After driving our 2021 Sienna Minivan 1,200 miles this month to 3 camping adventures we are very happy with it. It is quiet on the road, we measured 60-65 dB on a highway at 70 mph. The engine is very smooth and has enough oomph when we needed it and we see on average 36mpg as advertised. We found that sleeping in the van is more comfortable and convenient than setting up a tent.
Yes, we just come back from trip where we needed the 4 seat arrangement. Our 73”x 52” mattress fits well with second raw folded forward and sleeping was very comfortable. The only disadvantage is a need for folding and unfolding the bedding to store the luggage in the back while driving. A video about sleeping with/without second raw seat configurations is coming soon.
The new hybrid drivetrain in Toyota is not a standard CVT variety and it sounds surprisingly good in normal driving. On a highway at 70 mph we see 62-65 dB, which is lower than many German and US luxury cars rated at 71-72 dB. The only time the engine becomes noticeably audible is when passing at full gas on a steep incline at 65-70 mph and even then the engine noise is not annoying as is often the case with standard CVTs. I think you will be surprised how quiet this van is when you take it for a test drive. Let me know what you think after your test drive.
As a new subscriber, I admire your analysis. You focused on creating an cost-effective long distance vehicle that is comfortable and meets your needs. It appears that function trumps cachet. Bravo!
Finally, more people are happy driving a hybrid car. I drive a 2012 Prius C - 50-55MPG - 60-65MPG if I pay more attention when you accelerate. That is why Toyota is not in a rush to make EV like other automakers. They know how to make hybrid cars that are profitable and affordable. Akio Toyoda is right, you can't just switch to EV in years, it has to be done in decades. hybrid and plug in hybrid is the bridge.
I have put 150 miles on my sienna doing errands and so far the fuel needle hasn’t moved 😄. Feels great to see that needles staying up. This is one of my second best decision in life. Can’t go wrong with Toyota.. affordable and will last a life time.. the warranty is good Too.. 10 years or 150k miles on battery warranty😄😄 much more than Tesla’s warranty.
Best review for sienna on UA-cam, I watch most video reviews for sienna, you’re the only review with your brain not with your mouth, already booked a LE AWD, nowadays it’s hard to get a car, keep waiting…
Thank you for creating this video and analysis. We were also considering buying a Tesla X and or a Toyota Sienna. We have 3 boys and we needed a bit more space than the Tesla has but we’re thinking of buying 100 percent electric. Now we will be going Toyota Sienna hybrid all the way. Enjoy your travels.
Great decision. I like that you put effort into actually calculating this stuff rather than taking what others say at face value. I was very surprised by the fact that the sienna costs less to run per mile!
Great video!!! I recently bought a Toyota Sienna and I cannot be happier with the MPG, 550 mi average per tank, that is awesome number for a mini-van. I was between a Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna and the Honda does not get any closer to the MPG the Sienna gives. For reference, I switched from a 2012 Honda Odyssey. In my not that detailed comparison like yours and with a lesser budget (got the XLE, but I really wanted the XSE). I found out that the Honda Odyssey was exactly the same vehicle (engine wise), but with new technology on board, it was going to give me the same MPG to what I currently had. When I turned to the Sienna, it was a no brainer the switch. New more aggressive design (some people do not like it, I do), on board technology was attractive, not perfect (Low res rear camera) and thinking the money I was going to spent in gas with the Odyssey, I can use it for my Sienna monthly payment.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your recent experience buying new Sienna. Congratulations! After 3,600 mile driven I am more impressed and pleased with the vehicle than I originally expected. It is a great handling minivan and I don’t feel any lack of power with the new hybrid drivetrain. I like the new style as well. Enjoy your new van!
enlightening video!...i did a TON of vehicle research for a LONG time comparing interior space, efficiency, features, safety, etc. and i ended up buying a new 2021 Sienna 3 days ago...i think it's going to work out to be a stellar vehicle for me! :)
Hybrid is the way to go. At least until more charging stations are available. Hybrid vs electric, you don't have to look for charging station and no need to waste time waiting while charging. It is also a pain looking for level 3 charge station when driving long distance, very often they are out of the way. Yes, the 2021 Toyota Sienna is the perfect Mimi van for long distance travel. I have been planning to buy one but it is not available at dealership now. I am so glad to find your channel today because I am planning for road trips for my retirement and have been planning to get a Toyota Sienna Minivan for it's room, great mileage, AWD and the 1,500 build-in inverter and the reliability.
This is such a good point. The infrastructure is not here yet. I live in New Mexico. If I traveled on interstates and stayed at large hotel chains I might be able to get a charge a quarter of the time, but I want to camp and I tend to prefer small highways, less populated areas.
I love the detailed analysis. I wasn’t looking for a new car but find myself wanting the Sienna now. Lol. This video helped me answer some questions I had about going electric. Thank you.
Thank you for this information. It has convinced me not to buy a Tesla. If I still like my 2019 DGC GT after my cross country trip NJ to AZ with stops in Arkansas & Texas, I’ll trade it in for a hybrid Sienna. Cheers, Mo in NJ
Great video! 👍🏼💕 With our 4 kids we were thinking about Tesla X or Y, however your analysis makes perfect sense! Planning to buy a Sienna 2022 XLE AWD.
Love the video. I had recently canceled my order for hyundai ioniq 5 for the very same reasons you stated in your video . Now I am waiting for my sienna xse trim to arrive this week! I am very excited. Keep in my mind I'm not the type of guy that buys a minivan. But I have to say this new sienna xse trim looks nothing like your grandma's minivan. This is coming from a guy that had owned camaro ss in the past. For me the 36 MPG on the 2022 hybrid sienna got me curious to take a look at it and it's features but the looks of this new model xse trim made me say oh yeah baby your coming home to daddy. This new hybrid Sienna has 3 things that's on my priority list that you just can't beat. Reliability (cmon it's a toyota lol), 36 MPG(I LOVE IT WHEN SOMETHING SAVES ME MONEY LOL) and last but not least it's got the looks(it doesn't really even look like a minivan from certain angles lol!!!) Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think about buying a minivan. Toyota knew exactly what they were doing with the new exterior design. Very appealing to the younger crowd. SOLD! LOL.
@@Tellvia I'm curious about how the fridge works and if the xse trim model has what it takes to be able to have the fridge plugged in. Do I need to keep the sienna running to keep the fridge on?
