2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Review: Unbelievable Efficiency, Incredible Comfort

With their cavernous interiors and excellent passenger comfort, it’s a real shame minivans aren’t more popular these days. In recent decades, drivers have flocked to pickup trucks and utility vehicles, largely abandoning traditional sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons, and, yes, minivans, too. In response to this dramatic shift in customer demand, numerous automakers have stopped building these incredibly versatile vehicles altogether. Ford and GM gave up on minivans many years ago, and so have Dodge, Mazda, and Nissan, to name a few more brands.

Fortunately, a few manufacturers have stayed the course: Honda with its excellent Odyssey, there’s the understated Chrysler Pacifica, Kia offers the Carnival, and Volkswagen gives minivan enthusiasts an all-electric offering with its retro-styled ID.Buzz. Toyota, too, is no quitter, and the Japanese company still builds its excellent Sienna, which is ideal for hauling passenger and cargo alike, though since this Toyota is offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, the vehicle is also unbelievably fuel efficient, stretching a gallon of gasoline farther than you’d ever expect for a machine of this imposing size. Overall, there are plenty of great reasons to consider a Sienna and only a few relatively minor downsides.

2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive First Impressions

There’s only so much you can do with a so-called “two-box design.” Like other minivans, the Sienna consists of an almost pug-like engine compartment up front and a much larger passenger and cargo section aft of the firewall. When viewed in profile, the vehicle looks like two boxes put together. Anyway, to keep things interesting, Toyota’s stylists went to town on the Sienna, giving it a more in-your-face design than probably any other minivan available in the U.S. today.

Up front, this family-hauler features a very large grill, one comprised of a series of horizontal slats. Above that is a dark appliqué that’s emblazoned with the Toyota logo and flanked by some shiny chrome accents that flow into the surprisingly angular headlamp assemblies.

Moving rearward, the Sienna’s flanks feature surprisingly deep sculpting, with a dramatic kickup in the sliding door skins, a styling element that flows into the rear fender where it becomes even more pronounced. This top-of-the-line Platinum-trim model also rolls on surprisingly small 18-inch wheels. In a world where some vehicles are available right from the factory with 24s, these look almost comically tiny, but I actually love them, and much prefer these over larger rollers. With a smaller wheel, you can fit tires with more sidewall. This helps provide a smoother, quieter, more isolating ride, and can prevent wheel damage when traversing gnarly potholes since there’s more tire to absorb impacts. Small wheels are not a bad thing, folks.

Finally, at the back, the Sienna’s taillamps echo the back fender’s sculpted form, though they’re quite unusually shaped, extending a short distance along the bodyside as well as to the rear hatch. The backend of this not-so-mini van is also fairly angular, mirroring the front end.

This is just personal preference, but I prefer vehicles with cleaner, more cohesive designs than this. I think the Chrysler Pacifica and Kia Carnival are more attractive, and probably the Honda Odyssey, too, but if you don’t mind the styling, there’s plenty to love about the Toyota Sienna, features that just may make this the best minivan available today.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Sliding behind the wheel, buckling up, and hitting the road, this Toyota impresses with its overall refinement. The interior remains nice and quiet, even at highway speeds, which is impressive for a vehicle with such a cavernous interior. The Sienna’s steering ratio is also reasonably quick, which helps make this minivan feel surprisingly nimble for a gigantic breadbox on wheels, though – not surprisingly – there is a bit of body roll while cornering, though this is to be expected and is by no means excessive.

And, of course, the ride quality is lovely, smooth, and well-isolated thanks, at least in part, to those sensibly sized wheels. The Sienna glides over most bumps, even with just a driver onboard; with a load of passengers and/or cargo, this vehicle would probably feel even smoother.

