2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD: The Minivan That Makes Tucker Feel Like a King
The minivan segment is absolutely heating up right now, and the 2026 Toyota Sienna in its top Platinum grade has a lot worth checking out inside. For context, my family and I just spent three weeks crossing 20 states in its main rival, the updated 2027 Chrysler Pacifica. So after a week in the Sienna, what stood out to us?
First, a huge thank you to Toyota for loaning us this Sienna for a week of testing. It also served as our workhorse for the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo trip we just got back from.
The 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum Hybrid Never Stopped Sipping
Pop the very short hood, held up by a prop rod, and you will find the Sienna’s hybrid-only powertrain. Every Sienna gets a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid making 245 net combined horsepower, and our tester adds electronic on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD). It is good for well over 30 MPG no matter what. In fact, in right at 600 miles of highway driving and running errands around town, we averaged 35.1 MPG without ever having to plug it in. The EPA rates it at 35 MPG city, 36 highway, and 35 combined.
The Pacifica recently dropped its only hybrid option, a plug-in hybrid that lost some of its efficiency on long drives. The Sienna, on the other hand, delivered in every situation we threw at it, whether that was long stretches of empty Texas highway or stop-and-go traffic trying to get from Denton to Dallas proper.
Low and Sleek, With One Caveat
Nothing has really changed on the outside of the 2026 Sienna, which is fine by me. It still has very nice styling, and LED lighting, including fog lights, makes it look very premium up front. But after living with this van and the Chrysler, I noticed the Sienna sits very low. In the parking lot where I film practically every video, I have to exit at just the right angle so I don’t scrape the lower valence. Less air underneath the van means less fuel burned, so it makes sense, but it is something to keep in mind.
Wheel Covers on a Platinum
Toyota did something very interesting with the wheels on the 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum. The overall five split-spoke design looks very nice, but these are actually plastic wheel covers. From a distance, you probably can’t even tell, which is exactly what Toyota is going for. The 18-inch wheels wear 235/60R18 Bridgestone Turanza tires, and after our time in it across Texas, they have been very quiet and comfortable. I have no complaints about the tire choice, but the wheel covers are an interesting choice for a top trim.
Kick-to-Open Sliding Doors
You get a little brightwork on the door handles, but you don’t even have to use them on the back doors. The Sienna has hands-free power sliding doors that open or close with a kick under the door, which Tucker has really enjoyed. As a result, whether you are getting something in or out, it is very easy. The doors are a little on the slow side, though.
My only real gripe with the profile is the rear quarter window. It looks fine from the outside, but inside I will explain why I have such a big gripe with it when we get to the third row. In addition, one more detail worth calling out is the strong character line over the rear wheels, borrowed from the Toyota Supra.
Supra Cues Out Back
That Supra influence carries to the back, too, with a little spoiler-like detail and a trailing edge under both taillights that give the Sienna a youthful, athletic look. You also get plenty of bright Platinum badging. That said, one small nitpick: the rear turn signals are incandescent bulbs, which feels decidedly less than premium on a $62k van.
Why a Minivan Beats an SUV for Cargo
The power liftgate also has a kick-to-open feature, and there is a lot of space inside. Third-row seats are nothing new in the minivan segment, but when you cross-shop a minivan against a three-row SUV, there are some strong benefits. Even with the third row up, there is so much vertical space that I can comfortably sit back there, with 33.5 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row. And because the bumper is low, it is much easier to load and unload. I proved it with a giant, heavy trophy. It slid right into the Sienna, while I had to lift it noticeably higher to get it into the back of an SUV.
What makes the Sienna a little more unique is how the third row folds. Pull a handle and, in one swift motion, the seat back becomes the floor. Still, I don’t like this as much as the Pacifica, where the seat bottom becomes the floor, giving more consistent coverage. The little flaps that cover the headrests don’t seem like a strong cover, either. The Kia Carnival works the same way as the Sienna, while the Pacifica and Honda Odyssey fold the way I prefer. The seats are spring-loaded, though, so getting them back up takes almost no effort. You also get three top tethers, bag hooks for groceries, and a 1,500-watt power outlet for tailgating on the back of the seats when upright.
A Starship Bridge Up Front
Getting in is easy with proximity keyless entry on all five doors. Open the door, and you are greeted by a nice two-tone interior with lots of storage, including tiered pockets in the door. The front seats offer two-person memory and four-way lumbar, and the darker lower section means you don’t have to worry about your jeans rubbing off on the lighter color. They have also been very comfortable on our long hauls, and they are heated and ventilated.
Behind the wheel, you get a fully digital gauge cluster, a head-up display that I have looked at more than anything else, a digital rearview mirror, and a new, much bigger and wider touchscreen for 2026. That screen might be one of the biggest reasons to buy a newer Sienna. Additionally, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and there are plenty of physical buttons, including a camera button oddly placed over my left knee.