@@enriquecuellar8778 Not sure if the XSE in 2022 has a fridge build-in. The 2021 models had early advertisement that the fridge will be available but I have not seem them live in 2021 models. We use an aftermarket fridge that is powered by a Jackery battery that is in-turn plugged into the 120AC inverter in Sienna. The inverter works only when the van in ON. Our stand-along battery gets recharged from empty during driving for about 5 hours. Once it is fully charged it can keep the fridge cool for up to 3 days even on hot summer. This works well for our camping needs. See my other videos about new Sienna and equipment we use. Cheers!
The inverter came with our trim of Sienna. See if your can add it to the XSE trim in 2022. Here are links to fridge and battery we use: amzn.to/3NNRY9h amzn.to/3ReLGTa
@@Tellvia Cannot wait to see that video, how you took out the seats with out the airbag light being illuminated on the dash. I just bought a 2021 Toyota sienna XSE , Absolutely love this van ! Had to drive 400 miles to go pick it up but it was well worth it and on my drive home varying my speed for optimal break-in, and never went over 70 miles an hour I got 41 miles per gallon.
@@Tellvia I've been looking at the 21 Sienna and want to use it as a camper. I asked a local salesman if removing the seats/disconnecting the airbag plugs would void any part of the warranty and he said "probably". Did you look into this potential issue? Thanks.
I'm happy to be a new subscriber. Been watching your videos for a week now. We are getting our new Sienna XLE this week and I'm so excited. I fancy myself a outdoorsman when I want to be :) And I'm excited to load up and ship out for a weekend or 2 in the very near future. My current vehicle is a Honda Pilot EX-L and for my growing family, it was surprisingly not enough space and now almost 18 years old. I'm super excited to have the hybrid powerplant as well in this day of 4 dollar gas! Thanks so much for your analysis and ideas!
Thank you for watching and subscribing, Ken. Congratulations on the delivery of your new Sienna. I’m sure you will love it! Let me now how your fist camping trip goes. Happy driving and camping! Cheers.
You enumerated all the reasons I didn't go for a Tesla. If you look at the supercharger map, essentially all of them are on interstate highways or US highways that serve multiple states. Tesla is way ahead of other manufacturers on the FSD software and fully electric vehicles, but production still lags lags orders. They will do well in coming years, when the charging network is fully developed. I converted my 2014 Toyota Sienna to a campervan so I'm set for camping for a few more years until the US auto industry gives us the choice of vehicles that Europe has. I looked at the 2021 Sienna. It has a lot of nice feature including 120vac sockets and the ability to run the A/C while stopped for a short time. But, they make it a bit harder to convert to a campervan. It seems the best choice of all the people movers.
Thank you for your comments, Elwood. I am glad to hear that your 2014 Sienna is your camping vehicle. We are enjoying our Sienna and my wife loves to drive it any time we go anyway. It is very a very comfortable and quiet vehicle for long distance travel. Happy camping. Cheers!
Excellent detailed analysis, congrats for your channel, I am from Mexico and loved to find a detailed series of videos about the brand new Toyota Sienna 2021 as I am evaluating to change my Odissey 2018. Gas saving and new styling are the main reasons and also my previous experience having the Sienna 2007 model for 4 years, being a great ownership experience as well. Cheers!!
Hopefully the new Toyota Sienna has fewer issues over the long term. We had a 2009 Toyota Sienna, after the 7th year we were spending 2K a year on maintenance.
Thank you for sharing your experience about the seats in Sienna’s. I had to raise fronts of the front seats on my previous Mazda CX-9. I guess car manufacturers in Japan design seats based on a Japanese human model’s average hight and proportions. For a “world” vehicle model this is unacceptable. But most of their customers don’t complain, and based on your comment, no improvement in Toyota’s seat design have been made in 20 years.
Thank you for the nice comparison, and detailed analysis. We are considering between Tesla Model Y and Sienna and Ford Mach E. Our needs are similar, long road trips and around 50miles in city driving. With current gas price of close to $5 does Sienna still make sense over Model Y (which is cheaper than Model X)?. We are also looking for a 7 seater. Any thoughts?
Thank you for watching and commenting. Since long distance trips is one of the duties for your next vehicle I would carefully look at the availability of charging stations on routes you likely are going to be traveling on. Tesla has good and growing network of their charging stations but you may be stopping more frequently for a charge vs. gas station to top up the charge to ensure that you are not going to run out of charge between charging stations, which are still quite a distance apart. Non-Tesla EVs can not use Tesla chargers and the charging network for non-Tesla vehicles is not as well developed yet. You would need to create accounts with various third party EV charging providers and many EV chargers have lower charging rate than Tesla chargers. Both model Y and Mach E are much smaller in passenger and cargo room than Sienna. At todays prices in California Sienna will drive 36miles per gallon, while the equivalent in price charging puts Tesla at 46miles in efficiency of your dollar. However, since Tesla’s practical range is ~280miles per charge you will have to stop twice for charging (total about 2 extra hours) to cover 560miles on your long distance trip, while Sienna will cover this distance on one tank of gas. So you have decide what makes better sense for you. I hope this is helpful in your decision process. Cheers!
Did you ever consider Model Y if not Model X? I guess the 326 miles range would have been a deal breaker for you. I am glad you made this video because I am comparing Tesla Model Y versus Sienna Hybrid.
Hi Kona, thank you for your comment. I have not considered Tesla model Y because we wanted to get as much room as we can in our next vehicle for camping/sleeping inside the vehicle. Any Tesla is a great commuter vehicles when you can charge at home overnight or at your place of work. If you need to go somewhere with a round trip longer than 250 miles you’ll quickly learn to hate the wait at superchargers, and sometimes you end up traveling extra to get to them. Good luck with your next vehicle purchase. Cheers!
This is the most informative and analytical comparison i have ever seen. Very personal, too. Love it. Have you ever looked into the pacifica plugin and compared it to the sienna? Thanks.
Thank you for your comment, Hy. Because our primary function for minivan is traveling long-distance, the plug-in feature was less attractive to us vs. a better fuel economy. Pacifica is definitely a strong competitor to Sienna, however. Cheers!
