Toyota has just launched the third-generation all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta in Japan, now built on the latest TNGA-B platform. The first-generation Toyota Sienta was only offered in Malaysia for a few years upon launch in 2016, and we never received the 2018 facelift.
Over in Japan, the all-new Toyota Sienta costs between 1.95 million Yen (approx. RM63,800) to 3.1 million Yen (approx. RM101,600), available in both five- and seven-seater configurations.
Its odd looks are the result of maximizing space and practicality in a compact minivan. With the rear seats folded, Toyota claims you can now put an entire bicycle (with 27-inch tyres) into the car without having to remove the front wheels and still not have the handlebars stuck in the opening.
This is thanks to the load height that has been increased by 202 mm. The cabin floor’s height from the ground has been kept the same at 330 mm from the ground, allowing for easy entry/exit for passengers of all ages.
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Also offered on the all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta are taller powered sliding doors (by 60 mm from older Sienta) that don’t require you to duck too much to enter the car.
Inside, the gear lever is positioned on the dashboard, very much like our beloved ‘Lagi Best’ Perodua Myvi. Paired with a foot parking brake, this enables the driver/passenger to easily move across the front row and easily access the second row via the small passage between the driver and front passenger seat.
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Designed with family in mind, practical features in the all-new 2022 Toyota Sienta include numerous cubby spaces, useful hooks, plenty of pockets, and USB sockets. There are even pictograph guides on the door bins to let you know what size bottles can fit in respectively. A wide variety of dealer-installed options are also available, allowing the Sienta to be customized to suit various customer lifestyles.
We all know how messy our car’s cabin can get when you have little children. With these little monsters in mind, the Sienta offers fabric seat covers with deodorizing and water/oil-repellent treatment for easier cleaning.
All the practicality equipped in the Sienta is hauled around by either a fully petrol-powered powertrain or a hybrid powertrain with Toyota’s E-Four system. The fossil fuel option is Toyota’s 3-cylinder 1.5-litre Dynamic Force Engine (120 hp/145 Nm) paired to the brand’s D-CVT. Fuel consumption is claimed to be 18.3 km/l.
The hybrid option comprises a less powerful 1.5-litre engine (91 hp/120 Nm) and a 3 hp/44 Nm electric motor, paired to Toyota’s E-CVT. The claimed fuel consumption for the hybrid Sienta is 28.2 km/l.
A practical choice indeed for urban families with young children, it would be lovely to see the 2022 Toyota Sienta make its debut in Malaysia. However, looking at how the first generation Sienta was received here, the Malaysian debut of this odd-looking minivan is rather unlikely.
GALLERY
