2021 Toyota Sienna Minivan

[CTznOfTime]

I have been a long fan of minivans in general, no particular one.

On this day the new 2021 Toyota Sienna minivan finally has shown its brand new face after years of speculation...

Personally it looks exactly the way that i do NOT want it to look like... it was so predictable that Toyota drew and design it this way... it is a mix between the new Camry and the old Sienna, mixed in the bag and voila...

It's not terribly bad, but it so busy in terms of design... The Toyota design language is lagging behind the Korean i personally think (IMHO)...
I want to like the Sienna, but i am still having a hard time loving this one, not just because it is new, in fact it looks like an evolution of the old design, which i hated, but find it to be more attractive in the end compared to this new one.

Toyota could have done a much better job on this... too bad:

The dashboard is a massive improvement over the last generation
this new one is attractive

The sport trim looks quite good from this angle, with these wheels:

The sport trim looks quite good from this angle, with these wheels:

This color makes it look good i think:

For reference:

I am going to post a couple photos of the Camry where the design was inspired and came from for the Sienna..

This is what the old Sienna looks (I have always hated the fact that the wheels of the Sienna is so inward the body... it needs at least 1.5 inch (over 3.5cm) spacers to look good:

i have always hated this rear:

seems like Toyota doesn't know how to design beautiful butts...

I am also going to post a few photos of the Sienna's main competitors (US specs).

Chrysler Pacifica (black edition) hearse look LOL:

Chrysler Voyage (which is really the Pacifica, but with less fuzz):

Honda Odyssey:

Kia Sedona:

You can vote and you can also change your vote down the line if you ever change your mind...

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Couple more years of crossovers reigning kings of sedentary, suburban, domestic life and minivans could be cool again. The Siena looks..fine. Over-articulated like every Toyota these days.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Yikes, it looks like it's trying to be a crossover. What is going on with that rear quarter.

 

[CTznOfTime]

Yikes, it looks like it's trying to be a crossover. What is going on with that rear quarter.

Right?! I thought I was the only one to see that... It's probably the worst part of the van, everything else I am sort of ok with... But that rear quarter is way too busy !

 

[Leo Thorne]

That lip protruding from the tailgate beneath the rear glass is an interesting feature ive never seen on a minivan before

 

[CTznOfTime]

That lip protruding from the tailgate beneath the rear glass is an interesting feature ive never seen on a minivan before

It exaggerated on the Sienna, but the same feature on the Camry...

 

[buickgnx88]

 

[EngieDiesel]

It really does look like the shipping crate that a Camry would be packed in, doesn't it? I can't say I really like the sport package either, the dimensions are kinda cartoonish when applied to a vehicle that large.

I mean, I have nothing against minivans, but Toyota's current design language really doesn't suit that body style at all if you ask me.

 

[eiriksmil]

I kinda like the rear quarter, it horizontally splits the middle of the car and livens it up a little. A little less boring than minivans usually. No Toyota minivan has been anything remotely cool since the first gen Previa/Estima though.

 

[05XR8]

The front on shots, look like it has a low forehead, while squinting, while smiling like Pete Puma.

I dig the overall shape though. Nice.

 

[MedigoFlame]

I quite like the new Sienna. Glad that they're keeping the AWD and the sporty looking XSE isn't as tacky as the old Sienna SE. (Even though I didn't mind the body kit) I will say the taillights remind me of the Toyota Sienta, shape wise.

 

[Tornado]

Like everything else with the Prius design language, it's pretty laughably ugly from certain angles.


But then the Sienna was pretty ugly anyway, so it's not like Toyota ruined anything.

 

[Danoff]

Sienna owner here.

I think it's not an improvement over the previous sienna, which can probably mark it in the fail category. But it's not much a fail because it's still probably the most attractive minivan on the market (in the US anyway), and it doesn't look that different. What is more offensive to me is this:

From this:

I just don't know how connecting the center console... helps. It's a functional vehicle, don't remove function just for the same of it.

 

[CTznOfTime]

Sienna owner here.

I think it's not an improvement over the previous sienna, which can probably mark it in the fail category. But it's not much a fail because it's still probably the most attractive minivan on the market (in the US anyway), and it doesn't look that different. What is more offensive to me is this:

From this:

I just don't know how connecting the center console... helps. It's a functional vehicle, don't remove function just for the same of it.

my missus would say the same thing as you... and i recognize the "bridge" may seem more like a sedan feature, but this is van, therefore the manufacturers should maintain the functionality of the van by allowing the space ...

As for the Dash and center console, i think the new design is much better laid out and looks more pleasing to the eyes than the old sienna, where it is a mess of ergonomics...

 

[05XR8]

Agree with the functionality part (Previous USA Odyssey owner). Thing is, maybe with big trucks and SUVs being the things to buy, making that centre more in line with those vehicles, makes it more attractive to new buyers.

Another thing, do these cars come with side airbags in the centre console? Can't remember where I read or heard about maybe Toyota(?), coming out with Center console airbags.