I considered the cost the same when I was considering buying a Volkswagen ID4 or a Ford Mustang E (unlike Tesla, I would get a tax credit of about 6500 when buying) .... and I chose the Toyota Sienna 2021! :) (The new Kia Carnival is very interesting, but ... low-power 1.6-liter motro and disgusting paint quality). In a few days our new Sienna will be delivered to us! PS. Thanks for the "academic" review and comparison!
I’m also considering minivan because we have been waiting for model x for a long time. To be fairs, as far as charging goes for Tesla, charging at home is convenient and cheaper than gas/supercharging however supercharging on long road trips are rare for us and we don’t find it difficult either. Now I’m looking into Kia Carnival as it has more room and better amenity than sienna although it lacks hybrid engine. Just my two cents.
I would think twice about buying a kia as an automotive Technician, I would suggest you to stick with a sienna, I worked at kia for a month and trust me STAY away.
Your decision making process is just like everyone I know who owns a Tesla. 100% of them decided not to buy another EV. All of them bought hybrid or PHEV cars as their next car. They just found it too much of a pain on road trips that some stopped before and just rented ICE cars for road trips, even short ones.
Agreed. When the next generation of battery technology will allows 500-600 miles of range on one charge and the fast charging would not degrade battery life electric vehicles will become widely accepted. Until then the most ecologically considerate choice is a hybrid powertrain.
ICE will be banned in 10 years in some countries and over time everywhere in the world. This selfish idea that one's trip is more important than the planet's future won't last forever. And the range of EVs is improving every day: once you buy a 600 miles range Tesla, it won't make any difference
Wasn't considering Tesla, but this is helpful in considering conventional hybrid vs the Chrysler Pacifica plug in hybrid. The infrastructure in New Mexico is not particularly great for plug ins currently. I could maybe do it staying in major hotel chains about an eighth- quarter of the time. But camping--not so much. I do have a question though--did you opt for the spare tire--and if so where did you put it. I believe it is placed on the left side (when you face the car from the back). Thanks. Very intelligent well thought out video. Subscribed.
Thank you for watching and commenting, Jay! Regarding your question about the spare wheel/tire in Hybrid Sienna - yes, it is a compact wheel/tire mounted on the driver side behind the rear axel. It is hidden behind a plastic cover, but is easily accessible from the rear hatch. I build a platform for sleeping inside of our van when camping and the easy access to the spare wheel/tire was an important consideration. Here is a link to that video with a timestamp showing the access to the spare whee/tire ua-cam.com/video/P7hjHLtXYow/v-deo.html in you interested. I hope this helps. Cheers!
Thank you for watching and subscribing, Tae. In early 2021 there was a shortage of Sienna’s on dealers’ lots and vans were pre-sold before they arrived at the dealer. I did not pay a mark-up but paid full MSRP to get our minivan. Are they still in short supply? Cheers!
@@Tellvia yes , I think it's worse now at least where I am in LA area. Most dealers want $8k to 4k higher. I got mine $2500 higher but I justified it because my trade in was far higher than I expected also. Simply there are not too many cars on the dealer lot. They gave me $35600 for my 2019 Sienna SE premium and I paid $ 36800. It has 50k miles on it. It is a crazy time in car world. Thanks for your videos. I especially like your dollar per dollar analysis with Tesla.
Comprehensive and focused comparison and analysis! If I may, I would like to make 2 comments: 1. The embedded tables of comparisons in the video are too low (on screen) causing the bottom part of the table to be somewhat blocked behind the youtube bottom play bar. 2. When comparing the "Time spent at supercharging" (6:24), I think it's unfair not to include the time that it takes to fill up full tank of fuel for the Audi (any car that requires fuel). By my calculation it's 11 hours, sure it's extremely shorter time than supercharging but if making an accurate comparison, then I think it should be part of it. Not sure if I have it right but 43 mpg * 18 gallons capacity = 774 range per tank. 100,000miles / 774 = 129 tanks. 5 minutes per tank * 129 = 11 hours. (In optimal conditions)
Hi Sharon, thank you for your comment and heads-up about the table being too low on the UA-cam page. Regarding the time spent at gas stations - according to web sources an average time to fill-up a car in the US is between 3-5 minutes. I calculated a fill-up fo Sienna at every 450 miles. We consistently get 36.5 mpg fuel consumption. The calculations were just to illustrate the point that a long distance travel in EVs is burdensome. I hope this makes sense. Cheers!
Is your Sienna AWD? If yes, can you test its offroad capabilities and make a video about it ? At least trying a diagonal test to see if one rear wheel is powerful enough to push entire vehicle uphill with second rear wheel in the air. I'm owing a Delica L400 and this is the greatest offroad van for camping. Gas consumption is bad though, but this is the only disadvantage of the vehicle. I'm thinking my next camping rig will be Sienna now that it is hybrid and awd.
Hi Yury, thank you for your comment and the question. Yes, we have AWD option on our van. Based on discussions on other forums I understand that Sienna is not really a off-roader. The rear drive is electric motor driven. I am not sure if it has a limited slip differential. I can see on the display that read wheels get engaged only once in a while while accelerating and while van travels on highway curves at 70-75mph. I feel that RWD definitely improves handling of the vehicle. We took our van on some hilly gravel roads in a rain and I felt that FWD version would have probably slipped the front wheels in that situation but our van handled it well. I plan to talk in my next video about AWD advantages, but probably wont be able to test it with one wheel in the air :). Cheers!
If your criteria includes long term ownership costs, the Audi, is well known to become a money pit soon after the factory warranty expires. The Toyota is a 500k mile vehicle easily.
Thank you for watching, Branson! We actually have had good experience with Audis we owned but we treated them well and I did my own service on them. Toyota vehicles are less expensive to own on all fronts - fuel, parts, maintenance and resale. Happy driving!
Hi Ow, thank you for your comment. Yes, we have considered Metris. It would have worked for us as well. The outstanding fuel economy of Sienna was the deciding factor. Cheers!
@@Tellvia thx for your reply. Btw, I forgot to mention that after watching most of your recent bike & auto videos I subscribed last week. I appreciate your taste for things that roll.
I noticed you have your Jackery on its side. When I contacted Jackery they said I should not position it that way. Have you seen any heat issues when doing it this way or anything else? Thanks.