Outward visibility from the pilot’s seat is about as good as can be expected for a modern vehicle. The forward sightlines aren’t terrible thanks to the elevated seating position and relatively short hood. Also, our Platinum tester has a digital rearview mirror, which takes a feed from the reversing camera to dramatically expand your rearward visibility. A lot of folks don’t seem to like these systems because they can look a little unnatural, but I love them and greatly appreciate the expanded field of view they provide. Of course, if you don’t agree, it’s a snap to turn this feature off, just flip the dimmer lever and you’re back to having a conventional rearview mirror.

Braking And Acceleration

Like many, Many, MANY other Toyotas, the Sienna features a hybrid drivetrain built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. All on its own, this powerplant provides 189 horses and 176 pound-feet of torque, which would not be enough for a vehicle of this size, especially when loaded with passengers. Fortunately, the engine has some help.

For starters, there’s an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (eCVT) that incorporates a couple separate motor-generators and a special planetary gearset. Beyond that, Siennas fitted with all-wheel drive also gain a third dynamo at the back axle to power the rear wheels. All told, this minivan brandishes a much more respectable 245 combined net horsepower from its hybrid drivetrain.

That stable of ponies delivers good, but not outstanding, acceleration. The Sienna has no trouble moving out or whisking you and your passengers up to highway speed. In fact, this family-hauler should do the 0-to-60 blitz in around 7.5 seconds, a class-appropriate performance, though just a touch more fire in its belly might be nice, especially at interstate speeds. One aspect of this vehicle’s electrified powertrain that needs no improvement, however, is the staggering fuel economy, which we’ll get to in just a few paragraphs.

Performance Specifications

Like practically every other hybrid ever built, the Sienna has regenerative braking. When you initially hit the pedal to slow down, the traditional friction brakes are not used; instead, the powertrain takes the vehicle’s forward momentum and uses that to recharge the battery pack. Normally, this energy would be wasted, but since it’s been recuperated, it can be used again later, a major reason why hybrids are so fuel efficient.

The Sienna’s regenerative braking works as expected, though the brake pedal itself feels a bit rubbery under your foot, not something I’ve noticed with other Toyota hybrids. Also, this vehicle loves gliding along. When you take your foot off the accelerator, the Sienna just keeps on sailing, something that took me a hot minute to get used to as I kept inadvertently charging at stop signs and red lights. To address this, I simply started braking a little earlier than normal, and all was well.

2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Fuel Economy

Aside from the braking, another aspect of the Toyota Sienna that takes some getting used to is the fuel economy. This van’s efficiency estimates are good for a small car, but they’re astounding for something this huge. According to the EPA, the all-wheel-drive model provided for testing is rated at 34 miles per gallon in city, 36 on highway drives and 35 mpg combined. In rather aggressive driving, a mix of two-lane secondary roads, high-speed interstate cruising, and stop-and-go congestion, I managed to get nearly 35 mpg according to the instrument cluster readout, 35 mpg without even trying!

​​​​​​​Not surprisingly, this van is astoundingly fuel efficient – what do you expect from a Toyota hybrid? But the front-wheel-drive variant is even thriftier. Keeping things simple, this version of the Sienna is rated at 36 mpg right across the board. No, that’s not a huge difference, but it’s even more impressive.

Interior Design And Comfort

Proving its worth, this Toyota’s interior is incredibly versatile and accommodating. Up front, the dashboard is somewhat tiered, incorporating a broad storage cubby that runs across most of the panel, a shelf that also includes a Qi wireless charging pad. This design is handy, if a bit busy looking, but another great element of this minivan’s cabin is the massive center console. This buttress-like bin is very tall and wide, running right between the two front seats.

The console incorporates a sturdy-feeling shift lever, a range of cupholders and a large cubby between the fixed center armrests. Thanks to its height, the console also has a flow-through section underneath the gear selector area, a great place to put a handbag or maybe some takeout.

If you still need more storage space, the Sienna’s front door pockets are also tiered, and surprisingly large. There’s a relatively shallow cubby up top and then a deeper bin at the bottom, one that’s also divided to hold bottles and cups.

