Toyota Sienta - Third Generation

For almost two decades, the Toyota Sienta is a compact MPV that caters not just to Japanese families but also to East Asian ones as demonstrated by the previous second-generation model. Now in its third generation, the all-new Sienta picks up where its predecessor left off by keeping its practical side intact for today's East Asian families.

2023 Toyota Sienta

2023 Toyota Sienta

The third generation Toyota Sienta, priced at 1.95 million Japanese Yen plus additional costs, remains its reasonably-priced status for a compact MPV fit for Japanese and Asian roads (in case someone smuggled one for keeps) while providing new ways and means to stall its occupants in an arousing manner.

Starting with the design, keen observers will say that the third-generation Sienta is a blatant ripoff of the current Fiat Panda due to its surprising resemblance. Looks like Toyota learned something from the Chinese motoring playbook about copying car designs for kicks and this is what the new Sienta looked like, a Japanese Fiat Panda clone. Nice one, Toyota. Panda clone aside, the new model is longer and taller compared to the previous model while retaining its Japan-friendly width.

2023 Toyota Sienta interior

2023 Toyota Sienta interior

While the exterior design is nothing more than a blatant copy of the Fiat Panda, the interior was heavily redesigned for user-friendliness. Some call it minimalist, others call it functional, and the all-new Sienta fits both bills greatly. On the passenger side, thanks to its slightly increased length and height, it's slightly roomier than the previous Sienta and you can have one in either a five-seater or a seven-seater. Either way, the rear seats can be folded down for various situations, for work, or for leisure.

Mind you, while the center console can accommodate a USB and USB-C cable, the rear side of the front-row seats can accommodate only USB-C cables. Hope you got the right cable while charging your gadgets.

If you're a camping enthusiast, it's good to know that the hybrid model's power supply is good for five-and-a-half days. Feel free to plug in your favorite appliances while living the outdoor life.

Under the hood, the all-new Sienta is now powered by a 1.5L Dynamic Force engine in petrol and hybrid configurations. The petrol version produces 120PS of power, 145Nm of torque, and while mated to a Direct-Shift CVT, the fuel economy is a modest 18.4kmpl. 

The hybrid powerplant with the said engine, an electric motor, and a nickel battery, promises a best-in-class 28.8km/L of fuel economy. An e-Four variant is optional for the hybrid in case you need more oomph for your travel plans.

With the TNGA platform, front McPherson strut coil springs, rear torsion beam coil springs, and front ventilated disc brakes, the all-new Sienta is still regular to drive as the previous model but who cares?

In terms of safety, the all-new Sienta comes with the most advanced driver aids offered such as the next-generation Toyota Safety Sense and Toyota Teammate with Advanced Park, making it a certified "Safety Support Car S Wide". Enough to call it the safest Sienta ever made as Toyota would say.

Although questionable for copying the looks of the Fiat Panda, the all-new Sienta is the most convenient Sienta ever made thanks to its dimensions, interior, and safety, which is astonishing for a compact MPV for its size.

Available colors: White Pearl Crystal Shine, Dark Gray, Black, Scarlet Metallic, Beige, Urban Khaki, Grayish Blue, Dark Gray/Scarlet Metallic, and Dark Gray/Grayish Blue.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Sienta - Second Generation (2019 minor change)

The second-generation Toyota Sienta was launched in Japan since three years ago and for the first time, it managed to touchdown in other Asian markets and the biggest fan base for this generation was in Southeast Asia. With the second generation Sienta reached its minor change for the 2019 model year, looks like the ASEANs are going to be desperate over what's new on this 2019 minor change and for that, a quick rundown.

2019 Toyota Sienta

2019 Toyota Sienta

On the 2019 minor change, the Sienta's front face has been revised as well as the rear taillights which are very nice to see and some new wheel designs to choose from. On the inside, the dashboard's slightly revised as well as the upholstery's and while the Sienta retains its third-row capability, there is now a much cheaper five-seater variant, dubbed the FUNBASE, where space in the back really matters but with the absence of a third-row seating on the FUNBASE, it's slightly lighter compared to the seven-seater variants and whether you use it for work or for play, the five-seater could be your ideal Sienta to start with.

