New Toyota Sienta Shows the Sporty Side of Minivans

• 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.

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.

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.

4. 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.

5. 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.