2025 TOYOTA SIENNA HYBRID PLATINUM AWD

I think the Toyota Sienna would be a strong contender, if not the best choice. Those are bold words, I know. Especially while stalwarts like the heavy-hitting Honda Odyssey and infinitely useful Chrysler Pacifica wait in the wings. However, the Sienna bests both of them in truly unique ways.

The Sienna has the utility that families need and the comfort and entertainment features the kiddos want. I spent a week in the 2025 Sienna Hybrid and came away impressed, although I don’t have any little ones of my own. But if I did, this would be the minivan I would pick, and I’ll tell you why.

Exterior

I’ll admit it: minivans have never been at the top of my “cool car” list. But the 2025 Sienna challenged those preconceptions right from the start. There’s a sleekness to its design, with chiseled lines and an assertive front grille that feels more like a high-end crossover than the boxy vans of old. Toyota’s clearly aiming to turn heads in school parking lots and on weekend road trips alike.

My test car’s striking new Cypress Green paint job really pops in daylight. The alloy wheels look modern, and the LED lighting front and rear gives it a crisp, upscale presence at night. In short? If you think minivans are bland, the Sienna is here to persuade you otherwise.

Interior

Sit inside the Toyota Sienna and you might think that it’s a luxury SUV as opposed to a minivan. There is Soft-Tex leather everywhere, which is nicely stitched and soft to the touch. Toyota definitely focused on comfort, which should work well for those with families, especially when sitting behind the first row.

Notably, the 2025 Sienna continues with its super-versatile second-row “Super Long Slide” captain’s chairs, which glide effortlessly for optimal legroom or to make room for a third-row passenger. The available ottoman feature is a luxurious touch, think of it as a recliner for the road. The third-row seats, meanwhile, are surprisingly spacious for adults on shorter trips, and folding them down unlocks a cavernous cargo area for sports gear, groceries, or that inevitable IKEA run.

Getting in and out of the third row is pretty easy and once you’re back there, there are cupholders and USB ports to keep you connected and satiated. In terms of cargo space, the Sienna has 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row when it’s folded, which grows to 75.2 cubic feet when the second row is taken out. The maximum cargo space is 101 cubic feet behind the first row.

Powertrain and Driving Impressions

Gone is the old V6 that used to propel the Sienna as it is now solely powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine connected to a hybrid system for better fuel efficiency and smoother acceleration. Acceleration is brisk enough for merging onto highways, and the electric boost shines in city driving. More importantly, the fuel economy is stellar. I averaged around 36 mpg in mixed driving, which is phenomenal for a vehicle of this size. For anyone used to guzzling gas in a big SUV, the Sienna feels like a breath of fresh air at the pump.

All-wheel drive is an option, but my tester has it, making the Sienna a confident choice for snowy climates or gravel driveways. The ride is smooth and composed, with just enough road feel to keep the driver engaged but plenty of isolation to keep passengers comfortable. However, I did detect some shakiness over the road imperfection, so it’s not luxury-car smooth. It’s also not sporty, but it never feels dull or cumbersome, even fully loaded with people and cargo. One thing to note is that the hybrid system is good for accelerating, but it chugs when going up steep hills due to the small power of the four-cylinder engine.

Technology

Minivans live and die by their practicality, and here, the Sienna excels. The hands-free power liftgate is a godsend when your arms are full of groceries or wriggling toddlers. The cabin is filled with smart touches: storage cubbies, cupholders galore, and a configurable center console that can swallow even the largest diaper bag. There is even a cooler with adjustable temperatures, a digital mirror, and a vacuum attachment to quickly clean up messes.

Other tech features include a large infotainment screen upfront, a premium 12-speaker JBL sound system, and wireless phone connectivity.

Safety

With the 2025 Sienna, Toyota continues its tradition of prioritizing family safety. Every trim comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of features including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. In day-to-day driving, these features provide peace of mind and help take the stress out of busy commutes and weekend getaways.

The Sienna scored high marks in crash testing, and with its suite of airbags and robust construction, you feel well-protected from every angle. The surround-view camera system also proves invaluable in tight parking lots or when backing out of the driveway with little ones darting about.

Summary

Ultimately, the 2025 Toyota Sienna has everything you would need in a minivan, or a vehicle, in general. It has enough space for seven people, a large amount of cargo space, all the technology you and your family could need, and a powertrain that makes most other large vehicles jealous. Let’s not forget that powertrain, which is fortified by a hybrid system that’s good for well over 30 mpg, in addition to an all-wheel-drive system that keeps everything stable when the road gets slippery. All things considered, you can probably see why it’s my favorite minivan.