Minivan Review: 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum is a properly premium minivan | Reviews

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Does the world need a premium minivan? We think it’s worth a shot, and Toyota does, too. Amid a flurry of upgrades to the Toyota Sienna for 2025, the long-awaited Platinum grade joins the Sienna lineup. This isn’t the industry’s first kick at the high-end minivan can. Both the Chrysler Pacifica and the Kia Carnival have made attempts at it. But take features like a cool box, that beloved built-in vacuum, and second-row captain’s chairs with footrests, and combine them with practicalities like a hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive, and we think the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum stands the best chance yet of being a hit.

The issue, though, is the asking price. Will Canadians show up for a minivan that costs more than $70,000? Many families would benefit much more from this than an equal spend on a large SUV. But we still think it’ll probably be as hard a sell as all minivans tend to be, and that’s a shame. It was a genuine joy to revisit the Toyota Sienna during this wintry week of high-school-hockey shuttling where all its best attributes had a chance to shine.

What type of vehicle is the 2025 Toyota Sienna?

The 2025 Toyota Sienna is a minivan. It’s the only minivan sold in Canada that simultaneously offers all-wheel drive (AWD) and a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. For 2025, the Toyota Sienna receives upgrades across its lineup, including a new top-tier Platinum trim.

What’s new on the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum?

Platinum is a new trim offered on the Toyota Sienna for 2025. It slots in above the Limited grade to become the new top of the lineup.

For the interior, Platinum offers a new macadamia and black colour combination for the leather upholstery. This is thoughtfully executed with the light colour higher up on the seatbacks and black laid out on the seat cushions. It brightens up the interior and adds some visual interest while reducing the risk of stains. An all-black interior is also available.

The reworked centre console includes glossy wood inserts, a finish that’s also available on the Limited grade for 2025. The XSE trim gets a gloss black serrated finish, while dark grey paint is used on LE and XLE. Underneath, there’s room for a large tote bag or backpack. A small fridge is integrated into the back of the centre console on the Platinum grade. It’s roughly the size of a small cooler and can be switched on and off. Because it’s at the back of the console and the lid lifts upward, this is much easier to access from the second row than from the first.

Built-in vacuums are popular in minivans, and you can finally get one in the Sienna on the 2025 Platinum. Unlike some van vacuums where everything gets stuffed into a lidded compartment, the Sienna’s vacuum components come in a separate storage bag. It fits nicely into the centre console, but if you want that space for other stuff then it could easily be tossed into the cargo area. Three different attachments are included. We gave this a test run and found it worked great for getting gunk out of the perforations in the leather seats.

The Platinum trim also receives a 10-inch colour head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, and two-tone 18-inch wheels.

Which minivan has the best second-row seats?

In our opinion, the second-row seats in the Toyota Sienna Platinum are the best you’ll find in a minivan today. While it’s true they don’t share every feature with the VIP seats in the Kia Carnival Hybrid SX+, in many ways the Sienna’s seats are more practical. The heated captain’s chairs in the Sienna Limited and Platinum introduce footrests to Toyota’s minivan for the first time, matching that aspect of Kia’s offerings. However, Toyota’s seats can be pulled forward to provide access to the third row in two ways, either to maximize the access or to keep a car seat in place. Kia’s VIP seats can be moved side to side, but this strikes us as a less useful feature than third-row access, which Kia’s seats don’t provide. The second-row seats in the Toyota Sienna Platinum offer the right balance between flexibility and comfort.

How much power does the 2025 Toyota Sienna have?

• 2.5L I-4 hybrid; 245 horsepower

The powertrain is unchanged in the 2025 Toyota Sienna versus the previous model year. Every trim comes with Toyota’s hybrid drive system as standard, matched with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine. In front-wheel-drive (FWD) vans, all power is delivered to the front axle. In AWD models, an electric motor is added at the rear axle to create electric all-wheel drive. Total system output is 245 horsepower. Since the engine and electric motors reach peak torque at different points in the acceleration curve, Toyota doesn’t provide official torque figures.

What is the fuel economy of the 2025 Toyota Sienna?

• Sienna AWD: 6.8 / 6.7 / 6.8 L/100 km city / highway / combined

According to Natural Resources Canada, the 2025 Toyota Sienna has fuel consumption figures of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 6.5 on the highway, and 6.6 combined with FWD. With AWD, expect to burn 6.8 L/100 km city, 6.7 highway, and 6.8 combined.

At the end of our cold and snowy week in Canada with the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum, we saw an average of 7.2 L/100 km combined. (This was following a 35-kilometre highway run in good conditions, which is why the final figure is lower than what you see in our photographs.) Given that we were running the heat frequently and made short drives from a cold start almost daily, this figure is very reasonable.

2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum driving impressions

In most situations, the Toyota Sienna is very pleasant to drive. Putting a heavy battery underneath a minivan goes a long way toward reducing top-heaviness and body roll. Thanks to the electric motors, low-speed acceleration is great. The only situation where the Sienna feels lacking in power is under heavy acceleration such as highway merging, but it’s livable. Given that the goal in the Sienna’s powertrain is maximum fuel economy, most potential minivan drivers will be willing to make the trade.

For 2025, all grades of the Sienna receive updates to the seats, centre console, and dashboard. In the Platinum trim we tested, the driver’s seat felt comfortable and supportive. The door and centre console armrests are level and have a good amount of padding, providing an ergonomic seating position. We expect the 2025 Sienna Platinum will be an excellent long-haul road tripper.

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How many passengers can fit in the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum?

