PHOENIX — There's a stigma associated with owning and driving a minivan that somehow you've reached maturity and now a fully responsible adult signaling to the world and your family that among those at the school "drop your kids off lane" you're the sensible adult here. When you were younger and pre-parenthood, minivans' sole purpose was seemingly the hideous monster of the automotive world, monstrously ugly, that sucked all the life and fun out driving.

Yet now I find myself in some kind of weird approach to life in a weird awe of the minivan and it's utility and incredible function having a magnetic draw as the desirable, if not perfect choice on a road trip. These appealing features aren't unique to the Toyota Sienna Woodland Edition tested here and rather common attributes in general to mini-van competitors like the Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Pacifica and Kia Carnival.

What is unique and not only sets the Sienna apart from competitors so much so we place it at the top of the mini-van list including the excellent and eternal arch rival the Honda Odyssey, is that the sienna is only available as a hybrid, something the Odyssey doesn't offer, nor can you get one with all-wheel drive. The Sienna is also huge inside, with a third-row of seats you can actually and comfortably seat adults with space to spare.

If you're still on the fence about whether or not to pull the trigger and buy a minivan because they are just, well too boring and lack any semblance of outward appearance appeal or swagger, you might want to check out the Woodland Edition, available in exclusive Cement (think Rubbermaid grey) or Midnight Black Metallic exterior colors. We thought the name "Cement" an excellent color name for an urban city theme, not so much for a Woodland.



Woodland features distinctive exterior and premium interior styling, and Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive standard. There's also an additional .6 inches of ground clearance that Toyota says "takes on dirt roads with confidence." We think the extra lift is rather pointless on a minivan and something you'll never notice since in no way is the Woodland a trail-tackling vehicle.  Additional features on the Woodland include:

    •    1,500-watt inverter with 120V AC outlet to power camping equipment or most household items for a short day trip or an overnight camping excursion
    •    Tow hitch with 3500-lb. towing capability – ideal for hauling personal watercraft, dirt bikes or ATVs
    •    Roof rails with crossbars
    •    Black sport-trimmed seats with unique earth-tone stitch color
    •    18-inch alloy wheels
    •    Dark chrome-colored accents
    •    Black badging
    •    Navigation with JBL 1200 W Audio System with 12 speakers

Regardless of trim level, all 2024 Siennas' are powered by a 2.5-liter gasoline-four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors that combine for a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive equipped Siennas' such as our Woodland add a third electric motor that exclusively drive the rear wheels. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid mini-van is the only other hybrid  available and different from the Sienna in that it is a PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) with 260 horsepower. The Pacifica hybrid is front-wheel drive only and available in all-wheel drive. Sienna uses a continuously variable automatic direct drive transmission.

During my week of driving the Woodland AWD Sienna in mixed routes and roads, I averaged an impressive 33 MPG, about double what I got with the last V-6 powered Honda Odyssey I tested. I found the huge Sienna surprisingly easy to drive with excellent visibility, competent driving character, with acceptable acceleration for getting up to highway speeds and when passing another vehicle. But in no way is "sportiness" part of the package. In fact, it is actually rather dull to drive but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. What you do get is driving comfort and plenty of interior space.



While we didn't drive on any snowy roads nor did we drive on other than paved surfaces, we expect the all-wheel drive will add some much needed grip and traction in those conditions.

The Sienna also offers some performance-control options with selectable EV, NORMAL, ECO and SPORT driving modes let the driver tailor the van’s driving personality. NORMAL mode is ideal for everyday driving; SPORT mode improves acceleration response; ECO mode extracts maximum mileage from the fuel and battery; and EV mode allows electric-only driving at low speeds for short distances.

But not all is perfect with the Sienna. Unlike the Chrysler Pacifica where the second-row seats can stow away completely folded and hidden under a flat flor in a matter of seconds, the Sienna's are not easy to remove nor do they fold flat. However, the third row does split and fold flat to the floor.

We also thought the Sienna's interior was a bit too much on the economy side with more than ample amounts of cheap looking hard plastic trim and what was padded i.e. armrests, center console lid were too rubbery and again looked cheap, disappointing for a vehicle costing $50,000.

Still there were some niceties and premium features such as kick-open and closed sliding side doors and power rear gate, four-zone climate control system, heated second-row Super-Long Slide captain’s chairs, front and rear parking assist with automatic braking, 12-speaker JBL audio system with SiriusXM, Android Auto & Apple CarPlay compatibility , 6 USB charge ports, and blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alert.

Safety technology and driver assist features include: Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection is designed to provide automatic braking capability should the driver not react in time in certain emergency situations. The PCS system is not only designed to detect a vehicle ahead, but it can also detect a bicyclist and even a pedestrian in low light situations.

All Sienna models come equipped with 10 airbags, rear passenger seatbelt reminder, rear seat occupant reminder designed for family safety in mind with occupant detection including a instrument panel display providing a warning "Attention: Check Rear Seat for Passengers and Cargo."

Overall, for those potential buyers who value comfortable space, exceptional fuel economy, family safety features and Toyota's traditional excellent reliability and resale value the Sienna checks all those boxes with assurance. If the stigma of driving a minivan makes you hesitant once you experience a road trip in one you'll find it much easier to commit to the stigma of owning and driving a minivan. Further, if price is major consideration, skip the Woodland and opt for the excellent XLE trim. You'll get most of the same features and save about $6,000.

VITAL STATS

Base Price: $48,625
Price as Tested: $53,425
Engine/Transmission: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine paired with three electric motors for a combined 245-horsepower delivered through a direct-drive CVT.
EPA Fuel Economy: 35/36/35 MPG City/Highway/Combined
Seating: 7 or 8 (Woodland Edition is 7 seat only)
Where Built: Princeton, Indiana, USA

Competes With:
Chrysler Pacifica PHEV
Honda Odyssey
Kia Carnival

Crash Test Safety Rating: Highest possible Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and highest possible overall 5-star from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Fab Features:
Superb fuel economy
Available all-wheel drive
Roomy, comfortable, easy to drive
Highest possible crash tested safety ratings

— Jim Prueter