2016 Toyota Sienta MPV unveiled for Japanese market

Today marks the debut of the new 2016 Toyota Sienta – this Japan-only second-generation B-segment MPV with sliding doors takes over from the original, which has been on sale since 2003 (12 years!). Note that this Yaris-based model is different from the regular-doored Passo Sette, on which our Perodua Alza is based.

Quite a quaint-looking car, isn’t it? Measuring 4,235 mm long, 1,695 mm wide and 1,675 mm tall, it’s around the same size as the Alza, being just 5 mm longer and 55 mm taller. Against its direct competitor, the Honda Freed, it’s 20 mm longer but 40 mm lower.

The styling (said to be inspired by the shape of a trekking shoe, no less) is some departure from its boxy, geometric predecessor – instead, there’s organic volumes and, dare I say it, a hint of Frenchness. At the front, the swept-back headlights (with optional LED self-levelling projectors and daytime running lights) are connected to the large downturned grille via bumper garnishes that run downwards, encircling the fog lights.

Moving backwards, the wraparound glasshouse droops slightly to meet the shutline of the rear sliding door, while a protruding crease along the bodyside and a contrasting side garnish help break up the otherwise slab-sided design. The LED tail lights are connected via a U-shaped bumper garnish design that mirrors the front.

Aside from the nine standard paint finishes (including the bright Air Yellow), there are also five two-tone colour schemes to choose from, with the garnishes and wing mirror caps in either metallic blue or pearl brown. There are also three 15- and 16-inch wheel choices on offer, including two alloy options.

It’s much the same story inside as well, with large swooping shapes. The dashboard features a dual-tier design – the upper layer incorporates the air vents, 2-DIN head unit and a high-mounted instrument panel (à la Peugeot 208), while the lower layer holds the Alza-like air-con controls and gear lever. A high-definition 4.2-inch TFT LCD multi-info display is standard on G and X hybrid models, and optional everywhere else.

Practicality takes centre stage here – there are two glove boxes (upper one has an orange lining), a front-mounted shopping hook, several cubbyholes and cupholders and even a smartphone holder in the third row. There’s also a low, flat floor, made possible by mounting the slimline fuel tank under the seats, Honda Jazz-style, as well as positioning the hybrid’s battery under the front of the second row.

As such, the height of the sliding door sill is now 55 mm lower on two-wheel drive models, sitting just 330 mm from the ground. The opening width has also been increased by 50 mm to 665 mm, improving third row entry and egress. There’s also an extra 25 mm of knee room in the third row, which itself is 70 mm wider than before.

The passenger-side power-sliding door (standard on all but the base X “V Package”, fitted on both sides on G and Hybrid G models) can be operated at a push of a button on the door handle, too (handy when you’re carrying children or shopping), and grab rails on the doors and along the opening frame eases entry for children and the elderly as well.

Seven-, six- and five-seater options are available, with the latter limited to the wheelchair-friendly variant. Both second- and third-row seats are split 50:50; the sliding and reclining second row folds and tumbles forward at the pull of a lever, leaving space for the third row to fold and slide forward into its place.

Buyers get a choice between two powertrains – there’s the new 2NR-FKE 1.5 litre VVT-iE Atkinson-cycle petrol engine mated to a CVT, pushing out 109 hp and 136 Nm (103 hp and 132 Nm with all-wheel drive), as well as a hybrid variant with a 1NZ-FXE 1.5 litre Atkinson-cycle mill that churns out 74 hp and 111 Nm. The Hybrid achieves 27.2 km per litre on the JC08 fuel consumption cycle, while the petrol variant musters 20.6 km per litre; both are fitted with auto start-stop as standard.

Safety-wise, all Sienta models can be specified with Toyota’s new Safety Sense C collision avoidance system, utilising a laser radar system and a single camera – this adds Pre-Collision System (PCS) braking at speeds between 10-80 km/h, Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Automatic High Beam (AHB). Also optional on all models are side and curtain airbags, making it six in total; stability control, Hill Start Assist (HSA) and second-row Isofix child seat mounts (outer two seats) are standard-fit.

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