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The Toyota Sienna was redesigned in 2021 and did not receive major changes since. The Woodland Edition, introduced in 2022, carries into 2024 with standard Electronic On-Demand all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, and rugged styling. The Sienna remains hybrid-only.
- The hybrid is the headline! The Sienna is only available as a four-cylinder hybrid for 2021 and beyond.
- AWD is available.
- It has amazing fuel efficiency for a minivan, with every 2023 Sienna coming standard as a hybrid and averaging up to 36–37 MPG, which is hard to beat in a 7–8 passenger vehicle.
- The second row is extremely comfortable and well equipped, with ceiling vents, sunshades, cup holders, USB ports, and an outlet, making it just as pleasant to sit back there as it is up front.
- Third-row access is acheivable even with car seats installed because the second-row seats slide far forward and have a lever that folds and moves the seat out of the way.
- The Sienna includes lower anchors in both second-row captain’s chairs and lower anchors in the third-row outboard seats, along with tether anchors across all third-row seating positions.
The Exterior
From the outside, the Sienna isn’t my favorite design. It definitely looks like a minivan, and the lower ground clearance took some getting used to since I’m usually in SUVs. That said, once you factor in the hybrid efficiency and all-wheel drive, the look becomes a tradeoff I’m willing to make. It may not be the prettiest van in the lineup, but it’s incredibly practical for everyday life.
First Row
The first row of the Sienna feels comfortable and thoughtfully designed. I like the contrast of the gray leather, stitching, faux leather, and the embedded chrome in the one I toured because it gives it a clean, modern look. The seats are very comfortable, and I’m obsessed with the quilted texture and the built-in armrests. I love the bridge-style center console, the purse holder, and the fact that I have four cup holders within reach, because I never leave the house without both water and coffee. Overall, it’s a really functional and comfortable place to sit.
Second Row
The second row in the Toyota Sienna is very comfortable and packed with practical features. I spent time back here myself, and it genuinely feels comparable to the front seat in terms of comfort.
- The second-row seats are on long tracks and slide a significant distance forward and backward, which helps with loading kids, car seat installs, and third-row access.
- Because the seat belts are attached to the seats instead of the ceiling, I was able to move the seat even with a car seat installed using the seat belt.
- I installed both rear-facing and forward-facing car seats and still had good legroom, even with the front seat set for me at six feet tall.
- Second-row amenities are excellent, including ceiling vents, sunshades, cup holders, two USB ports, an outlet, and climate controls up top.
- I love the little door cup holders and back seat pockets, and I was surprised by how many small storage spots there are back here.
- One thing to note is door clearance. I found it a little harder to load kids because the sliding door doesn’t open quite as far as I would like.
The Sienna includes lower anchors in both second-row captain’s chairs and lower anchors in the third-row outboard seats, along with tether anchors across all third-row seating positions.
Note: This isn’t my favorite van if you’re trying to do three across. The bench seat is only available on the lower trims, and the middle seat is very narrow and restrictive for car seats. Third-row access also isn’t ideal because there’s no true car-seat-friendly tilt, so getting back there with car seats installed takes a little more work. In the third row, the outboard seats are cut out in a way that can make it tricky to fit certain car seats without running into overhang issues.
Third Row
The third row of the Toyota Sienna is actually very usable. I was able to sit back there comfortably, even with a rear-facing car seat installed and the front seat set for me at six feet tall. You get ceiling vents back here, which I really appreciate, along with USB and USB-C ports, cup holders, and tether anchors for forward-facing car seats. Overall, it feels like a functional space for kids and car seats, not just a backup row.
Trunk
The trunk in the Toyota Sienna is exactly why minivans win. I fit a massive double BOB jogging stroller back here with room left over for groceries, which is saying a lot. The cargo area is deep, and the seats fold flat easily to open up even more space. I also love that you get a light and an outlet back here, which makes it even more practical for everyday life.
Safety
The 2024 Sienna performs well in crash testing, earning a 5-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS.
Seat belt pretensioners are included for the driver and front passenger, as well as the second-row outboard seating positions. Pretensioners remove slack from the seat belt in the nanoseconds before a crash, improving restraint effectiveness in frontal and near-frontal impacts.