 

[GranTurNismo]

I'm honestly surprised Toyota made a next-gen Sienna, considering that it hadn't been updated in ten years. I had thought it would stick around another year or two, and then hit the chopping block. The new Sienna looks decent from some angles and messy from others. I'd have to see one in person to really understand whether the Highlander styling works well on the Sienna.

Maybe there's a possibility minivans are on the upswing. Eventually, CUVs are going to take up so much of the market share that buying one will no longer be hip, and instead seem too cliche for many customers. A minivan could work as a more affordable and practical alternative to a full-size crossover. The Odyssey and Pacifica seem to do be doing well, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's going to the case for the new Sienna. I predict that Volkswagen will also bring the new Viloran to the US soon if that's the case.

 

[CTznOfTime]

I'm honestly surprised Toyota made a next-gen Sienna, considering that it hadn't been updated in ten years. I had thought it would stick around another year or two, and then hit the chopping block. The new Sienna looks decent from some angles and messy from others. I'd have to see one in person to really understand whether the Highlander styling works well on the Sienna.

Maybe there's a possibility minivans are on the upswing. Eventually, CUVs are going to take up so much of the market share that buying one will no longer be hip, and instead seem too cliche for many customers. A minivan could work as a more affordable and practical alternative to a full-size crossover. The Odyssey and Pacifica seem to do be doing well, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's going to the case for the new Sienna. I predict that Volkswagen will also bring the new Viloran to the US soon if that's the case.

Minivan are not going anywhere for now... There is still a demand, albeit lower than CUV and SUV, but is steady.

Honda and Chrysler has just released their mid cycle refresh...

Too many people are dismissing unjustly the Kia Sedona.
I am the owner of the best Sedona there ever was, which was released in 2015, but Kia will be release a brand new Sedona probably before the end of 2021....
I predict that the upcoming Sedona will be the best minivan then.

Which reminds me...

 

[Veinz]

If I was in the market for a loser cruiser then it would certainly be this one.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I'm honestly surprised Toyota made a next-gen Sienna, considering that it hadn't been updated in ten years. I had thought it would stick around another year or two, and then hit the chopping block. The new Sienna looks decent from some angles and messy from others. I'd have to see one in person to really understand whether the Highlander styling works well on the Sienna.

Maybe there's a possibility minivans are on the upswing. Eventually, CUVs are going to take up so much of the market share that buying one will no longer be hip, and instead seem too cliche for many customers. A minivan could work as a more affordable and practical alternative to a full-size crossover. The Odyssey and Pacifica seem to do be doing well, and I wouldn't be surprised if that's going to the case for the new Sienna. I predict that Volkswagen will also bring the new Viloran to the US soon if that's the case.

Yeah minivans do things that CUVs cannot. The segment will stick around and Toyota would be fools to not invest in it as they probably have a large segment of that market.

I keep seeing this thread title as Toyota Slamvan, which is much more exciting.

 

[Pupik]

Wondering if the lesser-spec models look a little less garish in the back. Probably just more black plastic. Previous Sienna rear used the Lexus RX design language, the new one is the Prius/Camry. Kind of went the wrong way, though current overall Lexus design is a mixed bag.

Also, honeycomb grilles look cool but are fussy and tricky to clean, as this Mazda 5 owner can attest.

I just don't know how connecting the center console... helps. It's a functional vehicle, don't remove function just for the same of it.

I've heard anecdotally that this kind of stowage is for purses, especially if there's a front passenger; the bag won't fly around in an accident and they can be hidden from view.

When I get rental cars with that kind of stowage, I don't really know what to put there except trash, because I don't want to forget anything important that's put down there.

 

[Danoff]

I've heard anecdotally that this kind of stowage is for purses - they won't fly around in an accident and stay hidden from view. If I get rental cars with that kind of stowage, I don't really know what to put there except trash.

Still pretty sure that's totally visible.

 

[Pupik]

Still pretty sure that's totally visible.

Yeah, maybe less so with a passenger up front. It certainly doesn't make accessing anything down there any easier, unlike the covered storage box by the armrests (which might also be so deep that you can't easily fish for something down in there).

Then again, what flaws we see with new vehicles' interiors becomes mostly commonplace to the new owners' after a few weeks.

 

[Danoff]

Yeah, maybe less so with a passenger up front. It certainly doesn't make accessing anything down there any easier, unlike the covered storage box by the armrests (which might also be so deep that you can't easily fish for something down in there).

Then again, what flaws we see with new vehicles' interiors becomes mostly commonplace to the new owners' after a few weeks.

I turned my storage box into a trash can. I have a little trash bin in there that nearly fill up the storage box, and I put a grocery bag in it to collect garbage from the kids. It's one of those little life-changing things. Honestly, it makes me wonder how every other car lacks a trash can.

 

[EngieDiesel]

Honestly, it makes me wonder how every other car lacks a trash can.

As far as a large number of folks seem to be concerned, every part of the interior that's not the driver's seat is considered a trash can.