Thank you for your comment. The ventilation intake and outlet are both on the sides that, in this video, face forward and to the back of the van and the vents are not blocked. I placed it this way to be able to see the display and plug the input/output power. So far we have not seen any issues with Jackery 1500 model. The model shown in this video is Jackery 1000, perhaps in applies to that model.
Love the input on your videos :)). This one was very informative and I almost believed Toyota had a titanium Sienna that is the ultimate van ride haha ;). My wife and I are also getting the platinum which arrives in 1 month. :)). Cheers!
YOU ARE CORRECTED. I have a same feeling too. To me, it's too early to own a battery vehicle. The 2021 Sienna has more Pro than 2021 Model Y, at least to myself.
Nice video, very well done. You should update your time spent at the supercharger table, because it's not realistically representing a gas vehicle's downtime. Of course getting off the highway to get gas will easily cost you 15-20 minutes of driving time each time. 100,000 miles averaging probably about 350 miles a tank, best case, puts you at the gas station 285 times. You can't say you lose no time. 285 stops x 20 minutes is about 95 hours. That's about 4 days, which is still far less, but still time lost. Also, saying you need a new battery after 100k miles isn't very realistic, based on what we've seen so far. Just because the battery warranty is done, doesn't mean its time to replace it. You should have a depreciated value of the battery, not a full replacement. This would be like saying you need a new car every time the warranty is up on it. Also, no one in the market for a Tesla X or Audi SQ7 will realistically end up deciding on a Sienna, except if all they care about is economical and ergonomical performance. You are comparing 2 luxury cars with one mass market car. The buyers are completely in a different headspace for economics. If we are just taking about efficiency of your dollar and efficiency of performance, I doubt you will find anyone arguing against a Toyota. I love Toyotas btw, so no hate at all. But they aren't a Tesla or Audi. Driving experience, luxury features and feel, "it" factor... both cars are well above the Toyota in those categories. Safe travels!
Hi ST B, thank you for you comments. You bring a number of good points regarding comparison of the two vehicles in my video. I want to bring a couple of clarifications: 1)We just returned from a 2,500 mi trip in our Sienna and averaged a 37.4 mpg fuel efficiency, with ~ 575 miles per a full tank of gas. 2)Tesla does not sell parts, including batteries, to third parties for repair/installation. When we had to replace our Tesla battery after 5 years they used a refurbished battery, so the cost of battery replacement is realistic. I do agree with you that just because the warranty if over every car wouldn’t need a battery replacement, but I included this cost based on our experience and greater battery degradation when charging at superchargers. Since we would’ve used Model X mostly for highway use, most of charging would’ve been at superchargers. 3) Regarding luxury cars vs Toyotas you are absolutely right. I used to be a “German cars only” snob for many years. All new cars have gotten better in past 10-15 years (engines, build quality, tech and safety features) and the differences in everyday use have narrowed as well. Despite that the cachet of some luxury brands is higher than ever and Tesla is one of these aspirational vehicles. We love driving our Model S and I think no gas engine can compete with electric motor in driving fun. For our specific use (long distance highway trips), however, Toyota Sienna is a perfect fit and our our recent long distance trip confirmed it. All the best, George.
Thank you for your question. There is confusion about the interior space in new 2021 Sienna because the rear seats are not removable according to Toyota. The 2020 Toyota Sienna has total cargo capacity listed at 150 cu ft (see this link for reference: www.manhattanbeachtoyota.com/blog/2020-toyota-sienna-legroom-and-cargo-capacity/). Since the 2021 van has the very similar dimensions as 2020 model and since I removed the second and third row seats the total cargo capacity of 150 cubit ft for the 2021 model is realistic. Cheers!
After driving our 2021 Sienna Minivan 1,200 miles this month to 3 camping adventures we are very happy with it. It is quiet on the road, we measured 60-65 dB on a highway at 70 mph. The engine is very smooth and has enough oomph when we needed it and we see on average 36mpg as advertised. We found that sleeping in the van is more comfortable and convenient than setting up a tent.
Are you able to sleep with the second row attached?
Isn’t the 4 cylinder noisy? I am yet to test drive one !
Yes, we just come back from trip where we needed the 4 seat arrangement. Our 73”x 52” mattress fits well with second raw folded forward and sleeping was very comfortable. The only disadvantage is a need for folding and unfolding the bedding to store the luggage in the back while driving. A video about sleeping with/without second raw seat configurations is coming soon.
The new hybrid drivetrain in Toyota is not a standard CVT variety and it sounds surprisingly good in normal driving. On a highway at 70 mph we see 62-65 dB, which is lower than many German and US luxury cars rated at 71-72 dB. The only time the engine becomes noticeably audible is when passing at full gas on a steep incline at 65-70 mph and even then the engine noise is not annoying as is often the case with standard CVTs. I think you will be surprised how quiet this van is when you take it for a test drive. Let me know what you think after your test drive.
The engine in hybrid Sienna is surprisingly quiet in normal driving. As with any other ICE car at full gas it becomes loud.
I’m waiting for toyota to add the plug-in option for Sienna hybrid with 50 miles of all electric range. Should be coming in next 2 years
I'm with you there, going to hold out a few more years and see if a "Prime" model is released.
As a new subscriber, I admire your analysis. You focused on creating an cost-effective long distance vehicle that is comfortable and meets your needs. It appears that function trumps cachet. Bravo!
Hi Bruce, thank you for your kind words and for subscribing!
Function always trumps cache, cache=symbolism over substance
Solid analysis, logical decision, great video. Ver,y, very much appreciated.
That sienna hybrid was a great buy.. I would done the same thing.
Sheesh. Excellent video. Sad because I want the X but the practicality of the Sienna is so much better
I have three kids and one large dog, I own a Sienna and a Q7. Always Sienna for long trip!
Finally, more people are happy driving a hybrid car. I drive a 2012 Prius C - 50-55MPG - 60-65MPG if I pay more attention when you accelerate.
That is why Toyota is not in a rush to make EV like other automakers. They know how to make hybrid cars that are profitable and affordable. Akio Toyoda is right, you can't just switch to EV in years, it has to be done in decades. hybrid and plug in hybrid is the bridge.
Hybrid is a far better choice
FINALLY someone who would choose a minivan over an SUV!
I have put 150 miles on my sienna doing errands and so far the fuel needle hasn’t moved 😄. Feels great to see that needles staying up. This is one of my second best decision in life. Can’t go wrong with Toyota.. affordable and will last a life time.. the warranty is good Too.. 10 years or 150k miles on battery warranty😄😄 much more than Tesla’s warranty.