ADAS - Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems
The 2024 Sienna comes standard with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which includes forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams, and road sign assist.
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard across all trims.
You also get a backup camera. Higher trims add parking sensors and available surround-view camera systems.
The 2024 Toyota Sienna is a hybrid-only minivan that can fit families of 7 or 8, but not without some car seat challenges. There is a lot of flexibility with placement of lower anchors and tether anchors, but the small center seat and third row seat cut-outs are limiting. The third row is not three-across-friendly for three harnessed car seats.
There are also very specific rules about the seatback recline angle when installing car seats. Refer to your owners manual for guidance and note that the second and third row are different.
LATCH
In the second row, there is a full set of LATCH (lower anchors and tether anchor) in every seating position.
The third row includes a full set of LATCH in the outboard positions. But then the center seat has a tether anchor and only one lower anchor.
That single lower anchor for 3C is designed to pair with a single lower anchor from 3D which makes one standard-spaced (11”) lower anchor set. However, if you use LATCH in 3C that renders 3D unusable for any occupant due to belt overlap.
The lower anchors are accessible and not deeply buried in the seat bight, which makes installation easier even for frequent seat swaps or baseless installs.
Belt Buckles
The seat belt buckles in the second row are upright and accessible. They can flex on their hinges up and down depending on your car seat installation. The second row center seat’s buckle is partially overlapped with the lower anchors, limiting booster use with LATCH - though booster use is dramatically limited regardless due to the narrow seating width.
In the third row, the buckles are rigid and recessed in 3D and 3C. They may be harder to access when car seats or boosters are installed which can impact independent buckling for older kids. 3P’s buckle is able to flex up and down like the second row buckles.
Seat Shape
The Sienna’s second row center seat is extremely narrow and more shallow than the outboard seats. While three across is possible with the right seats, it’s not easy.
The third row outboard seats are contoured so the front outside edges of the seats have less depth than the inside edges do. This contributes to overhang for almost all car seats and boosters. Verify if your seat has overhang or not. If it does, make sure it’s permitted in your car seat’s manual.
The third row center seat is a normal depth but is narrow so car seat selection is limited here as well.
Head Restraints
The head restraints are adjustable and removable in the second row. The third row outboard head restraints are not removable or adjustable. They are flush and do not protrude forward, so they don’t end up causing a gap for many car seats.
Forward-facing car seats and boosters may achieve a more flush installation when head restraints are adjusted or removed (if permitted by the vehicle manual). Most booster seats do not allow a gap caused by head restraints, so positioning should be checked carefully for each seating location.
Three Across Considerations
For a minivan, three across is particularly challenging. If three across with sliding doors is your goal, I’d look elsewhere. If you already own the Sienna, there are combinations to make it work!
In most cases, seats will need to be 17–18 inches wide or less, but successful combinations depend more on seat shape than width alone.
The center seat is best suited for infant seats or narrow convertibles with compact bases.
Good options include:
Britax Poplar (has side overhang, but the “runners” or feet underneath the base, make contact with the vehicle seat)
Graco SlimFit3 LX (True3Fit)
Chicco Fit3X
Evenflo All4Stages Slim Plus Canopy
For a booster option, the Peg Viaggio Flex 120 fits snugly here too (as does booster mode of the all-in-one car seats listed above.)
For the third row, three of the ultra narrow Graco SlimFit3 LX 3 in 1 car seats did not install without significant overhang in 3D. If you need to fit three children in the back, the Ride Safer Travel Vest may be the only option for some set-ups. A narrow backless booster seat like the Cosco Rise gives more flexibility than a harnessed car seat.
If you’re attempting a three-across setup, it’s often easiest to install the center seat first, followed by the outboard seats. Always verify each seat is independently tight (moves less than 1” at the belt path even when adjacent seats are removed).
Rear-Facing and Legroom
The Sienna offers excellent rear passenger space, especially in the second row. The second row sits on tracks that can move all the way forward or back, right up against the third row. If you don’t have third row passengers and need the space, you have it! If you plan to have both second and third row passengers, there is ample legroom to still fit a compact rear-facing seat in the third row and a bulkier, rotating seat in the second row.
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