Who said minivans can't be sporty AND stylish? Toyota that's who. Case in point, the 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE that showed up at my house recently in Blueprint, one of the most striking dark blue hues you'll see on the road. (Not to get off point, but Toyota does a notably great job with its colors.)
This is the 4th-generation Sienna that debuted as a 2021 model, and it's hybrid-only. It's modern, sporty and yes of course roomy and practical too as expected of a minivan. It reminds me more of an SUV than said minivan, with an almost SUV-like ride with terrific acceleration, thanks to that new hybrid powertrain. There are six trims, the XSE being the 4th in the lineup.
The Sienna presents itself exceedingly well in gorgeous Blueprint with 20-inch wheels. The design is sculpted not boxy. Slim, modern LED headlights and LED-strip daytime running lights give it a sporty appeal up front along with the XSE's unique metallic black sport mesh front grille.
You also get integrated wide-angle fog lights. The sides sport black rocker panels and the black power side mirrors are heated with blind spot monitoring indicators. The tail end gets LED tail lights and a black sport mesh rear lower bumper. A XSE Plus package adds black roof rails on top.
The Sienna's hybrid system pairs a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors to an ECVT for a combined 245-horsepower. Acceleration is perfect for this 4,675 pound vehicle.
The well-designed Sienna cabin incorporates the right amount of soft-touch materials on the large, wide layered dash as well as the upper door panels and armrests. Satin-grain-style accents on the console bridge and orange stitching add a sporty vibe.
SoftTex sport-trimmed heated front seats are roomy and comfortable. The driver seat is 8-way power adjustable, the passenger's 4-way. A cushy, power tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel features steering-wheel mounted controls. You'll get a 4.2-inch digital driver's display, but to me it's too small and I'd love a larger one.
A satin-grain "bridge console" presides over a large passthrough storage area. It's where you find the leather-wrapped gear shifter, electronic parking brake, auto brake hold and drive mode select. A center console bin - with nicely padded armrests on both sides - opens easily with the push of a button to reveal a ton of storage space.
The XSE seats seven, since it's equipped with Super Long Slide captain's seats in the 2nd row. They slide an amazing 25 inches, so there is no lack of legroom. It does take a bit of muscle to slide the manually operated seats back and forth.
The XSE comes with an 8-speaker audio system and 9-inch touchscreen with navigation. The multimedia system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. I'm a fan of this touchscreen as opposed to slated screens in other Toyota models. Voice command works well. I do think the backup camera resolution could be sharper.
This XSE model is equipped with an optional wireless charger and an optional rear seat entertainment system which comes with a drop-down center media screen paired with two wireless headphones.
XSE standard features include 4-zone climate, illuminated remote entry and 6 USB ports along with Driver Easy Speak and Rear Seat Reminder.
As a minivan, the Sienna is practical and therefore offers a lot of utility. Hands-free dual sliding side doors which also operate via kick sensor really come in handy. Large grab handles on each of the 2nd-row sliding doors are terrific.
A power liftgate reveals a cavernous cargo area. The 60/40 one-motion-stow split and tow 3rd row seat folds down easily into the space if you're looking for more space.
As I said when I reviewed the Platinum trim last year, the Sienna is a minivan that does a great job of making you feel like you're not driving a minivan. Sport-tuned power steering and suspension give it a sporty, yet comfortable ride. It also has a terrific turning radius. I did wish for less highway road noise.
A special note about the Sienna's brakes, which deserve a round of applause. They saved me from hitting a car in front of me when I had to brake suddenly in traffic.
Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 includes Pre-Collision with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beams, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Road Sign Assist. The Sienna lineup also features standard with Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Rear Seat Reminder.
Options on my model include the rear seat HD entertainment system with 11.6-inch display w/two wireless headphones ($1415), 1500-watt inverter with 12 V AC outlets ($300), XSE package ($1000), carpet floor mats ($220), illuminated door sills ($245), rear bumper applique ($69), and wireless headphones ($100). Total MSRP is just over $46,000.
Stylish, practical and enjoyable to drive, the Sienna is an excellent choice for families looking for something roomy that's not an SUV.