Toyota has consistently differentiated its Sienna minivan in the market with a unique blend of features. While some minivans prioritize in-floor storage, the Sienna focuses on other aspects, including safety and performance. This raises the question: why doesn’t the Toyota Sienna have in-floor storage compartments like some competitors?
The answer lies primarily in the Sienna’s engineering and design choices. The all-wheel-drive (AWD) Sienna models require a driveshaft running the length of the vehicle, occupying the space typically used for under-floor storage. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) Siennas store the spare tire in a similar undercarriage location, behind the front passenger seat.
This design choice also impacts the second-row seating configuration. In the standard Sienna, the second-row seats do not fold completely flat into the floor, unlike some competitors, because of the undercarriage components. However, the Sienna offers optional second-row captain’s chairs providing a luxurious and comfortable seating experience.
Furthermore, the Sienna provides an available accessibility feature—the “Auto Access Seat”—which further utilizes the space potentially allocated for in-floor storage. This specialized seat rotates and extends outward, facilitating easier entry and exit for passengers with mobility challenges. You can learn more about this feature at http://www.toyotamobility.com/mobility_solutions.html.
Ultimately, Toyota prioritizes specific features in the Sienna’s design. Instead of in-floor storage, the Sienna focuses on unique selling points like available AWD, advanced safety features such as adaptive cruise control and an automatic braking collision mitigation system, and a durable engine with a lifetime timing chain. These features cater to buyers seeking reliability, safety, and performance in a minivan. If in-floor storage is a primary concern, other minivan models might be more suitable. However, the Toyota Sienna stands out with its distinct combination of features appealing to a different set of priorities.
