The Toyota Sienta is a small, sliding-door MPV that has been built since 2003 and sold almost entirely in Japan and Southeast Asia. A 2020 Sienta is therefore not a North American model; it is the second-generation car (model code XP170), which was on sale in Japan and several Asian markets. This article covers what the Sienta is, its real specifications, and the markets where it was actually sold.
What the Sienta Is
The Sienta is a mini MPV — a compact minivan with sliding rear doors — introduced in September 2003 and based on the Vitz/Yaris subcompact. Its name is derived from the Spanish word “siete” (seven), referring to its maximum seating, combined with the English word “entertain.” It sits above the Roomy and below the Noah/Voxy in Toyota’s Japanese MPV range, and in Indonesia and Thailand it serves as an upmarket alternative to the Avanza. As of 2022 it was sold in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Laos and Thailand.
First Generation (2003–2015)
The first generation (XP80) was introduced on September 29, 2003, and was sold in Japan only, though parallel imports reached other countries. It combined two platforms: the front half used the smaller Vitz/Yaris NBC platform, while the rear half used the larger MC platform from the Corolla Spacio. Power came from a 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engine producing 110 PS (about 108 hp), driving through a CVT or, on four-wheel-drive models, a four-speed automatic. Standard equipment included anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, and Toyota’s G-BOOK telematics was optional.
A facelift arrived in May 2006, adding double electric-powered sliding doors and new colors, and production moved from Toyota’s Takaoka plant to Daihatsu’s Kyoto plant. Toyota paused Sienta sales in the third quarter of 2010 when a planned replacement proved unsuccessful, then resumed sales in May 2011 with renamed trim levels and a sportier “DICE” version. Production of the first generation ended in June 2015.
Second-Generation Model (2015–2022)
The second-generation Sienta debuted on July 9, 2015. Styled with what Toyota described as a trekking-shoe-inspired shape, it abandoned the boxy look of its predecessor. Production ran from July 2015 to July 2022 in Japan, from June 2016 to February 2023 in Indonesia, and from October 2016 to January 2025 in Taiwan. The hybrid version qualified for Japanese eco-car subsidies and tax incentives, while the non-hybrid returned 20.6 km/liter on the JC08 cycle.
Engines and Hybrid System
The second-generation Sienta used 1.5-liter four-cylinder engines in most markets, with a 1.8-liter unit offered in Taiwan. A hybrid version combined a 1.5-liter engine with a 45 kW electric motor. Key figures:
- Southeast Asian 1.5-liter 2NR-FE four-cylinder: 1,497 cc, 107 PS (about 105 hp) at 6,000 rpm, 140 N·m (14.3 kg-m) at 4,200 rpm
- Transmissions: a six-speed manual or a CVT in Southeast Asia; an eCVT for the hybrid
- Fuel tank: 42 liters
- Hybrid fuel economy (Japan, JC08 cycle): 27.2 km/liter
- Hybrid battery: a 6.5 Ah nickel-metal hydride pack
Interior and Seating
One of the Sienta’s selling points is its flexible layout. The second generation offered three configurations: a seven-seater, a six-seater and a five-seater designed for wheelchair users. Interior space increased in every dimension compared with the first generation. Standard equipment included anti-lock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution, with higher trims adding LED headlamps, smart entry, automatic climate control and, in Taiwan, stability control and hill-start assist.
Markets: Japan and Southeast Asia
In Indonesia, where it launched at the 2016 Indonesia International Motor Show, the Sienta was produced locally in Karawang, West Java, and positioned between the Avanza and the larger Innova. A facelift reached Southeast Asia in 2019, applied mainly to the grille and some interior parts. The Sienta was withdrawn from the Indonesian market in early 2023 as Toyota focused on the Avanza and Veloz. Malaysian sales, fully imported from Indonesia, ran from 2016 until late 2019.
The Third Generation (2022)
Toyota launched the third-generation Sienta in Japan on August 23, 2022. Built on the GA-B platform shared with the Yaris, it moved to a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, available as a conventional gasoline unit or as a hybrid with a 59 kW front motor and a small rear motor for all-wheel drive. It continues to be offered in Japan, while the Sienta name was never introduced in the United States.
Trims and Special Versions
In Indonesia the second-generation Sienta was sold in G, V and Q trims, with a six-speed manual or CVT depending on grade. In August 2020 Toyota added a Welcab version based on the V trim, a factory-adapted model designed to carry a wheelchair. In Taiwan, Toyota announced a crossover-styled Sienta Crossover on December 7, 2020, offered only with the 1.8-liter engine and with raised ground clearance.
Positioning in Toyota’s Range
The Sienta occupies a specific niche. In Japan it sits below the larger Noah and Voxy vans and above the smaller Roomy, while in Indonesia and Thailand it is marketed as a more premium alternative to the entry-level Avanza. Its sliding doors and flexible seating make it a practical choice in dense cities, but its compact dimensions keep it well under the size of a full-size minivan such as the Alphard.
Because the Sienta is a Japanese and Southeast Asian model, its specifications, trims and pricing are quoted in local markets and do not map onto US model lines. Buyers outside Asia generally encounter it only through gray imports.
