2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Sienna is the third year of the XL40 generation (launched for 2021) and a carry-over powertrain year: hybrid-only, a 2.5L Atkinson-cycle four plus Toyota Hybrid System II for 245 hp combined on every trim. That is the lowest output in the minivan class (Odyssey 280 hp, Pacifica 287 hp) and lands low in the 150–550 hp band.

Toyota publishes 176 lb-ft for the 2.5L engine and no combined system torque figure, so the engine number is the comparable spec. It understates real off-the-line thrust from the electric front motor, but scores near the bottom of the 130–500 lb-ft minivan band against 262 lb-ft V6 rivals.

Instrumented tests of the unchanged XL40 hybrid cluster around 7.5–8.0 seconds. Adequate for family duty but the slowest of the mainstream minivans (Odyssey ~7.0 s, Pacifica ~7.3 s).

Silky in everyday driving — silent EV creep, seamless engine start/stop, instant low-speed response with no turbo lag. Under load the 2.5L four revs high and turns coarse and loud on merges and grades, a consistent reviewer criticism that keeps it below the Odyssey's V6.

The planetary eCVT has no gears to hunt and no shift shock, avoiding the hunting complaints aimed at the Pacifica's 9-speed. The only knock is rubber-band rev flare at full throttle; the associated noise is scored under refinement.

Rated 3,500 lbs when properly equipped — level with the Odyssey and Carnival, 100 lbs behind the Pacifica. Fine for a small boat or utility trailer.

Electronic On-Demand AWD (a dedicated 54 hp rear motor, no driveshaft) is available on every 2023 trim and standard on the Woodland Edition — the broadest AWD availability in the segment. Operation is basic, with no low range, terrain modes or torque vectoring.

The Woodland Edition adds standard AWD, a modest suspension lift (~6.9 in clearance), roof rails, tow hitch and a 1,500W inverter — better for gravel roads and trailheads than the Odyssey or Pacifica. No skid plates, lockers or terrain modes, so it remains a light-duty, pavement-first van.

One powertrain on every trim — the 245 hp hybrid — with FWD/AWD the only choice. Slightly above the single-V6 Odyssey because the one option is electrified, but far behind the Pacifica's gas V6 plus PHEV pairing.

The volume LE/XLE trims are FWD hybrids rated 36 MPG combined — by far the most efficient minivan of 2023, roughly 60–80% better than V6 rivals. Raw figure reported; the hybrid-class band places it.

Full-hybrid operation with EV creep and regenerative braking makes city economy equal highway — ideal for stop-and-go family duty.

The hybrid advantage narrows at highway speed, but 36 MPG still leads V6 minivans by 8–10 MPG.

An 18.0-gallon tank at 36 MPG combined yields roughly 650 miles per fill — best in the minivan class.

EPA's annual fuel cost estimate for the FWD 2023 Sienna is $1,850 on regular fuel at 15,000 miles — the lowest of any minivan that year and several hundred dollars below V6 rivals at the same price assumption.

Runs on 87-octane regular; self-charging hybrid with no plug or charging infrastructure needed, so the efficiency comes with no added owner effort or cost.

The 2023 Sienna, a carry-over year of the 2021-launched XL40 generation, holds NHTSA's top 5-star overall rating in both FWD and AWD form, though the frontal sub-rating is only 4 stars (3 stars driver side).

The 2023 Sienna earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ with Good ratings in both small-overlap tests, the original moderate-overlap, side, roof and head-restraint tests. The only blemish is a Marginal in the updated moderate-overlap (rear-passenger) test, which was not yet an award criterion for 2023.

Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 is standard on every 2023 trim from LE up — pre-collision with pedestrian and cyclist detection, full-speed-range dynamic radar cruise, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist and automatic high beams — and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard across the range too, so no core feature is trim-locked.

IIHS rates the standard pre-collision system Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle (collisions avoided at 12 and 25 mph) and Advanced for both daytime and nighttime pedestrian detection, including full avoidance at 12 and 25 mph at night.

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard on every trim, but it is alert-only with no active steering or braking intervention, and the 2023 van predates the Safe Exit Assist added with the later refresh.

Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist are standard and keep the van centered on well-marked highways, but reviewers note TSS 2.0's centering can wander on faded lines and feels less polished than the best rivals.

Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control with stop-and-go is standard on all trims and pairs with Lane Tracing Assist for hands-on highway assist; it follows smoothly but can be slow to resume and brakes somewhat abruptly on cut-ins.

No hands-free highway driving mode is offered on any 2023 Sienna trim; every assist feature requires hands on the wheel.

IIHS rates every 2023 Sienna headlight variant Good — the LED reflectors on LE/XLE/XSE/Limited and the LED projectors on Platinum — and automatic high beams are standard throughout.

The tall greenhouse and upright seating give a commanding forward view, but the Sienna's high beltline and thick, styled C-pillars leave more rear three-quarter blind zone than an Odyssey; the available Panoramic View Monitor and Platinum's digital rearview mirror help compensate.

IIHS gives the Sienna's LATCH its top Good+ rating with five complete LATCH positions plus a sixth tether position, and the wide power sliding doors and long-slide second-row seats make installing several car seats easy.

The volume LE and XLE trims seat eight via a second-row bench, the segment ceiling; upper trims trade the eighth seat for Super Long Slide captain's chairs.

40.1 in is mid-pack for the class — a shade under the Odyssey, well clear of the Pacifica.

The shortest published front legroom among mainstream minivans, barely above the floor of the band; the upright high-hip seating feels roomier than the figure suggests.

Second-row headroom of 39.9 in is near the top of the minivan band; the boxy roofline pays off directly.

39.9 in sits high in the band, and the published number undersells the upper trims, whose second-row chairs slide 25 in for limousine space when the third row is empty.

With 38.7 in of legroom and a sliding/reclining 60/40 bench that folds into the rear well, the third row really does take adults, and the walk-in path past the sliding second row is easy. The low cushion and 37.4 in of headroom keep it just behind the Odyssey.

75.2 cu ft with the third row in its well trails the Pacifica and Odyssey; the 33.5 cu ft deep well behind the third row is very usable with all seats occupied.

101 cu ft is the Sienna's biggest packaging compromise: the second row neither stows nor practically removes, so it trails the Pacifica (140.5) and Odyssey (158) by a wide margin.

The bridge console with a big pass-through bin underneath, the available 1500W household outlet and plentiful door and seatback storage cover family duty well. The non-stowing second row rules out the flat load floor that is the segment's best clever trick.

The Super Long Slide captain's chairs with ottomans (Platinum) and recline make the second row excellent on long trips. The front buckets are supportive but flat-cushioned, and volume-trim buyers get the plainer bench or chairs without ottomans.

The TNGA-K chassis rides in a settled, well-damped way that shrugs off broken pavement. Sharp impacts register more on the 20-in wheels of XSE/Platinum, and it's a step short of the Pacifica's plushness.

It's silent in EV creep around town, but the 2.5L four drones loudly on merges and grades, and reviewers repeatedly flag a 'thrashy' engine note when pulling away and passing.

Tri-zone automatic climate is standard and 4-zone arrives at XLE. Heated/ventilated front seats come on Limited and up, and a heated wheel plus heated second-row chairs are reserved for the Platinum.

In 2023 the LE FWD was the entry Sienna. This was the fourth-generation (XL40) hybrid-only van, carried over from its MY2021 launch, and the base price stayed below a comparably equipped Odyssey or Pacifica.

The XLE is the volume trim. It adds SofTex upholstery, heated front seats, a power liftgate and a moonroof over the LE.

The Toyota Hybrid System II drivetrain has no conventional automatic, starter or alternator, and regenerative braking extends brake life. ToyotaCare also covers the first two years of scheduled service, so the Sienna is the cheapest minivan in the class to maintain.

The hybrid-only Sienna is the residual-value benchmark among minivans. Strong used demand for the fourth generation keeps 5-year depreciation in the mid-to-high 30s percent, against a segment average near 50%.

Toyota's standard new-vehicle limited warranty sits at the industry floor. It matches Honda and Chrysler and trails Kia's 5-year coverage on the Carnival.

The headline powertrain coverage is 5 yr / 60,000 mi. Because every Sienna is a hybrid, each van also carries 8-year hybrid-component and 10-year traction-battery coverage, which the scored figure does not capture.

ToyotaCare covers scheduled maintenance for 2 yr / 25,000 mi and adds 2 years of unlimited-mileage roadside assistance and connected-service trials. That puts it ahead of Honda and Chrysler, which include no maintenance, but behind the 3-year Hyundai/Kia programs.

$42,195 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (62% retained, or about $26,161) leaves about $16,034 in depreciation. Add the projected $4,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $20,034 in total.

The 2023 Sienna is the third year of the XL40 generation (a carry-over year), and both major sources put it at or above the minivan pack: J.D. Power gives it a 77/100 Quality & Reliability score, ranked #3 among 2023 minivans, and Consumer Reports rates its reliability average to above average. Strong but not top-tier, because neither source puts it clearly ahead of the class the way older Siennas were.

Around the 2023 model year Toyota sat at or near the top of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings. J.D. Power had it as a strong mass-market brand, and Toyota Motor Corp took the most model-level awards of any automaker. It misses the very top of the band only because J.D. Power ranked Toyota 5th among mass-market brands, not first.

