With rapidly increasing gasoline prices, Toyota built & sold the first hybrid, all-wheel-drive (AWD) mini van in 2021.
Toyota Sienna Hybrid front wheel drive gets 36 miles per gallon while the Hybrid AWD is close behind at 35 miles per gallon. These averages are not as good as the 85 mpg Chrysler Pacifica plug-in, hybrid van which is offered in front wheel drive only, with no towing capacity!
It’s incredible how the Toyota Sienna Hybrid 2.5 liter, four cylinder, 245 horsepower combined engines can tow a whopping 3500 pounds because of a dedicated, rear electric motor.
Note: There is no differential type transmission on the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid van. And the U.S. Transportation Budget, (which determines government spending during fiscal year 2022-23) will once again set registration fees at $200 for all-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, and $100 for gasoline-only hybrids.
2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Design flaws
It doesn’t take a camping/hauling guru to figure out that American Toyota designers made several design flaw changes for the 2021 Sienna Hybrid trimlines. Top of the list is elimination of the quick release, middle seats. They are now bolted down and require disconnecting a rear panel battery and possibly violating the manufacturer’s warranty by doing so. Toyota has completely focused on the family minivan market while ignoring or accidentally leaving out full-time, van dwellers and weekend campers who prefer sleeping inside their vans for safety & convenience.
2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland with higher ground clearance & 1500 watt power supply!
Imagine my surprise when I stumbled on the newly designed, 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland model to be sold in the U.S. It has a higher ground clearance and features a 1500 watt, AC power supply for camping enthusiasts. I could power my Keurig coffeemaker in the back of a Woodland! Or possible a microwave & hair dryer.
I was excited to read a Toyota press release about the new Sienna Woodland model until I stumbled on similar design flaws. Namely no mention of removable middle seats, the same awkward center console, and three exterior colors of black, white, & cement only! What are the Toyota Sienna designers thinking? Urban industrial in the great outdoors? Black & Cement are not nature friendly, van colors! These are very limited, stealth hues! No one with camping experience wants exterior colors that conduct heat and show grime from mud puddles, dirt roads, and other elements of nature like bird droppings! Here is Nicky’s article link about the 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Hybrid van: https://pressroom.toyota.com/embrace-your-adventurous-side-with-the-all-new-sienna-woodland-special-edition/
For what it’s worth, I felt compelled to email Nicky and let him/her/X know that Toyota designers missed the mark in leaving out full-time van dwellers and inside-the-van campers in their 2022 Woodland design that THEY ARE CURRENTLY MARKETING as off-road, overland friendly! I don’t expect to hear back from press release writer Nicky nor official Toyota representatives. But hope they design a future Woodland model for 2023 & beyond that allows easy, middle seat removal and other cool features that appeal to the van life & camping market segments. For the love of nature, Toyota is missing out on a market segment currently in existence. Some owners have already converted their 2021 Sienna hybrid vans into camper vans despite the interior design flaws! Even if it means voiding their manufacture’s warranty because they disconnected the middle seat airbag sensors!
My Letter to Toyota media writer (Nicky)
Nicky,
Thanks for reviewing the soon-to-be released, 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Woodland van. I enjoyed reading your recent article about all the cool new features in the Woodland like higher ground clearance, 1500 watt rear power station, better surround sound system, etc.
I created a microvanlife.blog in June after I purchased a 2020 Ram Promaster City van and had Cascade convert it to a 2 person camper in November. I lived in it full-time for several weeks while waiting for a home closing.
Toyota American designers have missed targeting a huge market segment of full-time, Van Lifers and weekend campers. Toyota designers first mistake is bolting down the middle seats, instead of maintaining the 2020 Sienna “push a lever to remove” middle seats option! Van dwellers & families need the option of quickly removing the middle seats for camping, cargo hauling, and sleeping purposes. Many new Sienna hybrid owners are complaining online about the lack of middle seat removal! Is Toyota even listening to them?
Secondly, why are black & cement the only exterior colors being offered for the 2022 Woodland model? Why not stick to hunter green, pearl white, glacier white, Sahara tan, sky blue, and other outdoor nature colors? Black & cement are urban, industrial colors! Plus black absorbs the most heat and shows dirt easily! White is the preferred color in hot climates. Especially if people are using the Sienna hybrid features of leaving the vehicle’s A/C on day & night. I’ve met several Prius hybrid owners who live full-time in their vehicles because of its continuous A/C ability. Van Nomad guru Bob Walsh featured a full-time Prius owner on his popular YouTube channel. She has a Prius hatchback with tent attached living full-time in her vehicle. Amazing!
https://youtu.be/-zXNWf2vtz0
Thirdly, why can’t Toyota partner with a camper conversion company like GTRV and offer a Woodland camper van with poptop and foreward facing bed with seatbelts, utilizing the same track system for the middle seats?
Sienna Weekender – GTRV Camper Van ConversionsPhotos Sienna Weekender
Sprinter vans and the Mercedes Metris already utilize similar track floor features for removable seats & beds.
Lastly, ditch the center console and allow the front seat passengers easy pass through to the middle and back of the Sienna van while inside the vehicle. Having a swivel, passenger front seat is also a desirable feature for campers and van dwellers. Many of us Van dwellers love the new Sienna hybrid but feel left out by the family hauler focus! Not everyone needs to haul kids and passengers in a van. Toyota is missing out on a customer base, market segment already in existence. Check out YouTube videos where new 2021 Sienna Hybrid owners (like Tellvia & Kevin) have removed the bolted middle & rear seats at their own risks to make their Siennas into camper vans!
Toyota Sienna 2021 – Camping Conversion Design Tips and TutorialBy Tellvia
2021 Toyota Sienna Van Life Second and Third Row Seats Removed
I am reaching out to you Nicky as a way to get the Toyota Woodland designers attention! Please feel free to forward this email message to them.
Sincerely,
– Jody
Author & creator of Micro van life
Micro Van Life 
Spot on! The current Siena design is just something I can’t convince myself to buy. I’d love it for towing my tiny trailer and as a small conversion for weekend camping, but these design choices are all wrong. So instead, I bought a hybrid truck, but I’d much rather have had a sienna.
LikeLiked by 1 person