In a world where crossovers pretend to be minivans and minivans pretend not to exist, Toyota’s 2025 Sienna makes no such apologies. It’s a van. It’s a hybrid. And it still does its job better than most.
Now in its fifth year since its full redesign, the Sienna soldiers on with a few minor updates for 2025:
- Infotainment tweaks
- Some styling nips and tucks
- Additional driver-assistance tech
Under the hood, you’ll find a tried-and-proven 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to Toyota’s now famous hybrid system. The combination is good for 245 horsepower. It’s not going to win you any drag races (unless your opponent is asleep or in reverse), but it’ll consistently return 36 mpg combined. Even when loaded down with Cub Scouts, groceries, and the dog. That’s a win in the minivan world.
The Sienna remains front-wheel drive by default, with all-wheel drive available — though it uses an e-motor in the rear instead of a mechanical link. It’s clever and efficient and is now a mainstay in Toyota AWD designs.
The Sienna’s interior is unapologetically practical. It has up to 18 cupholders (I counted), a wide-open floor between the front seats for stashing bags or purses, and the second-row captain’s chairs slide nearly three feet fore and aft. This is great for legroom and for avoiding the inevitable sibling scuffle in the back.
The 2025 update includes Toyota’s latest 12.3-inch infotainment screen, which is brighter and faster than before — though still burdened by Toyota’s new allergy to physical buttons. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard now, and the top trims even get a 360-degree camera that doesn’t look like it was drawn in Nintendo 8-bit.
Behind the wheel, the Sienna is.. fine. Steering is light, the ride is smooth, and road noise is impressively muted. It’s not engaging in the traditional sense, but it’s not supposed to be. What matters is that it feels stable, predictable, and easy to maneuver; even in tight parking lots where most full-size SUVs start bumper hugging.
In a market where most minivans are either expensive, outdated, or gone entirely, the 2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid continues to be the rational choice. It’s fuel-efficient, loaded with family-friendly features, and doesn’t pretend to be anything it’s not.
It’s not sexy. It’s not fast. But it’ll probably outlive your current car, your next car, and possibly your will to ever drive something else. And that’s kind of the point.