Best review for sienna on UA-cam, I watch most video reviews for sienna, you’re the only review with your brain not with your mouth, already booked a LE AWD, nowadays it’s hard to get a car, keep waiting…
Thank you for creating this video and analysis. We were also considering buying a Tesla X and or a Toyota Sienna. We have 3 boys and we needed a bit more space than the Tesla has but we’re thinking of buying 100 percent electric. Now we will be going Toyota Sienna hybrid all the way. Enjoy your travels.
Glad it was helpful!
Great decision. I like that you put effort into actually calculating this stuff rather than taking what others say at face value. I was very surprised by the fact that the sienna costs less to run per mile!
Great video!!! I recently bought a Toyota Sienna and I cannot be happier with the MPG, 550 mi average per tank, that is awesome number for a mini-van. I was between a Honda Odyssey and the Toyota Sienna and the Honda does not get any closer to the MPG the Sienna gives. For reference, I switched from a 2012 Honda Odyssey. In my not that detailed comparison like yours and with a lesser budget (got the XLE, but I really wanted the XSE). I found out that the Honda Odyssey was exactly the same vehicle (engine wise), but with new technology on board, it was going to give me the same MPG to what I currently had. When I turned to the Sienna, it was a no brainer the switch. New more aggressive design (some people do not like it, I do), on board technology was attractive, not perfect (Low res rear camera) and thinking the money I was going to spent in gas with the Odyssey, I can use it for my Sienna monthly payment.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your recent experience buying new Sienna. Congratulations! After 3,600 mile driven I am more impressed and pleased with the vehicle than I originally expected. It is a great handling minivan and I don’t feel any lack of power with the new hybrid drivetrain. I like the new style as well. Enjoy your new van!
Its good you opted for the XLE. XSE has 20"inch wheels that make the ride less comfortable than XLE version.
enlightening video!...i did a TON of vehicle research for a LONG time comparing interior space, efficiency, features, safety, etc. and i ended up buying a new 2021 Sienna 3 days ago...i think it's going to work out to be a stellar vehicle for me! :)
Hi Heath, thank you for your comment and congratulation with buying new Sienna! Happy travels.
I just recently decided on the 2021 Toyota Venza Ltd. Absolutely love it. Great hybrid vehicle. Thanks for sharing.
Right on!
Practical and great info. I love our sienna more than any Tesla or suv..
Great analysis…I did the same thing and got 2023 sienna Xle
Hybrid is the way to go. At least until more charging stations are available. Hybrid vs electric, you don't have to look for charging station and no need to waste time waiting while charging. It is also a pain looking for level 3 charge station when driving long distance, very often they are out of the way.
Yes, the 2021 Toyota Sienna is the perfect Mimi van for long distance travel. I have been planning to buy one but it is not available at dealership now.
I am so glad to find your channel today because I am planning for road trips for my retirement and have been planning to get a Toyota Sienna Minivan for it's room, great mileage, AWD and the 1,500 build-in inverter and the reliability.
Thank you for your comments, Ray, and for subscribing to the channel. More videos about Sienna and camping are coming.
I mean Tesla is only city daily driver thing not road trips
This is such a good point. The infrastructure is not here yet. I live in New Mexico. If I traveled on interstates and stayed at large hotel chains I might be able to get a charge a quarter of the time, but I want to camp and I tend to prefer small highways, less populated areas.
I love the detailed analysis. I wasn’t looking for a new car but find myself wanting the Sienna now. Lol. This video helped me answer some questions I had about going electric. Thank you.
Spot on! Great analysis (and great editing too!) Hope you're well.
Thank you for this information. It has convinced me not to buy a Tesla. If I still like my 2019 DGC GT after my cross country trip NJ to AZ with stops in Arkansas & Texas, I’ll trade it in for a hybrid Sienna. Cheers, Mo in NJ
Great video! 👍🏼💕 With our 4 kids we were thinking about Tesla X or Y, however your analysis makes perfect sense! Planning to buy a Sienna 2022 XLE AWD.
When I replace my mini van, this information will be very valuable. Thanks!
Love the video. I had recently canceled my order for hyundai ioniq 5 for the very same reasons you stated in your video . Now I am waiting for my sienna xse trim to arrive this week! I am very excited. Keep in my mind I'm not the type of guy that buys a minivan. But I have to say this new sienna xse trim looks nothing like your grandma's minivan. This is coming from a guy that had owned camaro ss in the past. For me the 36 MPG on the 2022 hybrid sienna got me curious to take a look at it and it's features but the looks of this new model xse trim made me say oh yeah baby your coming home to daddy. This new hybrid Sienna has 3 things that's on my priority list that you just can't beat. Reliability (cmon it's a toyota lol), 36 MPG(I LOVE IT WHEN SOMETHING SAVES ME MONEY LOL) and last but not least it's got the looks(it doesn't really even look like a minivan from certain angles lol!!!) Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think about buying a minivan. Toyota knew exactly what they were doing with the new exterior design. Very appealing to the younger crowd. SOLD! LOL.
Way to go, Enrique! Thank you for sharing your excitement about new Sienna. I think you will be very pleased with your new ride. Cheers!
@@Tellvia I'm curious about how the fridge works and if the xse trim model has what it takes to be able to have the fridge plugged in. Do I need to keep the sienna running to keep the fridge on?
@@enriquecuellar8778 Not sure if the XSE in 2022 has a fridge build-in. The 2021 models had early advertisement that the fridge will be available but I have not seem them live in 2021 models. We use an aftermarket fridge that is powered by a Jackery battery that is in-turn plugged into the 120AC inverter in Sienna. The inverter works only when the van in ON. Our stand-along battery gets recharged from empty during driving for about 5 hours. Once it is fully charged it can keep the fridge cool for up to 3 days even on hot summer. This works well for our camping needs. See my other videos about new Sienna and equipment we use. Cheers!
@@Tellvia can you send the link where I can purchase battery and inverter for fridge please.
The inverter came with our trim of Sienna. See if your can add it to the XSE trim in 2022. Here are links to fridge and battery we use: amzn.to/3NNRY9h amzn.to/3ReLGTa
Thank you sir for the video, as a dad looking for the next family vehicle, this really is helpful!
Seems we’ve found another happy ‘21 Sienna owner who took out those second row seats 😄
Thanks for the comment, Chris! The video about sleeping with/without second row seats is coming.
@@Tellvia Cannot wait to see that video, how you took out the seats with out the airbag light being illuminated on the dash. I just bought a 2021 Toyota sienna XSE , Absolutely love this van ! Had to drive 400 miles to go pick it up but it was well worth it and on my drive home varying my speed for optimal break-in, and never went over 70 miles an hour I got 41 miles per gallon.
@@Tellvia I've been looking at the 21 Sienna and want to use it as a camper. I asked a local salesman if removing the seats/disconnecting the airbag plugs would void any part of the warranty and he said "probably". Did you look into this potential issue? Thanks.
I'm happy to be a new subscriber. Been watching your videos for a week now. We are getting our new Sienna XLE this week and I'm so excited. I fancy myself a outdoorsman when I want to be :) And I'm excited to load up and ship out for a weekend or 2 in the very near future. My current vehicle is a Honda Pilot EX-L and for my growing family, it was surprisingly not enough space and now almost 18 years old. I'm super excited to have the hybrid powerplant as well in this day of 4 dollar gas! Thanks so much for your analysis and ideas!
Thank you for watching and subscribing, Ken. Congratulations on the delivery of your new Sienna. I’m sure you will love it! Let me now how your fist camping trip goes. Happy driving and camping! Cheers.
You enumerated all the reasons I didn't go for a Tesla. If you look at the supercharger map, essentially all of them are on interstate highways or US highways that serve multiple states. Tesla is way ahead of other manufacturers on the FSD software and fully electric vehicles, but production still lags lags orders. They will do well in coming years, when the charging network is fully developed.
I converted my 2014 Toyota Sienna to a campervan so I'm set for camping for a few more years until the US auto industry gives us the choice of vehicles that Europe has. I looked at the 2021 Sienna. It has a lot of nice feature including 120vac sockets and the ability to run the A/C while stopped for a short time. But, they make it a bit harder to convert to a campervan. It seems the best choice of all the people movers.
Thank you for your comments, Elwood. I am glad to hear that your 2014 Sienna is your camping vehicle. We are enjoying our Sienna and my wife loves to drive it any time we go anyway. It is very a very comfortable and quiet vehicle for long distance travel. Happy camping. Cheers!
I traded my Tesla for a RAV4 Prime because quality and compromises. Good choice 👍
Totally agree!
Very thorough analysis. Thanks. Makes me feel good about my Sienna. Also, 11:18, it’s platinum and not titanium 😬
Keep making videos about new toyota sienna and mpg fuel and if you have any problems looking to buy thank you
if the only advantage you see in the model x is the 0-60 then I guess you made the right call
Nicely done and thought through!
Excellent detailed analysis, congrats for your channel, I am from Mexico and loved to find a detailed series of videos about the brand new Toyota Sienna 2021 as I am evaluating to change my Odissey 2018. Gas saving and new styling are the main reasons and also my previous experience having the Sienna 2007 model for 4 years, being a great ownership experience as well. Cheers!!
Hi Mario, thank you for your comment. I am glad you found this video useful as you are considering you next minivan. Cheers!
Hopefully the new Toyota Sienna has fewer issues over the long term. We had a 2009 Toyota Sienna, after the 7th year we were spending 2K a year on maintenance.
Thanks for all the information, you really spend lots of time to collect all this information, appreciate
Thank you for watching. I’m glad you found it useful. Cheers!
Thank you for this excellent and helpful analysis!
I am waiting for the woodland edition gives you more ground clearance. Even better if Toyota release a Sienna Prime in the future.
Thank you for sharing all your research. It is very helpful as I am currently considering the purchase of a camping vehicle.
Glad it was helpful!
I had to do the same thing to my 2001 Sienna drivers seat !!! Everyone thought I was weird for doing that. I'm not considering a new Sienna now.
Thank you for sharing your experience about the seats in Sienna’s. I had to raise fronts of the front seats on my previous Mazda CX-9. I guess car manufacturers in Japan design seats based on a Japanese human model’s average hight and proportions. For a “world” vehicle model this is unacceptable. But most of their customers don’t complain, and based on your comment, no improvement in Toyota’s seat design have been made in 20 years.
Thank you for the nice comparison, and detailed analysis. We are considering between Tesla Model Y and Sienna and Ford Mach E. Our needs are similar, long road trips and around 50miles in city driving. With current gas price of close to $5 does Sienna still make sense over Model Y (which is cheaper than Model X)?. We are also looking for a 7 seater. Any thoughts?
Thank you for watching and commenting. Since long distance trips is one of the duties for your next vehicle I would carefully look at the availability of charging stations on routes you likely are going to be traveling on. Tesla has good and growing network of their charging stations but you may be stopping more frequently for a charge vs. gas station to top up the charge to ensure that you are not going to run out of charge between charging stations, which are still quite a distance apart. Non-Tesla EVs can not use Tesla chargers and the charging network for non-Tesla vehicles is not as well developed yet. You would need to create accounts with various third party EV charging providers and many EV chargers have lower charging rate than Tesla chargers. Both model Y and Mach E are much smaller in passenger and cargo room than Sienna. At todays prices in California Sienna will drive 36miles per gallon, while the equivalent in price charging puts Tesla at 46miles in efficiency of your dollar. However, since Tesla’s practical range is ~280miles per charge you will have to stop twice for charging (total about 2 extra hours) to cover 560miles on your long distance trip, while Sienna will cover this distance on one tank of gas. So you have decide what makes better sense for you. I hope this is helpful in your decision process. Cheers!
@@Tellvia Thank you for the quick reply
Did you ever consider Model Y if not Model X? I guess the 326 miles range would have been a deal breaker for you. I am glad you made this video because I am comparing Tesla Model Y versus Sienna Hybrid.
Hi Kona, thank you for your comment. I have not considered Tesla model Y because we wanted to get as much room as we can in our next vehicle for camping/sleeping inside the vehicle. Any Tesla is a great commuter vehicles when you can charge at home overnight or at your place of work. If you need to go somewhere with a round trip longer than 250 miles you’ll quickly learn to hate the wait at superchargers, and sometimes you end up traveling extra to get to them. Good luck with your next vehicle purchase. Cheers!
This is the most informative and analytical comparison i have ever seen. Very personal, too. Love it. Have you ever looked into the pacifica plugin and compared it to the sienna? Thanks.
Thank you for your comment, Hy. Because our primary function for minivan is traveling long-distance, the plug-in feature was less attractive to us vs. a better fuel economy. Pacifica is definitely a strong competitor to Sienna, however. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Very interesting!
I considered the cost the same when I was considering buying a Volkswagen ID4 or a Ford Mustang E (unlike Tesla, I would get a tax credit of about 6500 when buying) .... and I chose the Toyota Sienna 2021! :) (The new Kia Carnival is very interesting, but ... low-power 1.6-liter motro and disgusting paint quality). In a few days our new Sienna will be delivered to us! PS. Thanks for the "academic" review and comparison!
Hi Alexander, thank you for sharing your decision process, and congratulation with the your new 2021 Sienna. Happy driving!
I’m also considering minivan because we have been waiting for model x for a long time. To be fairs, as far as charging goes for Tesla, charging at home is convenient and cheaper than gas/supercharging however supercharging on long road trips are rare for us and we don’t find it difficult either.
Now I’m looking into Kia Carnival as it has more room and better amenity than sienna although it lacks hybrid engine. Just my two cents.
I would think twice about buying a kia as an automotive Technician, I would suggest you to stick with a sienna, I worked at kia for a month and trust me STAY away.
"murky delusion of overpriced status vehicles".....love it. Long live vanlife!
Completed a similar analysis and made the same decision. Tesla as a long distance vehicle did not align with my lifestyle
Your decision making process is just like everyone I know who owns a Tesla. 100% of them decided not to buy another EV. All of them bought hybrid or PHEV cars as their next car. They just found it too much of a pain on road trips that some stopped before and just rented ICE cars for road trips, even short ones.
Agreed. When the next generation of battery technology will allows 500-600 miles of range on one charge and the fast charging would not degrade battery life electric vehicles will become widely accepted. Until then the most ecologically considerate choice is a hybrid powertrain.
ICE will be banned in 10 years in some countries and over time everywhere in the world. This selfish idea that one's trip is more important than the planet's future won't last forever. And the range of EVs is improving every day: once you buy a 600 miles range Tesla, it won't make any difference
@@carloorelli3538 If one has kids and therefore limited time, buying a hybrid makes perfect sense.
Thanks for good advice n explanation
I am glad it was helpful. Thank you for watching. Cheers!
Very nice video, very clever man 👍
11:18 Titanium trim?
Is that a California option? 🤔
We bought a Sienna XLE and we love it.
I belive our good friend meant Platinum trim.
Wasn't considering Tesla, but this is helpful in considering conventional hybrid vs the Chrysler Pacifica plug in hybrid. The infrastructure in New Mexico is not particularly great for plug ins currently. I could maybe do it staying in major hotel chains about an eighth- quarter of the time. But camping--not so much.
I do have a question though--did you opt for the spare tire--and if so where did you put it. I believe it is placed on the left side (when you face the car from the back). Thanks. Very intelligent well thought out video. Subscribed.
Thank you for watching and commenting, Jay! Regarding your question about the spare wheel/tire in Hybrid Sienna - yes, it is a compact wheel/tire mounted on the driver side behind the rear axel. It is hidden behind a plastic cover, but is easily accessible from the rear hatch. I build a platform for sleeping inside of our van when camping and the easy access to the spare wheel/tire was an important consideration. Here is a link to that video with a timestamp showing the access to the spare whee/tire ua-cam.com/video/P7hjHLtXYow/v-deo.html in you interested. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@Tellvia Wow, thanks for your quick reply. I'll take a look.
Good decision
Subscribed.
Just got my XLE.
Question, did you pay Mark up when you bought it?
Thank you for watching and subscribing, Tae. In early 2021 there was a shortage of Sienna’s on dealers’ lots and vans were pre-sold before they arrived at the dealer. I did not pay a mark-up but paid full MSRP to get our minivan. Are they still in short supply? Cheers!
@@Tellvia yes , I think it's worse now at least where I am in LA area. Most dealers want $8k to 4k higher. I got mine $2500 higher but I justified it because my trade in was far higher than I expected also.
Simply there are not too many cars on the dealer lot.
They gave me $35600 for my 2019 Sienna SE premium and I paid $ 36800. It has 50k miles on it.
It is a crazy time in car world.
Thanks for your videos.
I especially like your dollar per dollar analysis with Tesla.
You are a very smart man,your analysis is on point,I would done the same thing 😉
Comprehensive and focused comparison and analysis!
If I may, I would like to make 2 comments:
1. The embedded tables of comparisons in the video are too low (on screen) causing the bottom part of the table to be somewhat blocked behind the youtube bottom play bar.
2. When comparing the "Time spent at supercharging" (6:24), I think it's unfair not to include the time that it takes to fill up full tank of fuel for the Audi (any car that requires fuel).
By my calculation it's 11 hours, sure it's extremely shorter time than supercharging but if making an accurate comparison, then I think it should be part of it.
Not sure if I have it right but 43 mpg * 18 gallons capacity = 774 range per tank. 100,000miles / 774 = 129 tanks. 5 minutes per tank * 129 = 11 hours. (In optimal conditions)
Hi Sharon, thank you for your comment and heads-up about the table being too low on the UA-cam page. Regarding the time spent at gas stations - according to web sources an average time to fill-up a car in the US is between 3-5 minutes. I calculated a fill-up fo Sienna at every 450 miles. We consistently get 36.5 mpg fuel consumption. The calculations were just to illustrate the point that a long distance travel in EVs is burdensome. I hope this makes sense. Cheers!
Is your Sienna AWD? If yes, can you test its offroad capabilities and make a video about it ?
At least trying a diagonal test to see if one rear wheel is powerful enough to push entire vehicle uphill with second rear wheel in the air.
I'm owing a Delica L400 and this is the greatest offroad van for camping. Gas consumption is bad though, but this is the only disadvantage of the vehicle.
I'm thinking my next camping rig will be Sienna now that it is hybrid and awd.
Hi Yury, thank you for your comment and the question. Yes, we have AWD option on our van. Based on discussions on other forums I understand that Sienna is not really a off-roader. The rear drive is electric motor driven. I am not sure if it has a limited slip differential. I can see on the display that read wheels get engaged only once in a while while accelerating and while van travels on highway curves at 70-75mph. I feel that RWD definitely improves handling of the vehicle. We took our van on some hilly gravel roads in a rain and I felt that FWD version would have probably slipped the front wheels in that situation but our van handled it well. I plan to talk in my next video about AWD advantages, but probably wont be able to test it with one wheel in the air :). Cheers!
If your criteria includes long term ownership costs, the Audi, is well known to become a money pit soon after the factory warranty expires. The Toyota is a 500k mile vehicle easily.
Thank you for watching, Branson! We actually have had good experience with Audis we owned but we treated them well and I did my own service on them. Toyota vehicles are less expensive to own on all fronts - fuel, parts, maintenance and resale. Happy driving!
Much better sienna hybrid.... Tesla X Have A LOT of issues (especially out of warranty)
Love to see a local (Sac) YT.
Thanks for your videos! Did you consider the Mercedes Metris passenger van? If yes, what disqualified it from your preferences? thanks
Hi Ow, thank you for your comment. Yes, we have considered Metris. It would have worked for us as well. The outstanding fuel economy of Sienna was the deciding factor. Cheers!
@@Tellvia thx for your reply. Btw, I forgot to mention that after watching most of your recent bike & auto videos I subscribed last week. I appreciate your taste for things that roll.
I noticed you have your Jackery on its side. When I contacted Jackery they said I should not position it that way. Have you seen any heat issues when doing it this way or anything else? Thanks.
Thank you for your comment. The ventilation intake and outlet are both on the sides that, in this video, face forward and to the back of the van and the vents are not blocked. I placed it this way to be able to see the display and plug the input/output power. So far we have not seen any issues with Jackery 1500 model. The model shown in this video is Jackery 1000, perhaps in applies to that model.
Just curious, you mentioned the 2021 Sienna “titanium” trim. Do you mean, platinum?
Thank you for watching, Raul. Yes, the Sienna trim is platinum. I ride titanium bikes and and the term is on my tong. LOL. Cheers!
Love the input on your videos :)). This one was very informative and I almost believed Toyota had a titanium Sienna that is the ultimate van ride haha ;). My wife and I are also getting the platinum which arrives in 1 month. :)). Cheers!
How do you order a Titanium trim? I found Platinum as the highest-level trim available. Thank you.
Hi Joseph, this is what happens when I misspeak 😀 Cheers!
YOU ARE CORRECTED.
I have a same feeling too. To me, it's too early to own a battery vehicle.
The 2021 Sienna has more Pro than 2021 Model Y, at least to myself.
Nice video, very well done. You should update your time spent at the supercharger table, because it's not realistically representing a gas vehicle's downtime. Of course getting off the highway to get gas will easily cost you 15-20 minutes of driving time each time. 100,000 miles averaging probably about 350 miles a tank, best case, puts you at the gas station 285 times. You can't say you lose no time. 285 stops x 20 minutes is about 95 hours. That's about 4 days, which is still far less, but still time lost. Also, saying you need a new battery after 100k miles isn't very realistic, based on what we've seen so far. Just because the battery warranty is done, doesn't mean its time to replace it. You should have a depreciated value of the battery, not a full replacement. This would be like saying you need a new car every time the warranty is up on it.
Also, no one in the market for a Tesla X or Audi SQ7 will realistically end up deciding on a Sienna, except if all they care about is economical and ergonomical performance. You are comparing 2 luxury cars with one mass market car. The buyers are completely in a different headspace for economics. If we are just taking about efficiency of your dollar and efficiency of performance, I doubt you will find anyone arguing against a Toyota. I love Toyotas btw, so no hate at all. But they aren't a Tesla or Audi. Driving experience, luxury features and feel, "it" factor... both cars are well above the Toyota in those categories. Safe travels!
Hi ST B, thank you for you comments. You bring a number of good points regarding comparison of the two vehicles in my video. I want to bring a couple of clarifications:
1)We just returned from a 2,500 mi trip in our Sienna and averaged a 37.4 mpg fuel efficiency, with ~ 575 miles per a full tank of gas.
2)Tesla does not sell parts, including batteries, to third parties for repair/installation. When we had to replace our Tesla battery after 5 years they used a refurbished battery, so the cost of battery replacement is realistic. I do agree with you that just because the warranty if over every car wouldn’t need a battery replacement, but I included this cost based on our experience and greater battery degradation when charging at superchargers. Since we would’ve used Model X mostly for highway use, most of charging would’ve been at superchargers.
3) Regarding luxury cars vs Toyotas you are absolutely right. I used to be a “German cars only” snob for many years. All new cars have gotten better in past 10-15 years (engines, build quality, tech and safety features) and the differences in everyday use have narrowed as well. Despite that the cachet of some luxury brands is higher than ever and Tesla is one of these aspirational vehicles. We love driving our Model S and I think no gas engine can compete with electric motor in driving fun. For our specific use (long distance highway trips), however, Toyota Sienna is a perfect fit and our our recent long distance trip confirmed it.
All the best, George.
the cargo capacity of the Toyota sienna is about 101 cubic feet. No? your comparison showed it at 150
Thank you for your question. There is confusion about the interior space in new 2021 Sienna because the rear seats are not removable according to Toyota. The 2020 Toyota Sienna has total cargo capacity listed at 150 cu ft (see this link for reference: www.manhattanbeachtoyota.com/blog/2020-toyota-sienna-legroom-and-cargo-capacity/). Since the 2021 van has the very similar dimensions as 2020 model and since I removed the second and third row seats the total cargo capacity of 150 cubit ft for the 2021 model is realistic. Cheers!
@@Tellvia it says 101 cf volume in 2021, v.s. 117 cf for 2020 sienna. www.lexingtontoyota.com/clp-2021-toyota-sienna-vs-2020-toyota-sienna.
Did you actually up to Toronto in the Sienna? :)
When the US/Canada border will open we plan to do it :)
I saw the clip of our Don Valley Parkway... :)
Same
Molodets! Sacramentchaninu ponravilosi. No я склоняюсь к Одисею. Подписался.
Never buy a Tesla still Elon Musk manipulating cryptocurrency markets... 🤮
He is a con man.
Toyota Sienna passenger experience is much better then model X.