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I think most of us have been here before. We see an interesting topic and we just know the audience feedback will be worth reading – probably better than the article or video itself. With that being said, I recently wrote a Torque News story discussing the rumored 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid.
We don’t really know if it is coming or not. However, it has been fun speculating. I feel a Sienna Hybrid would satisfy many potential owners in that it would have terrific gas mileage, provide enough power for most driver needs, and it would be smooth and quiet during long family road trips.
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Your comments have been greatly appreciated. Here is what you had to say about the 2021 Sienna Hybrid rumors circling the waters.
“I’m just here for the comments”
Rocketman had this to say. “A hybrid or even plug in hybrid option makes a lot of sense. I'm ready to get a redesigned Sienna with some form of electrification.”
Middlechild20 added plenty of logic and excitement. “I have family who work at the Indiana plant that makes the Sienna. I've had a Camry for over 10 years, and my loyalty lies with Toyota. When I started my family in 2016, and now have 2 kids, I have wanted a Sienna. Since I've been told the 100% hybrid model year was coming, I held out buying the gas model. I plan to drive this vehicle until my kids are graduated from high school, if not college, so the gas savings over those years means a lot to me. From what I'm told from those who work there, the 2021 models will not offer a gas only option. Take my money Toyota! I'm ready to be a minivan driving soccer mom!”
“I'm hoping that the same powertrain from the upcoming Rav4 Prime will be available in the 2021 Sienna. A PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) minivan that has AWD and able to tow a small utility trailer would really be a great vehicle for us. The Pacifica PHEV comes up short on not being able to tow ANYTHING, and with no available AWD. After lots of pondering, a PHEV hybrid minivan just makes sense on being an all-around practical vehicle.” Added reader John.
For those who have never owned a hybrid vehicle, it is completely normal to have concerns and objections.
David had true concerns. “If a new Toyota Sienna model was only available in hybrid, no chance of gasoline only, I will be looking more at the Honda Odyssey. I'm old school and don't have a desire to own a hybrid. No thanks. Stay with the tried and true reliable engine and transmission.”
Comment of the day
The specific comment I found most interesting was this one from reader DONTNIX.
“Pacifica owner waiting to see what Toyota offers in 2021 Sienna. I pick up grandkids. The more power equipment and safety the better. Hybrid is great if reliable. Warranties are not long enough.”
This is the perfect time to talk about Toyota’s recent announcement of an expanded, extended warranty that covers the main hybrid battery.
Toyota Hybrid Warranty and Sienna Hybrid
I have studied the Toyota brand for the last 15 years. Perhaps the biggest objection or concern I have heard over the years about hybrids, starting with Prius, is that the battery is expensive to replace. I am sure this was a factor in people over the years deciding not to purchase a Toyota hybrid.
What people may not have known at the time is that Toyota had an 8-year or 100,000-mile warranty (whichever came first) on the hybrid battery. This knowledge could have potentially alleviated any uneasiness buyers had over battery expenses.
Let’s take things to the next level.
Toyota has recently announced a significant improvement to its existing hybrid battery warranty. Beginning with 2020 and newer models, every hybrid battery is covered up to 10 years or 150,000 miles from date of first use, whichever comes first.
This enhancement should provide many prospective buyers with peace of mind where there was once hesitation. At least where the hybrid battery is concerned.
Benefits of a Toyota hybrid, including 2021 Sienna Hybrid
Toyota is mapping out a five-year and longer plan for its entire lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. It plans on offering a hybrid or alternative fuel option for every one of its models by the year 2025. Sales of hybrids / alternative fuels are currently around 9 to 10 percent. This should be around 25 percent within 5 years.
Are you ready? Are you willing?
To me, the thought of owning a hybrid, while new to some and still not in the forefront of everyone’s mind, makes sense in many ways.
Gas mileage improvements are often significant. For example, the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid is now the best-selling hybrid Toyota makes and RAV4 is the best-selling SUV in the country. Oh, and by the way, it is rated at 40 miles per gallon. The all-new 2020 Highlander Hybrid will reach dealerships before we know it – and with fuel estimates up to 36 mpg combined. Incredible.
Also, maintenance for a Toyota hybrid vehicle follows the same schedule as a vehicle that is not a hybrid. There are no major differences in how to properly maintain your hybrid over the length of ownership.
