If you’re shopping for a minivan this year, you won’t find a better buy than the 2023 Toyota Sienna. For the third year in a row, it has taken home our Best Buy Award in the Minivan class.
Comfortable, Fuel-Efficient, and Safe
Minivans are all about interior design, and Toyota designers have created a thoughtful family cabin. Three spacious rows of seats, with optional second-row captain’s chairs with built-in ottomans, are comfortable for up to eight. An intercom system lets the driver and third-row passengers communicate clearly.
Yes, almost every minivan on the market offers that setup. But Toyota’s is well-thought-out, with soft-touch-but-easy-clean surfaces everywhere and smart ergonomics even in the often-neglected third row. Available 4-zone climate control is a particularly nice touch, letting everyone set their own temperature.
Big vehicles can easily be gas-guzzlers, but the Sienna’s standard hybrid powertrain gives it up to 36 mpg in highway driving — numbers that would fit in the compact car class. And available all-wheel drive, combined with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s coveted Top Safety Pick+ award, make it a safe choice even in the Snow Belt.
How We Decide
Our editors spend all year evaluating cars for our annual Best Buy Awards.
We test drive more than 300 vehicles yearly to write our detailed reviews.
We flag those that combine affordability, dependability, reliability, and low ownership and operating costs as possible award winners. Our data analysts then take a detailed look at the financial aspects of owning each. They calculate the 5-Year Cost to Own, factoring in depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing, fuel, fees, and taxes.
Finally, we bring the best contenders in for head-to-head testing.
When it was all over, the Sienna once again stood out for its excellent resale value, well-planned interior, and surprisingly efficient powertrain.