How comfortable is the Toyota Sienna? In short: very. This van’s front bucket seats power adjust in up to eight different ways, and they’re both heated AND ventilated for year-‘round comfort. The seats themselves are broad and fairly flat. Personally, I’d prefer a little more sculpting and bolstering, but these buckets are still impressively comfortable, and a nice height above the ground, so you can just slide your backside right into the Sienna, no stooping down or climbing up is required.

Limited and Platinum models also come with lovely Super-Long-Slide second-row captain’s chairs. These seats move fore and aft by something like 25 inches, they’re heated, and they recline like a La-Z-Boy in your living room, but that’s not all. These two seats also feature integrated ottomans that pop up to support your legs, making these chairs supremely comfortable, and in turn, the Sienna an amazing road trip machine.

Back to the center console for a moment, because there’s even more to talk about. The Sienna is available with an integrated vacuum for cleaning up crumbs and small messes. This amenity is fitted at the bottom rear of the console with a slide-out bin for collecting dirt, detritus, and dropped Cheerios. Keeping thirst at bay, this Toyota is also offered with the FridgeBox, a chilled storage bin at the rear of the center console. This addition can keep a few drinks cool or even serve as a great place to stash some ice cream sandwiches. Yes, the FridgeBox can work as a refrigerator or a freezer, just push the appropriate button and stash whatever needs to stay cool.

Interior Dimensions

Finally, there’s a third row of seats to talk about, and this rear-most bench is supremely comfortable, even for 6-foot-tall adults. This gives the Sienna a big advantage over competing SUVs, many of which have surprisingly cramped third rows. In the Platinum model, adults will be happy in this Van’s way-back because there are separate cup holders, audio jacks, and volume knobs; the backrests also recline, and there are even sunshades to keep glare at bay.

While boarding and alighting, there is one other thing to be aware of. This van’s exterior sill trim is pronounced, and you have to be careful, particularly while exiting or you can very easily streak your pantlegs if the vehicle isn’t clean. You’ve been warned.

Most of the Sienna’s interior materials are good, they won’t win any awards, but neither are they flagrantly cheap. The Limited and Platinum models come with a new woodgrain finish for 2025 and it is… not great. This trim is not horrible, but it won’t convince anyone that it’s real timber, either.

Technology And Ease Of Use

When it comes to tech, the Sienna features a standard eight-inch touchscreen, though higher-end models are graced with a much larger 12.3-inch panel. This display is crisp and colorful, home to a familiar infotainment system that is relatively easy to use and impressively responsive. Toyota’s multimedia system also features standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so it’s super easy to access your smartphone while on the go. Similarly, higher-end trim levels feature a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. This display is easy to read but can be challenging to reconfigure. Cycling through the menus isn’t immediately intuitive.

Helping you rock out, the Platinum-trim Sienna features a 12-speaker JBL sound system that’s loud and clear. The vehicle also features a four-zone climate control system and has seven USB ports, including a media port right on the dashboard.

A wide range of safety systems is an integral part of the 2025 Sienna’s technology. Every version of this van comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a suite of driver aids that includes amenities like highly effective adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, road sign recognition, and more. These features make this vehicle easier to drive and can help prevent crashes, the best kind of safety feature.

Cargo And Storage Space

Now, if there’s one downside to those oh-so-comfortable Super-Long-Slide chairs, it’s that they’re not removable, nor do they fold into the floor like Chrysler’s ingenious Stow ‘n Go seats. For maximum cargo hauling capability, you have to slide the Sienna’s second-row buckets all the way up to the rear of the front seats. For maximum versatility, Chrysler’s solution is the best, but the Toyota here is far more comfortable.

When it comes to total cargo space, the Sienna provides 33.5 cubic feet of room behind the third row, with a deep well in the floor. Pull a couple of handles and the 60/40 split seats quickly tumble into that cubby, increasing the cargo hold to 75.2 cubes. Push the second-row buckets all the way forward, and the Sienna tops out at an impressive 101 cubic feet of space.