The Sienna’s dash and center console are my favorite in the segment. A long tray stretches across the front, and the bridge-style console with a Qi wireless charger makes me feel like I am piloting the Starship Enterprise. Meanwhile, underneath is the largest center pass-through in the entire business, and I don’t just mean minivans. You also get plenty of cupholders, a rotating center console lid with USB-C ports, and drive modes for Sport, Normal, Eco, and EV.
Four-Zone Climate and a Few Gripes
I haven’t had to push the ventilated seat button since we got the Sienna, because it remembers I had it on full blast. Even better, the Sienna has four-zone automatic climate control, with dual zones up front and dual zones in the rear. You don’t even see that in some high-end luxury vehicles. No fighting over the temperature here.
I was a little surprised to hear an uncharacteristic rattle somewhere up front, which is driving me crazy. We gave the Pacifica grief for its center console rattle, but at least the Sienna’s console doesn’t rattle no matter how I shake it. You don’t get an interior camera like the Pacifica’s FamCAM, just a convex mirror to check on passengers. Even so, I do like the rocker switches for the sliding doors, which tell you whether you are opening or closing, and the power moonroof’s quick manual shade.
The 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum Second Row Is the Place to Be
The second-row seats are where you want to be in the Sienna. At 5-foot-10, I have plenty of legroom sitting behind my own driving position. In addition, I get a generous recline, built-in armrests on both sides, a seatbelt that moves with the seat, and grab handles that make it easy to climb in, proving minivans are for all ages.
The real trick is what Toyota calls the Super Long Slide. Pull one lever and the seat slides so far back that I had to fold the third row into the floor to use all of it, and the panel is even shaped to contour around the wheel well. Then, pull another lever and an ottoman pops out. Consequently, paired with the recline, it is an incredibly comfortable spot for long road trips. I can even pull the door handle to close the sliding door from my seat.
The windows go down pretty far, and the built-in sunshades help, though the curved window means they don’t cover all of it. You also get ceiling-mounted air vents, which are great for rear-facing car seats in the Texas summer, and three-stage heated captain’s chairs.
A Cooler, a Vacuum, and a Big Screen
A ceiling-mounted 11.6-inch HD entertainment screen does block the rearview mirror, so you will want the camera mirror when the kids are watching. There is a remote, and I like having one centered screen instead of screens on the backs of the front seats, which is better for rear-facing car seats. The back of the center console also has two cupholders and a new-for-2026 rubberized tray that opens to reveal a cooler, very handy on hot summer days. Below that, you also get an HDMI port, USB ports, the cooler button, and a 1,500-watt household-style outlet.
There is also a built-in vacuum, with the hose and attachments stashed in a pouch in the cargo area. It is quite powerful, which we needed after all that white dirt, and it empties from a little plastic canister. I like the Pacifica’s Stow ’n Vac a little better because it is all built in and contained, but this works.
A Third Row With a View Problem
To get into the third row, you can climb between the captain’s chairs or pull a handle to compact the seat and slide it forward for a nice runway. The third row also has lower LATCH anchors in all three positions, including the center, which you don’t typically see. There are headphone jacks, USB-C ports, cupholders, sunshades, and ceiling vents, and the seat backs recline, which you will want because the upright position is very upright. The seat sits a little low, so my knees are a little high. It isn’t the most comfortable third row in the business, but it isn’t the worst, and it is much better than the outgoing Highlander’s.
Now, about that window. In Boston on our 20-state road trip, we took an Uber in a Sienna. Tucker had been riding in the Pacifica’s third row the entire trip and could see out just fine. In the back of that Sienna, I couldn’t see any of the attractions Holli and Tucker were talking about up front. Unfortunately, this cramped rear window is more style than function.
Tucker Feels Like a King
We used the Sienna for what minivans do best: the school drop-off line. On the day it was delivered, I picked Tucker up from school and showed him how far his seat slides, how far it reclines, and how the ottoman pops out. His first words? “I feel like a king.”
After 20 states in the Pacifica, I asked him which van he liked better. “Definitely” the Sienna, he said. He also loves the cooler on the back of the console, the fold-down TV, and how easy it is to open the sliding doors with a button or a kick under the door. As he put it, you don’t actually have to kick the van. You kick underneath it, and it just knows your foot is there.
Driving the 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum Is Smooth and Easy
After 600 miles, the Sienna is just so nice to drive. Above all, the ride is smooth, and the seating position is high without feeling tippy. Most of the time, I don’t even think about that low chin. The AWD system is unique: there is no mechanical connection to the rear wheels, unlike the AWD Pacifica we drove across the U.S. Instead, an electric motor powers the rear wheels, while the front wheels get a combination of electric motor and four-cylinder power. In fact, it is one of just two AWD minivans on the market.