The new 2025 Toyota Sienna’s new Platinum trim provides seating for up to seven passengers. This includes two passengers in the front row, two in the second-row captain’s chairs, and three in the third row. Seating for eight passengers is available on the Sienna’s lower trims with the second-row bench.

As noted above, the Sienna Platinum’s second-row captain’s chairs are very versatile. One of their best features is the cup holders integrated into the sides of the seats, which have elasticized netting to secure beverages. Even children in car seats can reach and use them, which is unusually handy for cup holders in this space.

In the third row, two USB-C ports are available on the right side above the pair of cup holders. You’ll also find a headphone jack and a volume knob on each side of this row that connects to the built-in rear entertainment system. There are vents back here, but they’re roof-mounted and may be out of reach for shorter passengers. On the Platinum trim, each rear side window has an integrated window shade. The seat-mounted loops that pull to collapse the 60-40 split third-row seats from the front side are convenient, but you’ll need to make sure they’re out of reach of young children while the van is in motion.

Up to four anchored car seats will fit in the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum at one time. Each of the second-row captain’s chair has a full set of anchors, and these can be pushed forward with car seats in place to provide access to the third row. There, you’ll find anchors for the two outboard seats, or a car seat can be fully anchored at the centre position.

2025 Toyota Sienna cargo space

• 949 / 2,129 / 2,860 L behind third-row/second row/front-row seats

Cargo capacities are unchanged in the 2025 Toyota Sienna versus the 2024 model. Every Sienna has 949 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 2,129 L behind the second-row seats, and 2,860 L behind the front-row seats. This total capacity is lower than in the Chrysler Pacifica because the Sienna’s second-row seats are not designed to be removable, which has become more common in minivans in recent years. With all seats raised, the Sienna’s rear cargo area has several helpful features such as a shelf on the left side, hooks for grocery bags, and a 1,500-watt household plug powered by the hybrid battery.

2025 Toyota Sienna technology features

The Sienna’s tech features get some significant upgrades for 2025. The latest version of Toyota’s infotainment system is now standard along with dual microphones for better call clarity and USB-C ports throughout the cabin. (One USB-A port remains on the dashboard next to the driver.)

All grades but the base LE receive a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. On Limited and Premium Siennas, a three-year trial subscription to Toyota’s Drive Connect system provides access to cloud-based navigation, voice controls, and access to a live agent to assist with finding locations and uploading them to your vehicle’s navigation system.

In the XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims, a matching 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is standard. Platinum vehicles also receive a 10-inch colour head-up display.

A new version of the Qi wireless charging pad is standard on every 2025 Sienna. This charges phones faster and does a better job of keeping them in place. We didn’t see any phones sliding around or losing connection at all during our week of testing.

Higher-trim Siennas still receive the legacy rear-seat entertainment system that drops a screen from the headliner. With an HDMI port and a household plug at the back of the centre console, the screen can be used for devices such as video game systems, which makes a stronger case for choosing a trim with this feature in the age of ubiquitous iPads and other tablets.

The Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of safety and driver assistance features is standard on the Toyota Sienna. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and road edge detection, lane tracing assist, a collision mitigation system with pedestrian and bicycle detection, and automatic high beams. On top of that, the brand’s new Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system makes its global debut as standard equipment on the 2025 Toyota Sienna.

How does Toyota’s Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system work?

Toyota’s new Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system, which debuts in the 2025 Toyota Sienna, uses a 60-GHz radar mounted under the headliner to send alerts if a child, pet, or other passenger may have been left behind in the vehicle. If movement is detected in the second or third rows once the vehicle is off, the driver’s door has opened and closed, and the van has been locked, the system initiates a series of warnings to draw attention to itself and the occupants inside.

First, the Sienna’s hazard lights flash and the door lock chime sounds. If there’s been no response after 90 seconds and the system still detects movement, the horn begins to activate. If the owner has opted in to notifications through the Toyota app, they’ll receive a push notification and a text message four minutes after the alert begins. If there’s no response for two minutes after that, the system tries to generate an automated phone call.

Toyota says this new system is more sensitive than those found in competitive vehicles. It can sense movement in low light and even underneath objects such as blankets. Owners can also temporarily or permanently disable the system on demand.

The Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system that debuts on the 2025 Toyota Sienna will remain active for up to 10 years, or for as long as 4G connectivity is available.

How much is the 2025 Toyota Sienna in Canada?

Pricing on the 2025 Toyota Sienna starts in Canada at $48,015 with the LE FWD. The new top-tier grade, the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD, has a Canadian starting price of $72,290.

Is the 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum worth it?

Canadians have gone so SUV-mad that the idea of spending more than $70,000 on a minivan is likely to be a tough sell. But if you compare this price to a top-trim mainstream SUV — and in a Honda Pilot or Toyota Grand Highlander, for example, the price is not that far off — the Sienna provides much better everyday practicality for families. Plus, while the new Platinum trim has some interesting features, there’s nothing about it that’s essential. You can spend a lot less within the Sienna lineup and drive away in a vehicle that will serve you and your family very well for years. If you need three rows and mostly drive in the city, you really ought to consider a minivan. And among the current crop, many buyers will find the 2025 Toyota Sienna to be the best option. Opt for the XSE AWD with the Technology Package for the best value.

Pros

✔ The only hybrid AWD van on the market
✔ Excellent fuel economy for three rows of seats
✔ Second row gets great features while staying functional

Cons

✘ $70,000-plus for a minivan is a tall order
✘ Bogs down under hard acceleration
✘ Second-row seats can’t be removed

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