2023 Toyota Sienna
We’ve got one of the most classic family vehicles on deck to tour today! The 2023 Toyota Sienna is an absolute hauler and after a whole week driving it, I can’t wait to walk you through my thoughts. As always, the question stands: is this vehicle family-friendly? (I think we all know it is).
If you’re new here - welcome! I’m Kelly the Car Mom and as a CPST, mom of three, and car lover, it’s my goal to help you find the best vehicle for your family. Without any further introduction, let’s dive in and break down all the features the 2023 Toyota Sienna has to offer.
Before you dive in and start car shopping, make sure you’re fully prepared to tackle today’s market with confidence. To learn everything from dealership prep to a complete negotiations strategy, check out my Car Buying Course!
2023 Toyota Sienna Exterior
The Toyota Sienna received a complete redesign in 2021 and has some MAJOR improvements. Most importantly, it’s now a hybrid standard, meaning you have an active hybrid underneath the hood that gives you 35 mpg combined. For a three row SUV, this is fantastic. Did I mention, this is the only minivan on the market that has all-wheel drive? You read that right.
The 2023 Toyota Sienna XLE Woodland comes in at a $50,000 MSRP. Believe it or not, this isn’t even the highest trim on the Sienna, with a more expensive MSRP. As for the exterior, it’s the same Sienna look we know and love since 2021. Minivans are not the most attractive looking family vehicle out there, but Toyota’s done an excellent job at making the Sienna look nice on the exterior.
2023 Toyota Sienna First Row
Like most minivans, the expectation in the first row is lots of storage and the Sienna does not disappoint. In this trim level, we have heated seats but not a heated steering wheel. My favorite thing in the first row is under the center console bridge. You could fit a massive diaper bag under here with room to spare. Plus, it gives a spaceship look. Although I don’t comment much on the driving experience, I really think it’s a fun driving experience. I highly recommend test driving on both the city and highway because there is some wind noise.
Infotainment System
This is the standard Toyota infotainment system that received a manufacturing wide upgrade in 2022. Pretty similar to the 2021 and prior systems, but with a few additional features. As always, I love to see the AC controls pulled out of the screen for much easier use while driving. Specifically, you have four-zone climate control.
2023 Toyota Sienna Second Row
Second row amenities include:
Ceiling vents
Ceiling climate controls
Second row sun shades
Upgraded rear entertainment package (on ceiling too)
Before we start breaking down the second row, my biggest complaint with the Sienna is the lack of bench options with trim levels. You can only get it in the lowest trim, which means you’re stuck with the captain’s chairs (if you love them - great!) on higher trim levels. For a minivan, I think Toyota should give us a bench.
With the captain’s chairs, you’re getting lower anchors and tether anchors in both seats and I can almost guarantee any car seat will be installed with ease. As always, I do recommend bringing your car seats to the dealership to install as a test for 100% certification it works.
As for third row access, it’s great, but also clunky. You’re not going to get a Car Seat Friendly Tilt, but you get the second best thing - the seat belt being attached to the outboard seats. This means you can actually move the entire seat, even if you have a car seat installed. This works amazing, especially for forward-facing seats.
2023 Toyota Sienna Third Row
For the car seat set up in the third row, we have lower anchors in the outboard seats and tether anchors across the back. For the most part, I’ve had no problem with getting my kids in the third row and there’s great room. I want to point out that there are ceiling vents in the third row - something very important for kids in car seats, but often overlooked by manufacturers.
My one complaint is I wish the door would go back more so I can get into that third row better. I’m talking only three more inches!
2023 Toyota Sienna Trunk
The trunk is where the Sienna shines. I have a Zoe double stroller in the back and it had absolute zero problems going in and out. The depth of this trunk is insane. The third row folds down very easily and you’re able to get even more room.
2023 Toyota Sienna: Wrap Up
Overall, I think the Toyota Sienna is an excellent minivan, especially for those of you looking for hybrid and AWD. To be honest, it is missing some of the party tricks I look for in a minivan - Stow-and-Go, removable seats, Magic Slide, but you are getting serious space and gas mileage.
If you want an in-depth (and I mean in-depth) comparison of every minivan on the market, don’t forget to check out my Minivan Showdown!
To see a complete walkthrough of the 2023 Toyota Sienna, click here.
What do you think of the 2023 Toyota Sienna? Let me know in the comments! And to keep up with the latest family vehicles on the market, check out my recent car tours:
