Toyota is attempting to pull a Subaru by serving up a toughened-up family vehicle for more adventurous buyers. The automaker is also promising to donate some money from every sale of this buffer vehicle to a worthy cause—in this case, the National Environmental Education Foundation. So, what’s Toyota serving up would-be Subaru buyers? The 2022 Sienna Woodland Special Edition minivan, which is beefed up with extra ground clearance, a tow hitch, and a 1,500-watt power outlet.
Starting with the all-wheel-drive Sienna variant (front-wheel drive is standard elsewhere in the Sienna lineup), the Woodland model’s suspension is jacked up by way of special shocks and springs that add 0.6 inch more ground clearance to Toyota’s people mover. The lift is subtle on paper. In photos, however, you can see there is a little more airspace between the tops of the Sienna Woodland’s tires and the fender lips.
Besides the extra ground clearance, not much externally distinguishes the Woodland from other Sienna trims. There is an exclusive Cement paint color (similar to that available on the Toyota Tacoma pickup), roof rails with crossbars, and some dark chrome trim pieces. Inside, there are black seats with orange-hued contrast stitching, a 1,200-watt JBL audio system, an in-dash navigation system, and the aforementioned power outlet capable of powering “most household items for a short day trip or an overnight camping excursion.”
Is all of this enough to transform this Toyota minivan into a de facto SUV? Hardly. Is it better than nothing? Sure!
Among minivans, the Sienna Woodland Special Edition is fairly unique in chasing would-be SUV buyers with a semblance of SUV-ish capability. The new Kia Carnival tries this gambit with SUV-ish styling but fails to back it up with hardware; it isn’t available with AWD, for example. But, like the Kia, the Toyota isn’t a hardcore off-roader. The Sienna’s AWD system involves an electric motor powering the rear axle (the gas-electric hybrid setup shared with the front-drive Sienna spins the front axle), while the van appears to ride on ho-hum all-season rubber.
Unlike most SUVs capable of hauling as many people and things as a minivan, the Toyota Sienna Woodland Special Edition delivers solid fuel economy. The AWD Sienna is rated at an EPA-estimated 35 mpg combined; good luck seeing any mile-per-gallon figure with a “3” in front of it in a full-size three-row SUV, unless, of course, the mpg figure is actually just “3.”
Provided the family campsite is accessible by sub-Jeep-Wrangler-level vehicles, the Sienna—Woodland Special Edition model or otherwise—should be capable of getting you there (and comfortably at that). Toyota, after all, provided images of the Sienna Woodland Special Edition in the actual woods, so you know it can make it there somehow. The Sienna’s sliding rear doors can be opened by sweeping a foot underneath the bottom lip, while its second row includes sunshades, seven USB ports, and more.
Final pricing is forthcoming, but Toyota says it’ll give $250 of every sale to the aforementioned National Environmental Education Foundation. The company’s also promising to make a minimum total commitment of $250,000. Finding at least 1,000 buyers for this slightly taller minivan after it arrives this fall seems like a not-so-tall order to us.
