood.
Plywood is not the only thing you might put in your minivan. Think camping. Think any other application. That is, if you have the imagination to get over the plywood thing.
If you don't have enough tax liability to get the whole $7500 tax credit of a plug-in or electric vehicle (the Pacifica) you can convert part of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA (which will raise your tax that year) and use the tax credit to pay for the conversion.
I do not understand why Toyota decided to make the rear seat entertainment NOT play DVDs. I believe the video says it does but when we looked at them, they don’t. Toyota said to bring a DVD player and plug it into the power outlet. I know DVDs are antiquated but that’s what most kids movies are on. With the Sienna, you either have to upload your movies to a USB stick or sign up for the in car WiFi to stream.
I was torn between the Sienna and the Pacifica Hybrid for a long time. Ultimately went with the Pacifica for the following: -EV range covers most of my driving -Tax credit -Tri-panel sunroof -UConnect 5 is amazing -Dual Rear Entertainment that doesn't obstruct the mirror -Could care less about stow-and-go -Didn't think I'd use the 1500w inverter very often -The ottoman from Sienna seemed like a feature that would be nice, but likely not used often. -Fridge option was pulled at the last minute from the Sienna -The sienna felt down right slow (I live in Colorado) **I REALLY wish there was an AWD Pacifica Hybrid...
@@RESISTAGE umm not its not. Have you looked at the latest test where they pitted the sienna awd vs a Pacifica awd. The sienna was faster. Numbers don't lie. Notice how I said awd??? Would u like the link. Google isn't hard 2 use!
Kia need yo make AWD Carnival and would be a clear winner. Toyota is least favorite with anemic freeway passing power. When spending $50,000 on any vehicles, I’d rather have more power to merging and passing is freeways than underpowered. It’s only a matter of time for accident to happens. Confident driving over fuel efficiency.
When the 2019 Avalon came out, people went crazy about the large standard front grill design...Now the Sienna has basically the same design cues...crickets.
How have you not been able to drive the Carnival? I've seen two on the road already. It actually doesn't look that different overall from the Sedona, which I have.
Toyota is master of making ugly vehicles uglier and boring cars more boring. We avoid anemic vehicle for reasons I prefer 3 other minivans than Toyota. Try to merge into busy freeway with full passengers…no. Thanks
I own a 2015 Sienna. It’s unbelievable to me that Toyota pays so little attention to the comfort in the front seats. At the top trim these should be like Lexus seats with at least 6 way adjustable and preferable 8 way. And message in the driver seat! Take my money! Give me some damn luxury in my minivan that we tick off thousands of miles in!!!!
@@brianb7844 right!?! The place I put the CAR SEATS… and even when my kids get bigger, why exactly do they deserve nicer seats than me??? This is why I’m replacing the van with a truck. You can actually get luxury AND utility in a modern truck.
Lol when I was a teenager 😛 just like everyone else I want a sports car now I am Old and wise?🤪 I figured out as long as the Van can get me up to the freeway speed and that's fine with me racing is for the teenager 😛 now, and let them get their share of speeding tickets 🤪😛 and I can laugh about it now.
One correction: The Sienna does not have any disc player (DVD nor Blu-ray). The entertainment system is mainly designed to stream from your phone. (Another reason we picked the Pacifica hybrid over the new Sienna). I'm tech savvy enough to stream or rip movies to a USB stick, but most parents would probably prefer to just stick in a disc, I think that was a poor design choice by Toyota.
Agree. Reportedly the 2022 Sienna will have the next generation infotainment/entertainment system. Probably won't be adding option of playing DVD or Blue-ray, but one can still hope.
If you want 8 seaters with comfortable middle seating for three, don't get a Sienna. Whoever designed the middle seat for Sienna since the beginning should be fired and sued.
Recently bought our first minivan. check out all these. obviously it's subjective but here's a breakdown. Sienna - if gas mileage is your thing then this is it. good enough at everything else. Odyssey - drives the best, best interior overall with balance of people comfort/stuff. flaws - no awd, they'll probably come out with a hybrid/new model next year Pacifica - usually the best value; due to limited stock right now not as many discounts as it usually gets but eventually probably will again. has a reputation for being less reliable; think really it's about the same reliability but feels cheaper. i.e. nobs, buttons, etc feel cheap compared to Odyssey, Sienna, probably even Carnival. think the feel of it feeds into the reputation. pacifica overall is fine though. Pacifica Hybrid - if plugin electric is your thing then this is it with the tax credit it's a good deal. other than that it's pretty meh. Voyager - cheaper pacifica but no point because it's not cheap enough Carnival - best styling, if they added awd then they'd have a winner but only wins on styling nothing else really stood out on it. Went with Odyssey due to removable leather seating for 8 and best driving. probably would have went Sienna but ridiculous second row limitations was a killer. just seems dumb that 2nd row isn't removable and Sienna only has 8 on LE, LE AWD, XLE. As mentioned in the vid, sure Sienna seats can be removed but are not designed to be removed and it's not as simple as it should be. One other note - if you are considering SUV vs minivan stop and buy the minivan. Minivan is so much better. Any of these are drastically better at people/stuff hauling than any SUV. Only exceptions might be towing and helping your ego as you pull up to places.
