2021 Toyota Sienna

Pros: Outstanding fuel economy; excellent steering feel; fine ride and handling balance; available all-wheel drive

Cons: Doesn’t offer family-friendly convenience features of some class rivals; engine can be gruff when accelerating; standard hybrid powertrain makes base prices a bit higher

CG Says: The Toyota Sienna minivan is redesigned for 2021, gaining fresh styling, new safety and technology features, and a standard gas/electric hybrid powertrain. The previous-generation Sienna’s 296-horsepower V6 has been replaced a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with electric motors for a combined 245 hp. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive remains available for all Sienna models, but it’s now a hybrid-based system that adds an electric motor to drive the rear wheels instead of a mechanical connection from the gas engine. New features include a “bridge” console that places the shift lever and cupholders closer to the driver, with a large storage area underneath. Available features include foot-activated power sliding doors, a camera rearview mirror, and a 1500-watt AC inverter with enough power for a microwave, power circular saw, or refrigerator. Standard safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-trace assist, rear cross-traffic alert, road-sign assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The standard second-row seats slide 21 inches fore and aft; higher-line models get Super Long Slide second-row seats that that slide 25 inches. The second-row seats on front-drive Limited and Platinum models have flip-up ottomans that can be used while the vehicle is parked. It was a bold move to make a hybrid powertrain standard, but the new Sienna has smooth, respectable acceleration along with exceptional fuel economy. Though the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey both offer family-friendly features that the Sienna doesn’t (such as the Pacifica’s Stow N’ Go second-row seats and FamCAM camera), the Sienna is one of only two minivans to offer AWD (the Pacifica is the other), and the only one to pair AWD with a hybrid powertrain. That, along with the Sienna’s nicely sorted ride and handling, spacious cabin, and fine build quality, make this redesigned minivan a strong contender in its class.