2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive vs. Its Competitors

As mentioned at the top of this review, the Sienna competes with a few rival minivans, including the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Volkswagen ID.Buzz, but you could argue this Toyota’s No. 1 competitor is the Kia Carnival, which is also offered with a hybrid powertrain. Kia, however, would probably disagree since they call the Carnival an MPV, as in multi-purpose vehicle, but let’s be honest, it’s really a minivan.

How The 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum All-Wheel Drive Compares To The 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid

Broadly speaking, the Sienna and Carnival Hybrid are nearly perfect rivals. They both get excellent fuel efficiency; have versatile, comfortable interiors; and offer lots of great technology.

On the outside, the Carnival is a bit boxier and less busy than the Sienna, which I personally find more attractive, but as always, buy the vehicle that meets your needs and looks best to you. Despite this Kia’s “industry-leading warranty,” which includes a 5-year/60,000-mile basic guarantee and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage, the Toyota will probably be more reliable in the long run, given the automaker’s reputation for stellar dependability.

Performance

With a total system output of 245 hp, the Sienna delivers good performance and stellar fuel economy, but the Carnival Hybrid is not to be trifled with. A slightly different powertrain strategy, this Kia features a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, opposed to Toyota’s infinitely adjustable eCVT. All told, the Carnival is good for 242 hp and 271 lb-ft of twist, enough to move this minivan from 0 to 60 mph in around 7.8 seconds, just a few ticks behind the Sienna.

Not surprisingly, the Carnival is very efficient. Expect this van to deliver 34 mpg city, 31 highway and 33 combined, excellent figures to be certain, though they are a few mpg behind the Sienna. Additionally, this Kia is not available with all-wheel drive, so factor that in if you’re shopping for a new minivan and you need a little extra traction.

Comfort

Like any proper family-hauling minivan, the Carnival has three rows of seats. Matching the Toyota, this vehicle is available with a VIP Lounge Seat package that includes a reclining “relaxation mode” that delivers comfort very similar to what the Sienna provides.

When it comes to space, the Kia has a tiny bit more legroom in the first and second rows, though the Toyota’s third row has more than 3 inches of additional legroom. Across the board, the Carnival appears to have more headroom than the Sienna, though the difference is minuscule.

Technology

When it comes to technology, it should be no surprise that these vehicles stack up nicely. Both are available with dual 12.3-inch screens; they offer a wide range of advanced driver assistance technologies like lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and blind spot monitoring; and both the Carnival and Sienna are available with a digital rearview mirror.

The Kia has one advantage in the backseat entertainment department, however, offering two 14.6-inch screens compared to the Toyota’s single 10.6-inch display. Also, the Kia’s available head-up display is 11 inches whereas the Toyota’s is only 10 inches. One other aspect of the Kia that I prefer is the infotainment system. The Toyota setup is good, but the Carnival’s makes a little more sense to me.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

So, how much does the 2025 Toyota Sienna cost? Well, the example provided checks out for *gulp* $61,749 with $1,450 in destination fees and a few options – $1,415 for the rear seat entertainment screen, $345 for illuminated door sills, $300 for a 1,500-Watt power inverter and a few other add-ons. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend more than 60 grand to park a Sienna in your garage. The base LE model checks out for less than $41,000 with delivery. If you want all-wheel drive, plan on spending $2,000 more.

Slicing and dicing the lineup, between the base Sienna and the top-shelf Platinum variant there are numerous other trim levels: XLE, XSE, Limited and the adventure-ready Woodland Edition. This broad range of models is great news for drivers because there’s a version of the Sienna for practically every budget.

Which version of this Toyota van is the right one to get? Well, it’s hard to argue with all the fripperies and finery the Platinum model features, but for most folks, an XLE model or sportier XSE variant will be just fine. They may not have as many amenities, but they cost thousands less and still provide excellent fuel economy, have huge amounts of interior space and should be incredibly reliable.