In its transition from the fourth to fifth generation model, Toyota transformed the Prius into a Looker. Now Toyota needs to make the next Sienna shine.
Toyota put a bit of work into the 2025 Sienna. Adding cool features like a small refrigerator in the second row. It sits just above a new built-in vacuum cleaner. Neat tricks. You also get a new, potentially lifesaving, proactive child-left-in-the-car warning called Advanced Rear Seat Reminder. It uses RADAR and increasingly urgent attention getting strategies to let you know you left something that’s moving in the car.
But you do not get new styling. The 2025 Toyota Sienna looks much like it did when its fourth generation debuted for the 2021 model year. And that’s fine. The Sienna looks fine. It largely gets the same door wedge on wheels shape that all minivans do.
pretty Prius
Much of the same sentiments held true of the Toyota Prius as well. Attractive never came to mind when describing it. After all, form always followed function. It’s beauty lied in its purpose: fuel economy. Frankly, thanks to its absurdly high rear-end, the Prius looked much like a small minivan.
Then the 2023 Prius arrived and shattered the notion that its function negated any chance at having good form. The fifth generation Toyota Prius looks good. It’s sleek, sweeping, and—yes—attractive.
All the wonky lines gave way to a long, clean curve from the front bumper to the roof. As your eye follows the car rearward, you see it take a gentler arc downward to a still high rear-end. But its also much better integrated into the rest of the body and looks meant to be. Impactful, not gaudy.
When I first saw it, I was gobsmacked.
Why not the Sienna?
The Sienna is currently midway through its fourth generation. And I think it’s time for a repeat. Make the Sienna a few inches longer and a couple inches wider. Take away the multitudes of lines creased into the body, clean up the shape, and blend in the rear-end more gracefully.
Think more rocket ship and less hockey mom. Think more bullet train and less Amazon delivery van. Make the Sienna look like a tall, three-row Prius and you’ll have something that appeals to more than just families.
Think outdoorsy folks that want to haul more gear. Think tailgaters that want to park in style. Think DIYer’s that want to carry new materials inside a box, not in an exposed pick-up bed.
You will still leave plenty of space for fridges, vacuums, lounge seats, and the all the accoutrements. But, you will also penned a vehicle that turns heads.
