You know what the drill is: More ground clearance, higher roof rails.
It is nice to see some automakers still offering minivans. These vehicles often outperform most SUVs and crossovers in terms of space, comfort, convenience, and style. It’s refreshing to see automakers trying to improve minivans’ style and capabilities, as the Toyota Sienna Woodland Special Edition does.
Although it has a fancy name, this is not a regular Sienna with a black trim. There is black trim. You’ll see dark chrome accents and black badges on the exterior, as well as roof rails with crossbars for carrying goods or other accessories. Toyota also offers a standard tow hook that can pull 3,500 pounds. But the biggest upgrade is the extra ground clearance under the Sienna. Toyota does not specify how the Woodland Special Edition will perform, but when paired with the standard all-wheel drive, it should be more capable of going off the beaten track.
You’ll find black inside with black trim and contrast stitching on the sport seats. As standard equipment, the vehicle comes with a 1,500-watt power outlet at the back and navigation with the upgraded 1,200-watt JBL stereo. Standard equipment includes second-row captain’s chairs with long slide capability, Toyota’s Split & Stow 3rd-row seats, kick-activated sliding doors and heated front seats. The Woodland Special Edition is an adventurous-vehicle upgrade that comes fully equipped.
It is possible that Toyota may be responding to the recent Subaru Wilderness Initiative , which launched at March’s end with the Outback Wilderness Edition . Subaru has never had any problems catering to adventure-loving customers, but the Outback Wilderness Edition is aimed at those who might not otherwise consider buying an SUV. The Kia Carnival, which debuted in February has a sleek SUV-like body that still packs all the family-friendly amenities of a minivan.
Although the Sienna Woodland Special Edition may not be as aggressive as the other examples, it is a significant step in attracting crossover and SUV buyers. The Woodland Special Edition will go on sale in the fall for the model year 2022. We’ll be watching to see how buyers react. The pricing will be revealed closer to the date of on-sale.