@@rv2167 you're not wrong. just preferences... probably would have went Sienna but second row seat deal was just too dumb. can't get leather with 8 seats, can't even get synthetic leather 8 seats with AWD, Sienna with leather was coming in 3-4k higher than Odyssey, so better 2nd row and cheaper made it work for me. Also didn't personally like the "bridge" thing but again just preferences. It was kinda funny to me how each minivan option is like 90% the same as the others but the 10% that's different is so frustrating when deciding. Do think Sienna might retain better value though with gas mileage so if second row isn't a big deal then Sienna probably is generally the better option.
I've never actually found a Toyota that hits all the marks. I've owned everything from tundras to tacomas RAV4s and Highlanders and I've always found that with every single model I've had to compromise. I was really hoping for something different but I really can't get over how ugly this van is. I might be time to Branch out into some domestic brands as much as I hate to say it. I've heard some troubling information about the Odyssey so I'm not really interested in anything Hondas making right now.
Only having the 184hp gas engine is a good observation and one that’s going to bite people with 6 passengers on long road trips at 70+ mph speeds where the battery never gets a chance to recharge. I want to see what the real world mileage becomes in those scenarios with that 4 cyl straining, especially in hilly terrain like I have in my area.
Even at 70 mph and loaded the engine won't be working flat out. If it were, it could never pass. On the flat the battery will be recharging. The killer is up and down mountains. Upgrades empty the batteries quickly and then you're left with just the engine.
This is a station wagon. Changing the name doesn’t make it true. Please offer an actual van. Even a normal mini van would be taller than the human standing beside it.
I got my PacHy about three months ago and it has been trouble free so far over 3,000 miles. I am also averaging about 70 MPG so that is more than I could ask for. Unfortunately the factory in Canada has been shut down for a while and they are getting harder to find.
The Pacifica is a good choice if you carry sheet goods, but also need to use all three rows of seats. If you don't carry passengers, or you're OK putting them in the third row with the second removed, the Odyssey is solid. Not sure about Kia Carnival configurations. I think it's close to the Honda.
Toyota should leave the V6 engine option, removable second row, the window of the third row should be larger on 2021 Sienna. I love my 2020 Sienna oh my God. Toyota messed up this time.
A minivan without removable 2nd row seats. Sorry, but that's stupid. I'm out. With Toyota's access to top notch engineers, you cannot tell me that they couldn't have figured out how to have the 2nd row seat air bags that would have an adapter/plug, with which the owner could easily disconnect (disengage) and reconnect (engage) so as to easily remove/install the seats. SIMPLY INEXCUSABLE.
The electric AWD in these Toyota vehicles is a joke. AWD is supposed to come to the rescue to avoid getting stuck in snow etc., however, if you get stuck with these the rear torque provided by the system is so puny that it will not produce enough traction to pull the vehicle out of anything, its basically a sham. The system is basically there to prevent excessive front wheel wheel spin in slippery conditions and that's it. Yes the Sienna gets excellent fuel economy, but the system implies a lot of compromises elsewhere, braking is bad even compared to 1/2 ton trucks, it is sloooooow, the interior looks at best utilitarian, its OK that its plastic but can't they make just a little less public bus looking? When you operated the rear tumbling seat it looked like it was going to fall apart and it didn't even latch because the center seat interfered with its movement. And what's up with the nonremovable center seat? A very disappointing redesign. Seems to have been designed primarily as a taxi.
Carnival should come out with the 1.6T hybrid. In the minivan category, Chrysler minivan gives you the most refined ride along with quieter cabins, odyssey is the most car like driving, carnival is the best looking, and sienna is for better mpg. Personally I rather choose Pacifica or carnival and pay a bit more at the pump rather than choosing odyssey and sienna.
"1.6T" -- Put any stress on those microengines in a giant vehicle like Carnival, and they don't give you any better economy that normal ones, but they last half the time. Don't believe the numbers on paper, they are fantasy.