Time for your thoughts on a possible Sienna Hybrid
If the growing buzz and chatter about a rumored 2021 Toyota Sienna ends up coming to fruition, it could really alter the automotive landscape as we know it. This could be the first time that a traditional Toyota gasoline-only model completely flips and only offers a hybrid options to the public.
Will people take to it immediately as Toyota hopes? The newly expanded battery warranty will help for sure.
YOU MAY ENJOY: Watch my video review and learn key highlights of Toyota Sienna XLE.
I feel Toyota will have to come up with a new line of marketing and advertising. One that offers benefits not just for a Sienna Hybrid, but for hybrids in general. To provide answers to concerns of potential buyers who have never wanted to or had the opportunity to own a Toyota hybrid before. To give peace of mind.
Ladies and gentlemen, I feel the 2021 Sienna Hybrid will probably be here before we know it. The question is, will you be ready for it?
Thanks for reading everyone. Are you on board with the idea of a possible hybrid version of Toyota Sienna? What reasons are you looking forward to it? Will increased gas mileage change the types of family trips and vacations you take? If you are not feeling love for a Sienna Hybrid, what concerns do you have?
Please bookmark my Torque News Toyota page so you can follow along with my daily news, updates and reviews. See you next story when I show how to unlock all doors at same time on 2020 RAV4 and 2020 Highlander.
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Take a tour of the not-yet-released 2020 Highlander Hybrid Limited in my video review. Please subscribe to Torque News YouTube channel for this and other popular exclusive videos.
Bookmark Jeff Teague's Toyota News and Reviews at Torque News Toyota. Please subscribe to Jeff’s “Toyotajeff” YouTube channel for Toyota news, reviews and how-to videos. Follow Jeff on Facebook and Instagram. Find him on Twitter @toyotajeff1 and tweet him tips for new stories.
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Comments
I realized recently I will
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I realized recently I will probably never buy another ICE vehicle. Owning a 2016 Prius Three has convinced me its hybrid technology is superior in drivability, efficiency, and longevity. The CVT is smooth and I expect it will outlast conventional gearboxes. The brakes are like new at 85,000 miles so they may last 300,000+ miles. At each 10,000 mile oil change the oil remains honey-colored and at the top of the dipstick. Power is smooth and adequate, though engine noise is noticeable when pushed. We are quite happy with our 2017 Pacifica, but all that shifting of gears by its 9-speed automatic seems positively primitive. The Pacifica hybrid was attractive but seemed too risky as a new technology from Chrysler. I'm excited we should see a Sienna PHEV someday soon. I'd think the RAV4 Prime's 302 hp hybrid drivetrain would be sufficient.
The sienna is one of the
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The sienna is one of the vehicles people keep for 15 plus years. My 2006 sienna limited has 165,000 now and since it's pretty much trouble free and drives like a luxury car I'll be holding on to it until the engine blows up. 10 year/150000 miles just went cut it for me.
With Toyota being at the
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With Toyota being at the Hybrid game much longer than others(and providing as always an outstanding product across its entire line), this variant of the Sienna should prove reliable.
Ervin Raab
Orion-Aerospace.com
For me, the joy of owning a
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For me, the joy of owning a Sienna is traveling with my family. I've been waiting for my dream road trip vehicle is an AWD, hybrid minivan with towing power. I don't want an all electric bc I don't want to be limited to only going the places/times I can charge. I enjoy the freedom of gas/battery hybrid of my Prius & hope the Sienna will improve upon that capability. If not, I'll wait.
This article is borderline
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The Sienna hybrid has been "rumored" for 10 years. With minivan and Sienna sales tanking, I doubt they will spend a dime on designing one. The sienna may not make it at all to 2025. It takes months to get enough Pacifica Hybrid orders for them to run a line... I'm still waiting for my 2nd to come. I have two old Siennas, but I clearly gave up waiting for Toyota.
I like to keep a car for 10
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I like to keep a car for 10 years. And with my driving, hybrids will start saving me money after 4 years. We have three kids and keep 2013 Sienna for long trips. We enjoy 8 seater version, in this case, we do not use 3rd row.
