The Best Three-Row Toyota Isn’t an SUV
Toyota has many options for folks who want three rows of seats, from the sturdy 4Runner to the brand-new Grand Highlander. Yet the best three-row Toyota isn’t an SUV – it’s a minivan. The 2023 Toyota Sienna remains one of the market’s most practical, efficient, and capable three-row vehicles.
What’s the best three-row Toyota?
There’s a strong argument for the 2023 Sienna as Toyota’s best three-row model.
Sure, Toyota’s third-row SUVs are great. The Sequoia and 4Runner offer-truck like capability, while the Highlander and Grand Highlander are spacious and comfortable. But for sheer practicality, you can’t really beat the Sienna.
The 2023 Sienna comes in two configurations – one with seating for seven and one with seating for eight. Its sliding side doors make entry and exit much easier in crowded parking lots, while sliding second-row seats make third-row access a breeze. It’s simply easier to load and unload passengers with the Sienna than with any of Toyota’s SUVs.
Toyota Sienna offers outstanding cargo space compared to its SUV siblings
The 2023 Toyota Sienna offers more cargo space than the brand’s three-row SUVs.
Toyota’s largest SUVs, the Sequoia and Grand Highlander, have 86.9 cubic feet and 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, respectively. Car and Driver states the 2023 Sienna has more than 100 cubic feet of cargo space.
Unfortunately, Toyota does not offer the new Sienna with a removable second row. It’s undoubtedly a knock against the Sienna. But, as Car and Driver points out, its second row does slide forward and backward up to 25 inches to help accommodate various passenger and cargo needs.
How efficient is the Toyota Sienna?
The Sienna also has a significant fuel efficiency advantage over Toyota’s three-row SUVs. The Sienna can achieve a combined efficiency average of 36 mpg with its standard hybrid powertrain.
That’s a massive advantage compared to the Sequoia and 4Runner, which can barely get out of the teens. And while the Highlander’s available hybrid powertrain is even more efficient than the Sienna’s, upgrading out of the base turbo engine costs extra.
A minivan with all-wheel drive
The 2023 Toyota Sienna can keep pace with Toyota’s three-row SUVs with its available all-wheel drive.
It’s far from an off-roader like the 4Runner or Sequoia, but the Sienna’s optional all-wheel drive can provide extra traction in snow or rain. The system is similar to those in three-row Toyota SUVs like the Highlander and Grand Highlander.
Most minivans are only available with front-wheel drive. The Sienna’s all-wheel drive option gives it a leg up in the segment and helps it split the difference between a minivan and an SUV.
How much is the 2023 Toyota Sienna?
The 2023 Toyota Sienna starts at $37,470, while its top trim is $52,930.
It’s a similar starting price to the Toyota Highlander and likely less than what the Grand Highlander will go for when it arrives at dealerships.
The 2023 Sienna is a compelling three-row package with more practicality than its Toyota SUV siblings. It may not be as rugged – but it excels at everyday driving tasks.