2019 Toyota Sienta interior

2019 Toyota Sienta interior

The Sienta's hybrid powertrain consisting of a 1NZ-FXE engine mated with a 45kW electric motor and a traditional nickel metal hydride battery, as well as its specially-made CVT, has been recalibrated to meet WLTC Mode standards and while the performance figures remain the same as the pre-facelift, fuel economy under WLTC Mode standards is an acceptable 22.8km/L. The one with the 1.5L 2NR-FKE VVT-iE engine and Super CVT-i remains in the lineup but fuel efficiency, based on now-outdated JC08 Mode standards, is now dropped to 20.2km/L.

Most models are front-wheel drive standard but only seven-seater variants can be fitted with four-wheel drive in the case of weather conditions making the road somewhat slippery. As for dynamics, they've bolted the Sienta with Electric Power Steering to make it more civilized to drive, although not enjoyable if you ask, and with the MacPherson strut and coil springs in the front suspension and a rear torsion beam for the rear suspension, the dynamics are above average if you ask.

For safe driving, the 2019 Sienta comes with the newly improved Toyota Safety Sense of safety features with Pre-Crash Safety, Lane Departure Alert, Automatic High Beam, Advance car launch notification function, and Intelligent clearance sonar with parking support brake, among many other useful features that will make the journey home safe and secured.

The 2019 Sienta starts at 1,776,600 Japanese Yen (around $17,800) for the five-seater petrol variant up to 2,532,600 Japanese Yen (around $25,330) for the seven-seater hybrid Cuero variant. The 2019 Sienta minor change is starting to shape up the minivan market despite the odds now but the main concern is, should ASEAN Toyota branches stopped selling the second-generation Sienta in their markets, chances of smuggling this new one to the Southeast Asian region with be 1 to 100. Whatever that odds is, this is something that needs to keep an eye on much like every successful luxury Toyotas that made its way in ASEAN markets by legitimate means rather than being smuggled for show and tell.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Sienta - Second Generation

2016 Toyota Sienta

Mindful to the Japanese summer vacation, the Toyota Sienta MPV has now been regenerated after being stuck on its squarish looks for over a decade and this is the first time we expect the Sienta compact minivan to be fully changed from the ground-up but I'd expect some hot issues regarding the second-generation Sienta.

First and foremost, it's now essentially larger than its overdue predecessor and the boxy design of the previous model has been stripped off and made it more athletic similar to a jogger's running shoes or a sports bag. In essence then, the new Sienta redefines the leisure activity genre but truth be told, it became more of Japan's Fiat Doblo if I'm honest. There are couple of issues too aside from its design which looks like a distortion because for this new model, the Sienta emblem from the first one has been removed and replaced with the Toyota emblem on the front just to make it more sensible and a bit crazy.

2016 Toyota Sienta interior

2016 Toyota Sienta interior

Because it's so big, the Sienta's newly found status as a Leisure Activity vehicle never forgets the practicality term and for a seven-seater minivan, it isn't half bad at all but there are a couple of drawbacks because with seven seats present, there's no space to fill in your monthly groceries, much like the case of the Honda Jade when all three rows are present, and when you folded the third row seats, you've sacrifice the extra seats for some space so...that's a bad point for the new model there. On the driver's view, it's like a mashup between the Prius and its bigger minivans like the Noah and the Voxy.

On petrol models, the Sienta comes with Toyota's brand new 1.5L 2NR-FKE VVT-iE engine, the same that you expect from the recently-facelifted Corolla range. This new engine is one of Toyota's high-thermal efficiency engines that will launch by the end of this year. It uses the same framework as the Vitz's 1NR-FKE engine but with a longer piston stroke as well as increased diameters on the inlet and exhaust pipes. Couple that with the idling stop feature and the Super CVT-i gearbox and the fuel economy is expected to be up to 20.6km/L. That's 3.4km/L more than the old Sienta's.