@@mountainhobo 2.5hybrid in Toyota isn’t particularly big engine either. I hate 4cylinder turbos, but that’s today’s norm. If you see accord, 1.5T and 2.0T excels 2.4 and 3.5. If you want Naturally Aspirated big V8, the only option would be Chrysler/Dodge as Toyota is moving to V6 hybrid or turbo in upcoming tundra/Land Cruiser as well. Longevity isn’t a concern because nowadays cars are becoming more of a electronic device that you upgrade for new features, not because it breaks down. And Kia offers 10year/100k power train warranty which I think is long enough, and even longer for hybrid components. I wouldn’t be surprised if the torque curve on 1.6t is better than 2.5 N/A, and being hybrid the electric motor should help with turbo lag at lower rpms.
@@stevenkim9637 "Longevity isn’t a concern because nowadays cars are becoming more of a electronic device that you upgrade for new features, not because it breaks down." Consumerism at its finest. This could destroy our planet quicker.
Toyota's LED headlights are definitely not a nice touch. I have a 2020 prius, and at least one out of every four cars flashes me at night because they think I have my high beams on. They definitely need to do something about the shape and color of their headlight beams, absolutely atrocious at the moment.
Comparing the Pacifica Hybrid vs. The Sienna Hybrid I think the Pacifica wins hands down. Better or the same gas mileage, better/more features, more power, and more practical space. With the typical discounts you can get with Chrysler they are usually much, much cheaper. The only way I would consider the Sienna is if reliability is your only or by far most important feature or if you can't plug in your car to charge overnight most of the time. Even then you can get a very good 10yr extended warranty on the Pacifica and still be much cheaper than the Sienna.
Got a 2022 xle 8 passenger and it’s been amazing so far. AC could be more powerful, but it’s just fine. Comfort is a 10. Mpg is a real 32-33 mpg if I drive fast.
And once again Toyota screws up (18:47) only offering a 3-person 2nd row in the poverty models. I'm so sick and tired of this B.S. that I guess I'm gonna have to take my money over to Ford and buy an Explorer (the only mainstream brand that *I* know of that allows the buyer to substitute a bench seat for the captain's chairs in the 2nd row.) Does anyone out there know of another brand that makes a 3-row S/CUV where I can buy a 3-row trim with all the bells & whistles *with* room for 3 people in the 2nd row? Some people actually have 3 kids and want them all in the 2nd row so there's enough room for everyone's luggage and stuff. This *so* pisses me off!!! I didn't watch the whole video before posting this - at 23:55 I learned that Odyssey *can* be bought with a 2nd row bench in the top trim! I *never* knew this! So then the next obvious question is, when is Honda refreshing it?
@@joshua.harazin If they didn't make the seats slide all the way back, they could put them in the pillars like every other car. Not everyone needs a minivan limo. This second row lounge seats fad is getting out of hand.
I wonder where this seat removal need comes from. I would easily buy the stuff from my hardware store and rent the truck which cost like $19 for 1.5hours. Much better option than the hassle and scratching your vehicle. :-)
@@LionRunner We use our minivans for dog shows, agility etc... The removal of the second seats allow you to place a crate in the middle of the van and one or two in the back depending on the size of your dogs.
@@kristians2704 the Kia has more luxury specifically the power rear ventilated seats The sienna offers 4 zone climate, long slide second row, power tilt telescope wheel, and heads up display
@@kristians2704 precisely. It's a really tough call. The deciding factor might be the dealerships. Kia dealers are are asking several thousands over MSRP in my area.
@@kromahj in everything. Features, price, mpg, performance. It might give up a little in long term reliability. If you upgrade regularly, as your should with a hybrid, it's a non factor
@@SunChips24 people who upgrade ever 2 to 3 years, should lease, but with hybrid system, I don't trust any FCA products for long term, if you keeping it for 6 to 7 years.
@@kromahj yeah I can't disagree with that. Re mpg, let me put it this way: I haven't bought gas in nearly 3 months. And I'm loving the $7,500 from Uncle Sam
Weight has nothing to do with stopping distance. You can stop a 70 ton Abrams tank faster than any of these cars, because of traction. More weight, more traction. If the brakes and tires are good enough, the weight cancels itself out.
SUVs do not have their suspensions tuned firmer for off road capability. They have AWD for that. Off road vehicles have softer suspensions with greater suspension travel and often under-inflated tires.The firmer suspension tuning is to help with handling and cornering in order to counter the higher center of gravity and thus is the "Sport" in SUV. ;)
@Alex - No option for a panoramic sunroof on the Sienna it seems, right? Maybe because of the in-cabin camera mounted there. The other minivans offer at least some second, or even third pane of glass sunroof option.
There is no in cabin camera. The area for a would be pano roof is occupied by the rear seat entertainment and the controls for the rear climate control
@@naveenthemachine oh that's right, the rear screen entertainment! Whereas the Pacifica has dual screens built into the headrests, and thus allowing for glass up top. Thx
Family vehicle means comfort, versatile, smooth engine, quiet etc. This is what the 2020 Sienna better than 2021. Fuel consumption is important but less important than the reasons I mentioned before.