We hope that Toyota will introduce Sienna hybrid soon and it will be available in 8 seater trim.
Thanks so much for this post.
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Thanks so much for this post. As someone of moderate income who’s waiting to go electric one of the key factors for me is going to be that it’s a PHEV with a forced electric option of 20 or 30 miles. The reason is simple. My wife won’t get a big minivan unless she can drive it around our small town in all electric after it trickle charges at our house. And I don’t blame her.
None will allow forced
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None will allow forced electric I'll bet.
Most people aren't smarter than the vehicle's battery management computer.
Buy a Pacifica. It's available now and works. I doubt you'll ever see a Sienna.
Thanks. So maybe it's a
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In reply to None will allow forced by Tim G. (not verified)
Thanks. So maybe it's a technicality that we want a 100% electric setting. My dad has a new Toyota PHEV Prime and he seems to be able to force it to be almost all-electric and get very high mileage. He's obsessed with hypermiling in hi old age and announces upon opening the door to our house his exact mileage. "120 the back way!!". So, if there is a PHEV Sienna we should be able to make it be *almost* all-electric by driving conservatively for the first 20 miles on some super eco setting right?
"I'm from the old school."
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"I'm from the old school." This means people are afraid to admit new engineering is better than what they know about cars. These folks still change oil every 3000 miles (waste of resources), use kerosene lamps at home, and they use an outhouse (no indoor plumbing). Get with the program, people!
We live in SoCal and have a
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We live in SoCal and have a 2000 Sienna with $245K miles - still driving it every day - getting the same MPG as new models. We've been waiting to upgrade to a new hybrid SUV. We will not buy a Chrysler as we've had bad experience with them. Sienna and Odyssey are our top choices - we will buy the top of the line minivan that releases their hybrid version first. Until then, we'll stick to our old Sienna. Toyota, Honda - are you listening?
Fima, I’m a plus one on that
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Fima, I’m a plus one on that for sure. We probably can only afford a three year old first generation hybrid so until then I need to get a used sienna to replace our 2009 Subaru forester which is getting old and small. I’m wondering what year is a good year to buy used. I’m looking at Carvana and the prices are all over the map including surprisingly cheap 2018 models. Consumer reports has pretty even ratings for Sienna years: 12,13,15,16,18. But of course the most ratings are for the older model. We definitely need a third row and a back up camera other than that I’m not sure whether to buy an LE, L, XLE. any thoughts? I think recently they got an eight speed transmission.
I'm all for a hybrid, but I
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I'm all for a hybrid, but I hope Toyota focuses on other shortcomings of the current model. I have a 2010 Sienna Limited AWD and have kept it because it is better than the current generation. The interior design and quality are better, the way the second row seats fold offers more space than currently and protect the seats from cargo behind when folded. I want fold flat seats like the Pacifica, but more comfortable. AWD and a spare tire. Toyota has had a very long time to work on the next generation and it needs to be superior in ALL ways, not just in drive train. And finally, it needs to NOT look like a blow fish or a kid's transformer toy.
The reason Sienna is well
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The reason Sienna is well-loved is that it's long-lasting, and it has great resell value, so it's a win-win if you decide to keep or sell your car after 7 or more years. However, the new Hybrid engine may have doom this perfect scenario, let me explain.
Hybrid engines don't last long as well-built gas engines. On average after 5-6 years some battery cells inside the hybrid battery will start to wear out, if you're lucky your battery can last 7 years until some cells starts to go bad and needs replacement. Replacing them aren't cheap and usually dealership/shops will simply replaced the damaged battery cells, but the problem is hybrid engine have many battery cells that you're mixing new and old cells together and the old ones will, yep, go bad down the road and it's another multi-hundred if not thousands dollars of repairs. You may say "I'll just get a new hybrid battery replacement", currently Toyota sells them at around $7000.
This pretty much destroys the resell value that Sienna used to enjoy, and if you want to avoid the headache yourself you may need to buy a new Sienna every 7 years, and, do yourself a favorite, don't buy used hybrid Siennas in the future.
As for the warranty, unless you have really honest dealers around you they will do the usual: 1) Blame you for the problem and not honor the warranty, or 2) Ask you to pay for hundreds of dollars of "additional repairs" as part of the warranty repair.