However, there's a new hybrid model for the Sienta, and it's for those who are not in a hurry for anything. With the 1NZ-FXE engine mated with a 45kW electric motor and a traditional nickel metal hydride batter, total power output is a measly 100PS and thanks to the CVT gearbox, fuel economy is up to 27.2km/L.

Handling wise, the Sienta isn't what you call sporty but it's well civilized and uncomplicated for first-timers thanks to its rack and pinon steering, MacPherson strut and coil springs in the front suspension and a rear torsion beam for the rear suspension (FF only, 4WD models get rear double wishbones). It's a great car to handle but for a concept, it's a tad old-fashioned.

In terms of safety, the new Sienta is available with the brand new Toyota Safety Sense C package and because Toyota is now balancing the things that are fun with the things that are safe with great responsibility, this new package consists of Pre-Collision System uses a camera and a laser radar to scan incoming vehicles on the driver's twelves, the Lane Departure Alert uses a camera to detect white and yellow lane markings, and lastly, the Automatic High Beam detects oncoming vehicle's headlights and the taillights of cars in front, allowing its headlamps to be automatically switched between high beam and low beam.

2016 Toyota Sienta

The new Sienta starts at 1,689,709 up to 2,329,855 Yen and when targeted against the Honda Freed, this new Sienta makes it a great value for money and this is something what Leisure Lifestyle Enthusiasts are looking forward to if they're know what they're thinking.

Available colors: Super White II, White Pearl Crystal Shine, Silver Metallic, Black Mica, Red Mica Metallic, Vintage Brown Pearl Crystal Shine, Air Yellow, Green Mica Metallic, and Blue Metallic.

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Toyota Sienta Phase III and Sienta DICE

2012 Toyota Sienta

In September 29, 2003, Toyota released the Japan-only compact 2BOX minivan, the Sienta, targeted for simple Japanese families looking for a practical compact carrier for their everyday lives. It followed with a minor change on May 16, 2006 that features a much bubblier design. Unfortunately on August 2010, Toyota cease to produce the Sienta because of the low demand or poor sales. However, on May 19, 2011, the Sienta is back with its second minor change, and labeled as "Type III", which means the Sienta is now on its third phase. With production made possible from Daihatsu, the Toyota Sienta is back and this time, it spawned into two kinds such as the standard Sienta and the squarish Sienta DICE.

The standard Sienta carries the Phase II look but offered a new round front lamps, new grille, new bumper, and a redesigned rear. The new Sienta DICE offers a smiling grille, squarish headlamps, sporty front bumper, and some chrome lamps attached at the rear. The Sienta DICE is targeted for those who are in sense of style.

2012 Toyota Sienta DICE interior

On the interior, nothing's changed from the previous two phases. What's included is the plasma cluster switch that allows clean air to come through the Sienta's interior, providing a clean atmosphere and a sense of purity. For added utility, a deck under tray is included that matches your hectic lifestyles. The Sienta and Sienta DICE is made for people who are undergoing different lifestyles.

2012 Toyota Sienta DICE

Both the Sienta and the Sienta DICE are offered with the standard 1NZ-FE VVT-i engine with the improved fuel economy of 19.2km/L in 10-15 Mode and 17.2km/L in JC08 Mode. The power output is 110PS/6,000r.p.m. and the torque output of 14.4kgf・m/4,400r.p.m. If armed with the optional 4WD, power and torque output will slightly decrease. 2WD variants are equipped with the Super CVT while 4WD variants have 4-speed Super ECT. It's up to you.

My Comment:
Thanks to Daihatsu, the Sienta is back for its third phase and this time, it spawned a stylish addition, the Sienta DICE, that features squarish headlamps, sporty front bumper, and targeted for the sense of style. The standard Sienta is made for simple drivers while the Sienta DICE is targeted for the stylish. Don't rush over these yet because both the new Sienta and the Sienta DICE are slated for June 13 sale across all Corolla dealerships and oh, expect delay of delivers. orz


Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation