I’ve been browsing this forum recently and started looking at some local dealerships.
This Sienna caught my eye, and I’m curious what you all think about it. We really like the cement colour, and coming from a Highlander XLE, the only feature we missed was having both heated and ventilated seats. From what I can see, it looks like MSRP. No markups listed. Just wondering if anyone has input.
I hate how they keep adding things like the molding, cargo organizer, protection package, and mud guards. None of that is useful to me. I’m also looking for one in cement colour, but it’s been tough to find here in Texas.
@Vince
Yeah, it doesn’t seem like they’re negotiable based on what I’ve seen people post here. I’ve only texted with the sales manager so far. I’d much rather swap those out for something useful, like all-weather mats.
@Mars
If the car hasn’t been built yet, the dealer might be able to remove those items. It depends on the dealership, though. When we got ours, they removed the crossbars, paint protection film, and some other extras like nitrogen-filled tires and graphene ceramic coating.
@Jacob
Those extras are usually added at the dealership after the car arrives, so it should be possible to say you don’t want them. Whether they’ll agree is another story.
Do you need AWD? I’ve read here that if you want a spare tire, you can’t get AWD. Just wanted to let you know in case that changes your plans.
oliviamartin said:
Do you need AWD? I’ve read here that if you want a spare tire, you can’t get AWD. Just wanted to let you know in case that changes your plans.
We’re in the South, and our FWD Highlander has worked fine for about five years. The worst weather we see is heavy rain, so AWD isn’t really a must-have for us.
oliviamartin said:
Do you need AWD? I’ve read here that if you want a spare tire, you can’t get AWD. Just wanted to let you know in case that changes your plans.
Not sure about the XSE, but on the Platinum trim, you can get AWD with a spare tire. You lose the ottoman seats if you choose the spare, though. Honestly, AWD isn’t needed unless you’re in snowy or mountainous areas or if you go off-road a lot. The price seems fair, but if you’re open to other options, you might find a well-equipped Limited or entry-level Platinum for a similar price.
@BillSmith
What’s the XSE? I’ve only heard of the XLE…seriously curious.
Heather said:
@BillSmith
What’s the XSE? I’ve only heard of the XLE…seriously curious.
I’m not sure about the ‘X,’ but SE usually means Sport Edition. It’s more about looks and sometimes stiffer suspension or paddle shifters, depending on the car. My uncle’s Camry SE has paddle shifters, which aren’t on other trims except for the XSE. It’s a sporty trim, which isn’t for everyone, but I love it.
@oliviamartin
Sporty is cool, but I don’t think a Sienna can really be ‘sporty.’ That said, I love Siennas in general. Toyota has been my favourite brand. I had a Prius for years, and it was honestly the best car I’ve owned.
I’m tall, so I’m not a fan of most electric cars, but the Prius hybrid worked perfectly for me.
@Heather
I’d love one of the new Priuses. We have a Lexus sedan as our second car, but the range is terrible—only about 230 miles on a full tank. I’d trade it for a new Prius, but I’d miss all the luxury features of the Lexus.
@oliviamartin
Mileage can be rough with some cars. My 2017 Sienna has a 21-gallon tank, but I used to only get around 230 miles before the light came on. It turned out six gallons were still in the tank. After replacing the water pump and thermostat, I now get 330 miles on those same 15 gallons.
My old Prius, a 2006, was incredible. I got it in 2011 and kept it for about five years. It hit 250,000 miles and still gave me 500 miles on a 13-15 gallon tank. It was fully loaded, too.
I understand where you’re coming from. My mom has a Lexus RX350, and while it’s super nice, even a fully-loaded Prius can’t quite compare.
@Heather
Our Sienna is a 2018. We had some issues before and only got about 270 miles per tank. After repairs, it’s around 300 in the city and 340 on the highway. Big improvement.
oliviamartin said:
Do you need AWD? I’ve read here that if you want a spare tire, you can’t get AWD. Just wanted to let you know in case that changes your plans.
For reference, we have a 2025 Platinum Sienna in the South. It’s been handling the heavy rain and hilly terrain here just fine.
Are you a Costco member? We bought our last vehicle, an F150, through the Costco Auto Buying Program in 2018 and got a great deal. Now we’re hunting for a Sienna and wondering if it’s worth going through Costco again.
