Yahoo Autos 2023 Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD Long-Term Test Introduction | The other hybrid van
We're fans of vans here at Autoblog. It's been a good time to be a van fan as of late, too, as more stylish entries sporting cool technology hit the market. One of those is the Toyota Sienna, which features bold, Supra-inspired lines, but more importantly, is the first Sienna to be offered with a hybrid powertrain. In fact, it's the only powertrain option. That makes it the one true competitor to a previous Autoblog long-termer, the plug-in Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.
That hybrid powertrain is, in some key ways, a real highlight of the Sienna. It combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with an electric motor and eCVT for 245 combined horsepower. And in the case of our model, it has a second electric motor in the back to give it all-wheel drive, though with the same amount of horsepower. Being an all-wheel-drive hybrid is a unique trait of the Sienna's in this segment — the Pacifica is only available with all-wheel drive in gas-only form. The Sienna has impressive fuel economy numbers, too, with 36 mpg combined for the front-drive version, and 35 with all-wheel-drive, we're eager to see how the fuel economy turns out in the real world.
In our previous, shorter experiences with the Toyota Sienna, we've been impressed with its stylish interior, surprisingly good handling, and some interesting interior features. It's also the second-best selling minivan in the segment, only behind the Chrysler Pacifica, so there must be something about it that people like.
Why we got it
The fact that the Sienna is a hybrid is a big reason we wanted to spend more time in it. We're really curious to see how the fuel economy holds up, which is one of its biggest selling points on paper for a three-row vehicle. And having the previous experience with the Pacifica Hybrid, it will be interesting to see how it fares against something that can be run on electric power for tens of miles at a charge. We're also interested to see how we like Toyota's implementation (or not) of using a four-cylinder instead of Chrysler's V6.
