First Drive: 2021 Toyota Sienna Proves a Compelling, Efficient SUV Alternative

Redesigned minivan brings new tech, added convenience, and comes exclusively as a hybrid

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated March 17, 2021

You might say that the 2021 Toyota Sienna is all-in on hybridization. That's because there's no longer a gas-only version available. The front- and all-wheel-drive versions of Toyota’s popular family mover come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine and an electronic continuously variable transmission. This combination promises impressive fuel-economy numbers, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates, and it may be one way that the Sienna truly distinguishes itself as a minivan in an increasingly SUV world.

Update: Since this first drive was originally published in October, 2020, we finished testing the Toyota Sienna.

Read the complete Sienna road test.

What we rented: Toyota Sienna XLE
Powertrain: 245-hp, 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder; continuously variable transmission; front- or all-wheel drive
MSRP: $41,750
Options: $2,000 XLE Plus Package (wireless charging, premium audio, navigation, 9-inch infotainment system), $150 roof rail
Destination fee: $1,175
Total cost: $45,075

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.