Toyota Sienta minivan says ‘hi!’ to new hybrid styling

Active, sporty exterior and interior design with excellent utility

Available with Safety Sense C, Toyota’s cutting-edge advanced safety package

New hybrid model with class leading fuel economy of 27.2 km/L

Non-hybrid model with 1.5-liter engine achieves fuel economy of 20.6 km/L

Toyota City, Japan, July 9, 2015―Useful but boring. Good for school runs, but not much else. Minivans have long been considered the domain of a certain type of user. Now, Toyota is set to flip this perennial suburban script with the all-new, reimagined Toyota Sienta. The model has been redesigned from the ground up as an affordable option for those that need to ferry the kids and their friends around after school―but also want to haul their mountain bike or camping gear to the woods on the weekends.

With a sporty exterior design inspired by the shape of a trekking shoe, the new Sienta wants to inspire people to get out and about by overturning existing preconceptions of typically square, box-like minivans, while maintaining a functional and high-quality interior.

Compact yet featuring comfortable three-row seating, the interior maximizes cabin space with a flat, low floor. This, in addition to the wide 3.3-meter-high sliding door that opens all the way to the third row, makes getting in and out effortless for both kids and adults.

Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices

Combining reliable utility with on-the-go fun, Toyota’s genre-redefining minivan is set for launch today through Toyota, Toyopet, Toyota Corolla, and Netz dealers nationwide.

*1Includes consumption tax; does not include recycling fees; differs in Hokkaido and Okinawa

*2When a wheelchair-user is seated, total seating is limited to 4 occupants (1 wheelchair-user + 3 other occupants)

*3Not subject to consumption tax

Production Plant

Toyota Motor East Japan, Inc. Miyagi Ohira Plant

Functional, active and fun interior; adaptable exterior design

Exterior

Seats have been placed in a unique stadium arrangement, elevated gradually toward the rear. This gives the side silhouette and beltlines the impression that the entire cabin is sloping forwards, energizing the vehicle’s side profile. In addition, the rear door opening emphasizes the low floor and displays the distinctive, convenient characteristics of the interior.

At the front of the vehicle, the bumper garnish creates a unique impression, flowing seamlessly from the headlights to the fog lamp grilles, as if designed with a single brush-stroke. By emphasizing the corners of the bumpers, attention is drawn to the wide, low stance of the vehicle.

The rear of the vehicle contrasts a narrowing cabin with an underbody featuring prominent corners, emphasizing the Sienta’s stability. The bumper garnish fuses the combination lamps with the bumper protectors, creating a unique, functional look with.

Eight different body colors are available1, including fun, vibrant and casual Air Yellow, a new color. Five optional extra Flex Tones are available, and through accents on the front grills and bumpers, these convey a character that is at once both active and casual.

Interior

The high-quality interior focuses on functionality, handling and comfort. The upper half of the instrument panel is simple and expansive, while switches and other controls in the lower half are located within easy reach of the driver.

The high-definition multi-information display (4.2-inch color TFT LCD) is a standard feature on the G and X hybrid models and remains available as an option on other models. In addition to an entertainment-focused start screen, the display can provide a wealth of useful information to aid eco-friendly driving, such as a fuel economy history and the Eco Judge drive tracking application.

Every seat is within reach of easy-to-use storage spaces such as the passenger-side glove-box (decorated in orange) and trim pockets (with a dotted pattern in the rear cargo space).

Three different interior colors schemes are available, each aiming to make occupants feel as comfortable as if they were at home. Orange accents with satin-plated and piano black ornaments appeal to adult sensibilities.

Flat, low floor; outstanding accessibility

The Sienta is compact, allowing for excellent maneuverability. The flat, low floor has been made possible by positioning the hybrid battery beneath the front of the second seat row, with the slim-design fuel tank located beneath the seats. The expansive interior and flat floor allows for easy movement throughout the cabin.

Sliding-door entry height has been lowered 55 mm to 330 mm (2WD models), while door opening width has been increased 50 mm to 665 mm. These changes allow for outstanding ease of ingress and egress. In addition, stadium seating for rear seats increases seat height the further back one goes, giving passengers in any seat an excellent view.

A single press of the Smart Key can unlock and open the electric sliding doors (with a doorjamb protection function) to provide convenient access for loading luggage in the rear seats.

Knee clearance for the second row of seats has been expanded by 25 mm, providing a comfortable amount of legroom. The Sienta comes in three interior layouts that can be chosen to suit each customer’s lifestyle: 7-seater, 6-seater, and 5-seater (for wheelchair users).

Seat widths for the third row of seats have been expanded by 70 mm, resulting in a roomy bench-type seat that comfortably sits adults. In addition, the second-row seats have a tumble mechanism that allows them to be folded with one touch; this creates a 495 mm-wide door opening at waist-height, facilitating ingress and egress.

