There was a time when minivans roamed the roads without anyone looking down on them. Minivans are luxurious, spacious, convenient, and practical, from the Toyota Sienna to the Chrysler Pacifica. However, there’s a stigma surrounding minivans, causing people to avoid buying one. Most commonly, people think they’re “uncool,” “lame,” or “for soccer moms.” The 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland is an off-road trim that’s here to prove you wrong. We like to call it the Land Cruiser of minivans.
2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland: The first off-road minivan
According to Fox News, the 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland is the first minivan purposefully designed with off-road prowess, and it costs $46,640. The Woodland trim uses a hybrid all-wheel drive system with 35 mpg combined, a modified suspension with an extra half-inch of ground clearance, roof racks, and a hitch for towing. The Sienna Woodland has 6.9-inches of ground clearance and can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
The ground clearance is good, but don’t attempt to use this minivan as a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota Land Cruiser replacement. It’s undoubtedly no off-road SUV monster, though it’s better than other minivans. Additionally, the Toyota Sienna’s long wheelbase doesn’t create a good enough breakover angle to take owners bouldering or over a mountain. In short, the Sienna Woodland is an off-road minivan for driving on unpaved roads and over mild bumps a standard minivan couldn’t handle.
The Sienna Woodland is an XLE trim with off-road features
Besides the off-road Woodland features, it’s a 2022 Toyota Sienna XLE. The Sienna XLE is a mid-level trim with seven-passenger seating, foot-activated power-sliding doors with sunshades, a 12-speaker JBL audio system, and a 1500-watt power system with two outlets. Additionally, customers can add the rear entertainment system for $1,415.
Next, the off-road minivan’s powertrain combines a four-cylinder front-wheel-drive hybrid system with an electric motor powering the rear wheels. The hybrid system and electric motor create 245 horsepower, giving this family zoomer a surprising amount of pep in its step. In addition, Toyota’s Safety Sense suite of electronic driver aids includes lane-centering and adaptive cruise control. A built-in navigation system and an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto are standard.
Who needs an off-road minivan?
Do you take your kids to soccer practice, then leave by driving through the woods or around a mountain? Even people who need something capable of handling gigantic potholes a bit better might find the Sienna Woodland helpful. It isn’t the best off-road vehicle on the market by any stretch. However, it is the first off-road-focused minivan trim level, and it’s incredible. If the space, luxury, and practicality a minivan provides are desirable to you, but you’re worried about the fragileness of a “mom van,” fear not.
The 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland comes with every minivan feature you could ask for, plus even more. In addition, Toyota’s reliability and long-lasting reputation are unmatched. Ditch the SUV with terrible fuel economy for an off-road minivan that’s far more convenient. Who could complain about a seven-passenger vehicle that can drive off-road and get 35 mpg?
2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland
RELATED: What’s Different About the 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Compared to the 2021 Model?
The Toyota Sienna is one of the best overall vehicles for hauling the entire family and some cargo. Consumer Reports even gave it a 5 out of 5 for customer satisfaction, a score that uses real owners’ opinions. Previous owners love this reliable minivan, so imagine how much better it would be with some off-road capability. In conclusion, convenience and capability are at the forefront of every minivan. Now, so are off-road prowess, a peppy powertrain, and fuel economy. However, don’t sell your Land Cruiser and expect this family-hauler to take over. That’s the 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland: the first off-road minivan.
RELATED: Off-Road Minivan? That’s the 2022 Toyota Sienna Woodland Edition