MY2023 has just one Toyota recall: a 2021–2025 campaign for third-row seatback bolts that may not be tightened properly, fixed by re-torquing them. The only other campaign is an aftermarket wheelchair-restraint recall from a mobility-van converter. Earlier XL40 years had stability-control software, airbag occupant-sensor and seat-belt guide campaigns, but none reached the 2023 van and nothing touched the powertrain. This is a clearly quieter record than the Odyssey's or Pacifica's.

Every 2023 Sienna is a hybrid using the 2.5L A25A-FXS four and Toyota's planetary THS II e-CVT. It is the same proven family used in the Camry, RAV4 and Highlander hybrids, with no belt CVT, turbo or torque converter to wear. Held a little below the 2026 car because in 2023 the XL40-specific application, including the AWD rear e-motor, had only about three years in service.

The XL40 cabin favours durability over richness: the volume LE and XLE trims have plenty of hard plastic on the lower dash, the bridge console and the door cards. Reviewers rank it behind the Pacifica and the Carnival on perceived quality, and below the Odyssey.

Assembly at Toyota's Princeton, Indiana plant is consistent, with no recurring theme of panel-gap problems or rattles. The 2023 van's only factory recall is an assembly-torque issue on the third-row seatbacks, a minor lapse that keeps the score short of the top band. It is in line with J.D. Power's 77 Q&R score.

Toyota has one of the two densest mainstream dealer networks in the US, roughly 1,200+ stores, and every one of them services hybrids routinely, which matters for a hybrid-only van. Service satisfaction is around the industry average rather than class-leading, which keeps it out of the 90s.

The powertrain is shared with Toyota's highest-volume hybrids, so wear parts, sensors and hybrid components are plentiful and independent shops know the system. Minivan-specific body hardware, like the power sliding doors and liftgate, is mostly dealer-sourced, and an out-of-warranty traction battery is still a four-figure repair.

Every 2023 Sienna uses the same 9-inch touchscreen. The 12.3-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia unit did not arrive until the 2025 refresh.

The pre-refresh Entune-generation system is simple, keeps physical knobs and hard buttons, and responds adequately. But its graphics look dated and its menus are clunkier than Uconnect 5 or Kia's dual-screen setup.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every trim but wired-only — no 2023 Sienna offers wireless projection. That puts it at the floor of the 'wired standard' band.

There's basic embedded voice with Amazon Alexa integration, and Dynamic Navigation comes on upper trims (Limited/Platinum). Neither is a natural-language system, and most owners bypass both for the phone.

A 6-speaker base system on volume trims, with a 12-speaker JBL system on Limited and Platinum — a branded option the Odyssey lacks, though good rather than exceptional.

Analog gauges flank a 4.2-in multi-information display on the LE and a 7-in color MID from XLE up. No full-digital configurable cluster is offered on any 2023 trim — that came with the 2025 refresh.

The pre-refresh head unit gets map data updates on navigation-equipped trims, but there's no meaningful over-the-air software update path for the multimedia or the vehicle.

The Toyota app offers Remote Connect (remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle finder, status) plus Safety/Service Connect and Wi-Fi Connect. These are trial-then-subscription, and there's no digital key on the Sienna.

Qi wireless charging is standard on every grade, there are seven USB ports spread across the rows, and a 1500W household outlet is optional from XLE and standard on Woodland — exactly what a minivan family needs.

Smart Key proximity entry and push-button start are broadly fitted, and dual power sliding doors are standard. Hands-free sliding doors arrive at XLE with a hands-free liftgate available, and remote start comes through the app/fob — but there's no phone-as-key.

A rear camera is standard, and Parking Assist with automatic braking arrives at XLE. The Panoramic View Monitor with Perimeter Scan is limited to upper trims, as is Platinum's digital rearview mirror.

A large 10-inch color HUD is offered, but only on the top Platinum trim — squarely the 'HUD limited to top trims' band.

Dual power sliding doors are standard and LATCH rates Good+, while the 33.5 cu ft well swallows strollers with all seats occupied. Super Long Slide opens a wide car-seat aisle, but the second row neither folds flat nor removes easily.

It's an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and NHTSA 5-star overall, with TSS 2.0 and blind-spot monitoring standard down to the LE. The updated moderate-overlap test, which measures rear-passenger protection, rates only Marginal.

Tri-zone (4-zone from XLE) climate, seven USB ports, wireless charging, an adult-usable third row and a deep luggage well with every seat occupied make it a strong road-trip van. The engine drone on long grades and rear amenities concentrated on upper trims hold it back.