With the tumble mechanism in the second row of seats, and a dive-in mechanism in the third row of seats, the interior can be reconfigured into a number of different seating arrangements, catering to a variety of requirements.

Class-leading environmental performance

The hybrid Sienta comes equipped with a 1.5-liter hybrid system (THS II with reduction gear), and achieves a class-leading fuel efficiency of 27.2 km/L under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s JC08 test cycle. It therefore exceeds the government’s 2020 fuel economy standards by 20 percent as specified under the Act on the Rational Use of Energy. Since it is certified as producing emissions that are 75 percent lower than the 2005 MLIT standards, the hybrid model is eligible for eco-car subsidies and tax incentives.

Reference Key Hybrid System Specifications

The non-hybrid Sienta (2WD) comes equipped with a new 1.5-liter engine (2NR-FKE) and achieves outstanding environmental performance with a fuel efficiency of 20.6 km/L in the X V Package under the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s JC08 test cycle. The non-hybrid model utilizes the Atkinson Cycle―which is also used by the hybrid model―alongside Cooled EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and VVT-iE (Variable Valve Timing-intelligent by Electric motor), and so combines high-level fuel efficiency with performance.

The “Stop & Start System” idling-stop function is also included as standard. The non-hybrid Sienta meets MLIT’s 2020 fuel economy standards and, since it is certified as producing emissions that are 75 percent lower than the 2005 standards under government’s Approval System for Low-emission Vehicles, it is also eligible for subsidies and tax incentives for eco-cars.

Advanced safety package

Toyota Safety Sense C is a collision avoidance assist package that uses both a laser radar unit and a single-lens camera to achieve high reliability and performance. It is part of a multi-faceted approach to active safety, and is available as an optional extra on all models.

Pre-collision System (PCS)

PCS uses a camera and laser radar to detect objects ahead of the vehicle. When a potential collision is detected, it prompts the driver to brake with an audio and visual alert. If the driver fails to brake in time, the system automatically applies the brakes, reducing speed by approximately 30 km/h to prevent or mitigate damage from the collision2. The operational range of PCS covers a wide range of speeds of between approximately 10 km/h and 80 km/h.

Lane Departure Alert (LDA)

LDA uses a camera to detect white and yellow lane markings. If the vehicle starts to deviate from the lane, LDA warns the driver with an audio and visual alert, thereby helping to prevent lane deviation.

Automatic High Beam (AHB)

AHB helps ensure excellent forward visibility during nighttime driving. It uses a camera to detect the headlights of oncoming vehicles and the tail lights of vehicles ahead, and then automatically switches between high beams and low beams so as not to interfere with the vision of other drivers.

A supplementary function has been added to Toyota Safety Sense C, which detects the forward movement of preceding vehicles. When waiting at a traffic light, if the driver continues to wait after preceding vehicles have moved forward, the driver is prompted with an audio and visual alert.

Wheelchair-adapted model receives official vehicle-type designation

As part of the specially equipped Welcab lineup, the wheelchair-adapted model (Type I) has received official vehicle-type designation, making it easier for customers to register their vehicles, and reducing delivery times. This model includes second-row seating on the passenger side, featuring a slope via which wheelchair users can enter and exit the vehicle while remaining in their wheelchair.

This model boasts a compact body with excellent maneuverability and caters to a wide variety of wheelchairs, including those with reclining mechanisms.

The rear wheels utilize air suspension that enables the vehicle height to be lowered to create a gentle ramp angle of 9.5 degrees. This facilitates the ingress and egress of wheelchair users and reduces the burden on caregivers. In addition, the vehicle height is smoothly lowered or raised back to its original height, contributing to improved passenger comfort.

When a wheelchair user is seated, seating arrangements allow for a total of four occupants: two occupants in the front two seats, one wheelchair user, and one occupant in the rear seat. This allows a caregiver to be seated next to the wheelchair user. The vehicle can seat five when there are no wheelchair users on board.

The ramp can be tilted forward manually to facilitate the loading and unloading of luggage, enhancing the convenience of the vehicle when there are no wheelchair users present.

Two variants of wheelchair-adapted vehicles are available. Type I can include or exclude second-row seating on the passenger side. Type II allows wheelchair users to be positioned 1.5 rows back on the passenger side, within reach of the driver’s seat. This model also allows ingress and egress on a stretcher.

Welcab Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (models not included in table above)

1Wheelchair-adapted models only are available in Super White II

2Depending on road, vehicle, and weather conditions, PCS may not assist collision avoidance or operate at all

Link to the “Sienta” webpage (Japanese only) http://toyota.jp/sienta/