The Toyota Sienna is a faithful family hauler. It takes the the whole crew on long family road trips in comfort––toting everyone’s stuff in the vast cargo that gives minivans their special edge in the market. An available AWD powertrain made the Sienna special for a long time. Now, the Chrysler Pacifica offers that as well. Perhaps, a TRD package on the upcoming generation of the Toyota Sienna would be a welcome addition to the available trim levels.

We’ve now seen TRD packages offered on various trim levels for some of Toyota’s once-tame sedans. The 2020 Toyota Camry and the 2020 Toyota Avalon both added TRD trim options to the lineup, according to Car and Driver. Not for off-roading though. If the Sienna sees a TRD option, it will likely stop on the same level as these Toyota sedans. It’s very likely that the Toyota Sienna will never receive a designated off-roading TRD trim.

Why doesn’t the Sienna have TRD?

This is just speculation, but the reason the 2021 Sienna didn’t get a TRD package is probably so they can roll that out as an update to a proceeding model year. It’s good to keep something like that ready and waiting for a year when a model year gets a refresh. But why won’t it the new Toyota Sienna get a TRD off-road or TRD Pro package?

Again, we are just guessing here. However, it is difficult to imagine a product that is marketed as a luxurious limousine full of cupholders, carseats, and coddling amenities also marketed as an off-roading beast. The Toyota Sienna minivan is a family-mobile. Yes, there are plenty of families out there who may love to go off-road into the backcountry for an adventure. But those families can buy a Toyota 4Runner or a Sequoia––both of which are available with a TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro package.

It’s a family vehicle marketed for safety

Toyota markets its minivan as a safe and reliable family vehicle. Like many other trusty Toyotas, the Sienna enjoys a good reputation for dependability. In fact minivans as a segment are generally understood to be a safe choice for families. So––while the addition of TRD for its upgraded all-weather capabilities may be a logical move––a TRD Off-Road or TRD Pro package contradicts the Sienna’s idyllic reputation as a safe and mellow family wagon.

“Swagger wagon” or not, the Toyota Sienna just doesn’t really make sense as both a daily driving team toter AND a rock crawling off-pavement adventurer. As Jalopnik puts it–– it’s just awkward. There have been off-road builds of the Toyota Sienna. And the addition of some off-road performance enhancement would be cool if you were building one into a van life overlander. Most just buy a full-size van for that, though.

A TRD Pro Sienna would be so cool, though

Yes, a TRD Pro package for the Toyota Sienna would be awesome. It would really pique the interest of a small number of niche buyers. But those buyers will probably be just as happy in a TRD Pro trim Toyota SUV or Toyota pickup truck.

For this reason, the Toyota Sienna will likely never see a TRD Off-Road outfit. As cool as it would be, we will just have to wait to see if a more city street designated TRD trim will make an appearance on the new Toyota minivan. And quietly cross our fingers––hopeful that we were wrong and the new Toyota Sienna will, in fact, someday see a TRD Off-Road trim.