Sienna sales are way up in 2025
Minivans are experiencing a bit of a resurgence in the United States this year, and the Toyota Sienna is one of the beneficiaries. Sales of the Sienna are already up by around 50% so far in 2025 relative to last year, and with the improvements Toyota just announced for the 2026 model, its trajectory is bound to continue.
For the new model year, Toyota’s hybrid-only minivan gains several new features and a few new colors, but its base price is no longer under $40,000, so should you buy a 2025 model instead? Let’s take a closer look.
More Features For Cheaper Trims
2026 Toyota Sienna
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Toyota has focused on adding more equipment to the cheaper Sienna trims for the new model year. It’s worth understanding the trim structure before getting into the details, so here they are, from least to most expensive:
- LE
- XLE
- XSE
- Limited
- Woodland Edition
- Platinum
Starting with the base LE, this derivative now gets an eight-speaker sound system (six speakers previously), a power rear door, rear window shades, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a one-year Remote Connect trial subscription, and a windshield wiper de-icer as standard. One step above this is the XLE, which now adds standard black roof rails, outer mirror turn signals, and the standalone option of a more powerful JBL sound system.
The XSE, a sportier-looking version of the minivan, gets a standard 12-speaker JBL sound system as standard, a setup that includes a subwoofer and amplifier. These are the only major changes to the specification, with the well-equipped upper trims remaining unchanged.
Exterior colors have also been rejigged. Heavy Metal is now offered on all trims besides the Woodland, but the latter gets a new Ice Cap option. The Woodland is also identifiable by a trim-specific black badge on the tailgate.
High-end features like a vacuum, fridge box, 360-degree monitor, and leather-trimmed front seats with heating and ventilation continue to be available on top trims.
Related: 2025 Toyota Sienna Recall Is Bad News For Those In The Back Seat
A Familiar Powertrain
The Toyota Sienna keeps the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid setup as before, which is paired to a CVT. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available, but the Woodland and Platinum get standard AWD.
Although the 245-hp powertrain isn’t as powerful as several rivals’ smooth V6s, the Toyota is more efficient than most, managing up to 36 mpg combined with FWD or 35 mpg with AWD. In a review of the Sienna earlier this year, we found it to have enough power, even if the four-cylinder/CVT combination isn’t the most refined. The Toyota has light, effortless steering, but it’s not as fun to drive as, say, Honda’s Odyssey.
Should You Buy a 2025 Model Instead?
The 2026 Toyota Sienna starts at $40,120 for the base LE, which is $635 more expensive than the 2025 equivalent. This is a very reasonable increase, given the multiple extra features added to this base model. Previously, to get add-ons like the eight-speaker sound system, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a few other options, you would’ve needed to spend $1,700 on the LE Plus Package.
Pricing for the entire 2026 lineup is as follows:
- LE: $40,120
- XLE: $44,820
- XSE: $48,045
- Woodland Edition: $50,900
- Limited: $50,805
- Platinum: $57,510
Besides the Woodland and Platinum that already have AWD, this is a $2,000 option on all other trims besides the XSE, where you’ll pay $890 more for AWD.
Only the XSE (+$1,105) and Platinum (+$1,065) are over $1,000 pricier than last year. Interestingly, if you ordered a 2025 XSE and added the JBL sound system, it would be $925 extra—below the price increase of the 2026 model that has this sound system fitted as standard. None of the XLE’s 2026 upgrades are what we’d consider essential, either.
Ultimately, these are our two main findings:
- If you’re interested in the LE, the 2026 model is definitely a better buy
- If you want an XSE or Platinum, you can save by going for a 2025 version without losing any features—even if you add the JBL upgrade to the XSE
The Sienna remains a solid choice in the minivan segment, especially if you want to keep fuel costs as low as possible.
The 2026 model will start arriving at dealers in January.