Plenty Quick, If a Little Appliance-ish
Compared to the V6 engines in the Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, and Kia Carnival, the hybrid four-cylinder does feel strained when you really push it. Admittedly, it feels a little appliance-ish, and it isn’t the quickest van out there. But in stop-and-go traffic and highway cruising, which is 90% of its life, it is smooth, quiet, and competent, and the engine often isn’t even running around town. You can merge onto the highway in a hurry; it just won’t be the most pleasant experience.
I also really like how maneuverable the Sienna is. EV mode makes low-speed parking lot driving effortless, and the turning radius feels quite a bit better than the Pacifica’s, which was a shortcoming we ran into multiple times on our road trip. The 360-degree camera system with an invisible car view shows your tire placement and remembers what you drove over, making tight parking spots very easy. You can set the cameras to come on automatically below about seven MPH, which is handy in parking lots but a little annoying when you are slowing for a turn and want to see your navigation.
2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum AWD Specs and Pricing
Powertrain
- 2.5-Liter DOHC 16-Valve Inline Four-Cylinder Hybrid Engine With D-4S Injection and Dual VVT-i
- Three Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electric Motors (Two Front, One Rear)
- 245 Net Combined System Horsepower
- Sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) Traction Battery
- Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) With Sequential Shift Mode
Drivetrain
- Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Drive Modes: Normal, ECO, EV, and Sport
Suspension
- Independent MacPherson Strut Front Suspension
- Multi-Link Rear Suspension
Wheels and Tires
- 18-Inch Two-Tone Wheels
- P235/60R18 Bridgestone Turanza LS100 All-Season Tires
Towing
- 3,500 Pounds
Exterior
- Hands-Free Dual Power Sliding Side Doors and Power Liftgate
- Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof With Sunshade
- Signature Bi-LED Projector Headlights With LED-Strip Daytime Running Lights
Interior and Seating
- Seating for 7
- Leather-Trimmed Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
- 8-Way Power Driver’s Seat With Power Lumbar and Memory
- 4-Way Power Front Passenger Seat
- Heated Premium Leather-Trimmed Second-Row Captain’s Chairs With Super Long Slide and Ottomans
- SofTex-Trimmed 60/40 One-Motion Split and Stow Third-Row Seat
- Leather-Trimmed, Heated, Power Tilt/Telescopic Steering Wheel With Memory
- 33.5 Cubic Feet Behind the Third Row
- 75.2 Cubic Feet Behind the Second Row
- 101 Cubic Feet Behind the First Row
- Built-In Vacuum and FridgeBox
- Four-Zone Automatic Climate Control With Rear Digital Control Panel
- Manual Second- and Third-Row Sunshades
Technology
- 12.3-Inch Digital Gauge Cluster
- 10-Inch Color Head-Up Display
- Toyota Audio Multimedia With Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 12 JBL Speakers Including Subwoofer and Amplifier
- Rear Seat Entertainment Package
- 1080p HD Entertainment Center With 11.6-Inch Display
- HDMI Input, Remote, and Two Wireless Headphones
- Qi-Compatible Wireless Charging
- One USB Media Port and Six USB Charge Ports
- Smart Key System on Five Doors With Push Button Start
Driver Assistance and Safety
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.0
- Pre-Collision System With Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Alert With Steering Assist and Lane Tracing Assist
- Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Automatic High Beams and Road Sign Assist
- Blind Spot Monitor With Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Front and Rear Parking Assist With Automatic Braking
- Panoramic View Monitor With 360-Degree Overhead View and Curb View
- Advanced Rear-Seat Reminder
- Ten Airbags
Fuel Economy
- EPA Estimated 35 City/36 Highway/35 Combined MPG
- Observed: 35.1 MPG Over About 600 Miles
- Regular Unleaded Fuel
- 18-Gallon Fuel Tank
Warranty
- 3-Year/36,000-Mile Basic Warranty
- 5-Year/60,000-Mile Powertrain Warranty
- 8-Year/100,000-Mile Hybrid System Warranty
- 10-Year/150,000-Mile Hybrid Battery Warranty
- 5-Year/Unlimited-Mile Corrosion Perforation Warranty
- ToyotaCare No-Cost Maintenance Plan With 24-Hour Roadside Assistance
Pricing and Colors
- Exterior Color: Heavy Metal
- Interior Color: Macadamia Leather Trim
- Starting MSRP: $41,320
- Price as Tested: $62,395
Final Thoughts on the 2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum
Overall, I have been very happy with the Sienna. The seats are very comfortable, the ride is very comfortable, and it remembers that my ventilated seat was on, which matters when the temperature is already creeping up outside at 7:30 in the morning. It has been a good van for us in every situation, and we are going to be very sad when Toyota takes it back.
If you are cross-shopping, read our 2027 Chrysler Pacifica Limited AWD review and see how far the Sienna has come since we tested the 2023 Sienna XLE Woodland Edition. You can build your own on Toyota.com.
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