Imaging a year-plus waitlist for a minivan. That's the reality for Sienna buyers since the COVID pandemic and hasn't let up since. Still to this day, you're waiting about a year when you put your name down for one, which is somehow an improvement from the two-plus-years of waiting in the height of the pandemic. Is the 2026 Toyota Sienna, in XSE AWD trim here, really that good?
Homecoming king/queen
Well, Toyota has always had a pretty stellar reputation, but something happened during COVID that really supercharged that. The fandom reached cult-like status even among non-enthusiasts, on top of other all constraints at the time, hence the wait times for otherwise plebeian transportation devices. No one in their right mind could have predicted minivans being on a wait list, but here we are. Part of it's earned, and part of it's hoopla.
For the parent who was a high school athlete
The current-generation Sienna looks the beans, with a surprisingly aggressive front end marked by angular headlights that flank an obscenely large, blacked-out grille on this XSE trim. It actually comes off athletic, and ties in well with the generously defined hips over the rear wheels to complete the look. Even the rear end has a tinge of angry to it, with the only thing missing being some visible exhaust tips. It could use an upgrade to slightly bigger wheels; the 18-inch gunmetal ones subdue the atletic look, but 20s are only available on non-AWD trims.
The Sienna XSE's interior is well-appointed, with a myriad of textures and materials to keep things interesting. The dash is mostly black but features a glossy black piece of patterned trim and some silver accents for good measure. The seats are two tone, with black Softex (Toyota's version of faux leather) and an interesting textured Stone White to add contrast. Dual 12.3-inch screens sit atop the dash with simple graphics and an easy-to-use, if a little vanilla user interface.
The XSE trim affords most of the luxuries you'd want in a minivan, with expected features like dual power-operated sliding doors, a power liftgate, and the aforementioned upgraded screens to go along with a 12-speaker JBL audio system that manages to sound better than most other Toyotas with JBL. Our tester was also equipped with the 11.6-inch rear seat infotainment unit with wireless headphones, no doubt more useful to families than a panoramic sunroof. The digital rear view mirror and convex mirror improve visibility both inside and out. Higher-end trims add genuine leather and more fully featured captains chairs with recline, a footrest, and heating and cooling functions, whereas the XSE only heats the front seats. There are also seven USB ports and somehow 18 cupholders littered throughout the cabin.
Yup, it's still the answer
I sound like a broken record at this point, but if usable space is what you're after, a minivan just makes sense. Front storage in the Sienna is clever, with loads of space under the center console and a parcel shelf where you can toss your phone to charge, along with other knick knacks. It's so easy to get a toddler into the back with the wide opening sliding doors, and even with older kids, you don't have to worry about them opening a door and dinging the expensive Benz parked next to you.
The second-row captain's chairs in the back are comfortable and slide forward and backward. The rear bench is in the nosebleeds of the van, but are passable for younger children, although even for them some additional bolstering would have been nice. Trunk space is slightly behind competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival, and both allow you to remove the second row entirely. Compared to the ever so popular crossover category, the Sienna absolutely dwarfs the utility of something like a Toyota Highlander.
I could dunk in high school
The Sienna XSE isn't just all show. There's a sport-tuned suspension and steering upgrade that makes it the athletic trim of the bunch, outside of just looking like it. And you actually can tell, with the Sienna XSE handling above its pay grade, no doubt aided by the all-wheel-drive system and the high-voltage battery being situated below the front seat area. This weight distribution helps the Sienna feel surprisingly neutral instead of overly nose-heavy like most minivans. I genuinely enjoyed putzing around in the Sienna. With that being said, if your tush is sensitive to ride quality, the XSE's sport suspension does feel busy and somewhat harsh.
Power is sufficient, but don't expect it to blow your socks off. The 2.5-litre four-cylinder and combined electric motor deliver a total of 245 horsepower. Torque figures are unavailable, but it feels more than sufficient. The rear wheels are powered by electricity alone, whereas the fronts can operate on dino juice and electrons. I've often complained about the coarse nature of Toyota's four-cylinder engine, but the Sienna masks it better than most others with the same unit. I'm not sure if that's a byproduct of the Sienna’s size or Toyota going out of their way with better materials and extra sound deadening, but it's welcome.
Still got it
There's not a lot I didn't like about the Sienna. My only real gripes being a busy ride and a rather annoying intermittent connection problem with wireless Android Auto, requiring me to manually have to connect to Bluetooth, then enable Android Auto. That and those 18-inch wheels really do a visual disservice to the athletic design of the Sienna — wait, did I really just say that? You can save some money by choosing something like a Kia Carnival, which may still be the better value, and you don't have to wait as long to get one. But if you're patient and OK with spending $61,781 as-tested for the XSE, the 2026 Toyota Sienna is a fun AWD equipped family hauler, perfect for Canadian families.