The third-generation Toyota Sienna minivan has been
around since 2010 so it’s about time for a replacement. The automaker has begun testing
the fourth-generation Sienna and the following spy shots prove that. A test
mule for the 2021 Sienna has been spotted in the United States, combining the
chassis of the all-new generation with a modified bodywork of the pre-facelift
current model.
Some of the body panels have been
stretched to accommodate the larger footprint of the fourth-generation Sienna.
That’s because the new model will use a stretched version of Toyota’s New
Global Architecture (TNGA).
Besides bringing more interior space and improved
practicality, the new platform will offer benefits of structural rigidity and
thus improve refinement. This will allow the 2021 Sienna to compete with more
modern rivals such as the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica.
Looking closely at the Sienna mule’s body mods it
becomes pretty clear that the next-generation model will have both a longer
wheelbase and a longer rear overhang. The result will be a roomier cabin and
improved cargo space. The photos also reveal the new Sienna will be wider too —
just look at how the wheels appear to stick out from the bodywork.
Finally, the mule reveals the fact that the side
mirrors will be mounted onto the doors instead of the A-pillars as is the case
with the current model.
