The 2021 Toyota Sienna was a ground-up redesign of Toyota’s minivan, the fourth generation and the first to be sold only as a hybrid. It switched to the Toyota New Global Architecture GA-K platform, adopted a new exterior and interior, and replaced the old 3.5-liter V6 with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder plus electric motors. Toyota revealed it on May 18, 2020, and put it on sale that November.
Because the redesign was so complete, the model’s lineup, dimensions and pricing all changed. This article covers what was new, how the van was packaged, and what each trim cost. Rivals that year included the Honda Odyssey, the Chrysler Pacifica and its plug-in hybrid version, and the Kia Sedona.
Interior and Packaging
The new cabin centered on a “Bridge Console” that spanned from the dashboard to the center armrest, with a large open storage area underneath. Toyota fitted a 9-inch touchscreen, a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and up to seven USB ports. The van seated seven or eight: LE and some XLE models offered an eight-seat layout with a stowable second-row middle seat, while XSE, Limited and Platinum seated seven with captain’s chairs that slid 25 inches. Limited and Platinum could be specified with second-row ottomans and an onboard vacuum.
Exterior and Platform
The fourth-generation body was designed by Toyota’s CALTY studios in California and Michigan, with a front end Toyota said was inspired by the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train. It rode on a 120.5-inch wheelbase and measured 203.7 inches long, 78.5 inches wide and 68.5 inches tall, slightly larger in most dimensions than the outgoing third generation. The XSE trim added dark 20-inch wheels and unique front and rear bumpers. Curb weight for an eight-passenger front-drive LE was about 4,610 pounds, per Car and Driver’s spec sheet.
Toyota described the front end as sleek and confident, with headlights mounted high and stretched to the sides, a bold lower grille and slim LED fog lights pushed to the corners. The rear cabin used a forward-angled pillar and an integrated black taillight canard that Toyota said improved aerodynamics, and the tailgate was made with a molded-resin process that allowed a deeply sculpted shape with an integrated spoiler.
Dimensions Versus the Previous Sienna
The fourth generation grew slightly in most directions. Compared with the third-generation van, the wheelbase increased marginally, the body was longer, and the width was essentially unchanged.
| Measurement | 2020 Sienna (3rd gen) | 2021 Sienna (4th gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 119.3 in | 120.5 in |
| Length | 200.2 in | 203.7 in |
| Width | 78.2 in | 78.5 in |
| Height | 68.9 in | 68.5 in |
Hybrid Powertrain
The 2021 Sienna’s only engine was a 2.5-liter A25A-FXS four-cylinder rated at 186 horsepower on its own, working with two electric motors for a combined 245 horsepower. A 1.9 kWh battery fed the motors, and an eCVT delivered power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive was optional through an added rear electric motor rather than a mechanical driveshaft. EPA figures were 36 mpg combined for front-wheel drive and 35 mpg combined for all-wheel drive, per fueleconomy.gov, versus roughly 20 mpg combined for the outgoing V6 model.
Every 2021 Sienna was rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds, and an available factory 1,500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet could run camping gear. The 18-gallon tank gave front-wheel-drive versions a rated range of about 648 miles between fill-ups.
Pricing and Trims
Toyota simplified the 2021 lineup to five trims — LE, XLE, XSE, Limited and Platinum — dropping the old L, SE and SE Premium. The base LE started at $35,635 including a $1,175 destination fee, and the range-topping Platinum reached $51,635 with all-wheel drive, per The Car Connection. The same source reported that the 2021 LE cost $2,820 more than the 2020 L, reflecting the standard hybrid system and the added equipment.
Trim-by-Trim Prices
| Trim | Price (incl. destination) | AWD premium |
|---|---|---|
| LE | $35,635 | +$2,000 |
| XLE | $40,925 | +$2,000 |
| XSE | $43,175 | +$700 |
| Limited | $47,875 | +$1,800 |
| Platinum | $51,075 | +$560 |
- The XLE was offered as a seven-seat model with captain’s chairs or an eight-seat model with a bench, at the same price; the eight-seat version came only with front-wheel drive.
- The XSE added navigation and 20-inch wheels, and it was the cheapest trim to upgrade to all-wheel drive.
- The Limited brought 18-inch wheels and a 12-speaker JBL audio system, and the Platinum sat at the top of the range.
- Hybrid battery coverage was 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Safety and Standard Features
Toyota made its Safety Sense 2.0 suite standard on every 2021 Sienna. It bundled automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist and automatic high beams. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the minivan its top rating of Top Safety Pick+, per IIHS. Other standard items included a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster and power sliding doors.
What Changed Versus the 2020 Sienna
The 2020 Sienna, the last of the third generation, used a 3.5-liter V6 with 296 horsepower and was offered in front- or all-wheel drive, a lineup the fourth-generation redesign replaced with a hybrid-only range, per Wikipedia. The redesign kept the van’s core strengths — three rows of seats, sliding doors and optional all-wheel drive — while raising the entry price substantially and cutting fuel consumption roughly in half.
For shoppers comparing Toyota models from that period, the site archive also covers the 2020 Avalon sedan and the 2020 Fortuner SUV, and the Toyota Review section collects the broader range.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Sienna
- https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2021_Toyota_Sienna.shtml
- https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-launches-all-new-2021-sienna-to-suit-a-variety-of-lifestyles/
- https://www.caranddriver.com/toyota/sienna/specs/2021/toyota_sienna_toyota-sienna_2021
- https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1130093_2021-toyota-sienna-hybrid-minivan-price-and-mpg-increase
- https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/Toyota/sienna-minivan/2021
