2021 Toyota Sienna

The 2021-present Toyota Sienna is the fourth generation of the minivan and is offered exclusively as a hybrid, with no conventional gasoline model available. The powertrain pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with Toyota's hybrid system and an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is achieved with a separate electric motor driving the rear axle rather than a mechanical connection to the engine. Seating for seven or eight is offered depending on trim.

The move to the TNGA-K platform and hybrid-only power produced a dramatic efficiency improvement over the previous V6, with combined fuel economy roughly double what a comparable minivan of the previous generation returned. The second-row seats on most trims slide on long rails but cannot be removed, a change from the outgoing van that affects maximum cargo capacity. Styling and interior design departed sharply from the conservative third generation.

As a used buy, the fourth-generation Sienna is the efficiency leader of its class by a wide margin and demand has kept used prices firm. The hybrid system is a mature Toyota design with a strong reliability record in other applications. The main things to verify in person are second-row seat function and the cargo area behind the third row, since the non-removable seats change how the van packages against its predecessor. Electric all-wheel drive is effective in poor weather but is not a substitute for a mechanical system in deep snow or off pavement.