The hybrid creeps on electric power with no shift shock, and full-speed adaptive cruise with Lane Tracing Assist is standard on every grade. Engine noise under hard acceleration and the van's size are the only irritants.

36 MPG combined on regular fuel is the best in the non-plug-in minivan class by a wide margin, backed by a segment-low maintenance burden.

A 203.7-in van with a 38.3 ft turning circle is never easy in a garage, though sliding doors and good forward sightlines help. Surround view is restricted to upper trims.

A 3,500 lb tow rating and 101 cu ft of volume cover light trade duty, but the second row can't stow or fold flat, so there's no long flat load floor.

Toyota's hybrid system is the most fleet-proven powertrain going, the Sienna is a livery and shuttle staple, and the hybrid battery carries a 10 yr/150k mi warranty.

There's an available 1500W outlet, cargo-well tie-downs, roof rails and a factory hitch on Woodland, plus a deep mobility-conversion aftermarket. No washable surfaces or flat floor, though.

About 648 miles per tank is far beyond any rival minivan, and standard full-speed adaptive cruise with lane tracing reduces fatigue. A composed ride backs it up; engine drone on long grades is the main blemish.

It's the only minivan with electric AWD available across the range, and the Woodland Edition adds lift, a hitch, roof rails and a 1500W outlet. There's no skid plating, and the non-folding second row rules out sleeping inside.

The deep well behind the third row is excellent and the third row folds into it. But the immovable second row costs roughly 40–55 cu ft of maximum space and the flat floor rivals offer.

Handling is on par with other minivans and secure at normal speeds, but body roll shows quickly when pushed. The XSE's sport-tuned suspension tightens it slightly; the volume trims are comfort-biased.

Light and accurate enough for parking, but reviewers call it 'overly light' and 'rubbery' when pushed, with little feedback.

The regen-to-friction blending is smooth, but tested stopping distances are only average for a heavy van (about 131 ft from 60 mph in one test), and Consumer Reports was critical of the XL40's braking.

Gas/electric handoffs are seamless, with no shift shock and no stop-start shudder. Hard-throttle response is rubber-band-like, with revs flaring ahead of road speed.

Near-silent in EV mode, but the 2.5L four produces a thrashy, sustained drone whenever it's worked — the most repeated criticism of this powertrain.

38.3 ft is mid-band for a 203.7-in van — tighter than the Pacifica but wider than the Odyssey.

The seating is commanding and upright, with good adjustment and easy ingress, and climate and audio keep physical controls. The tall bridge console crowds the driver's knee and blocks walk-through, and the front seats lack lower-back support on long drives.

A competent, relaxing appliance with no driver appeal: numb light steering, soft body control and a droning eCVT. It's pleasant at a cruise, never unpleasant.

The 2023 LE comes with the standard 245-hp hybrid, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, dual power sliding doors, tri-zone climate, a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and 8 seats. That is competitive content, but the power liftgate, heated seats and synthetic leather all require the XLE. The pre-refresh infotainment was already dated next to the Carnival's screens.

It is the only minivan with a standard hybrid (about 36 MPG combined), available AWD on every trim, and class-leading residuals, all at mainstream pricing. That makes it the strongest long-run value in the segment. Widespread 2023 dealer markups ate into the bang-for-buck at purchase.

Six trims (LE, XLE, Woodland Edition, XSE, Limited, Platinum), FWD or AWD, and 7- or 8-seat layouts span roughly $37K to $53K. The single hybrid powertrain is the one gap versus the Pacifica's gas/PHEV choice.

Demand clearly exceeded supply, but hybrid-component constraints held 2023 US deliveries to about 54K. That put the Sienna well behind the Pacifica (~121K) and Odyssey (~75K) in a ~306K-unit segment, so on volume alone it was a mid-pack seller that year.

Toyota has the strongest reliability-and-resale reputation among mainstream brands, which is a material draw for risk-averse family buyers and supports the Sienna's residuals.

In 2023 the Sienna was among the hardest vehicles in the class to buy at a discount. Constrained hybrid supply meant long waitlists, and dealer markups and addendums over MSRP were common, with virtually no cash incentives. The Pacifica, by contrast, carried substantial rebates.

In 2023 the fourth-generation (XL40) Sienna was only in its third model year on the TNGA-K platform. That made it newer than the 2018-generation Odyssey and the 2017-generation Pacifica, with no replacement imminent. Its infotainment and TSS 2.0 lagged the newer Carnival.

Reviewers rate it at or near the top of the class for hybrid efficiency, AWD availability and predicted reliability, and it collects best-minivan and best-resale honors. It loses comparison tests on eCVT drone, modest power and less flexible second-row seating, so it wins often but not automatically.