While building a larger family, or having a ton of friends, can enrich your life in a number of ways, there are some challenges you need to navigate. And we're not just talking about how to divide your attention between so many people, but about how to transport them around. Practical sedans and SUVs are adequate for smaller families, but they generally only provide seating for five. If you need spacing for extra people, you're left with either a huge SUV, or a minivan. Examples of the latter are generally lower and easier to navigate around city streets, so they stand out as a solid option for the masses. Newer ones that boast hybrid powertrains, which make them more fuel efficient and thus much cheaper to run, can cost north of $40,000, though. That's why we reckon that a used 2021 Toyota Sienna could be the perfect hybrid minivan for you. The 2021 Sienna Was Ahead Of The Game Toyota The Sienna has been a staple of Toyota's lineup since 1997, when it was launched to replace the Previa in North America. It was different from the outset, since it used a more traditional front engine and front-wheel drive layout, versus the mid-engine and rear-wheel drive format its forerunner utilized. The Sienna has retained this safer and more confidence-inspiring layout ever since, with the current fourth-gen variant released for the 2021 model year. It stood out because Toyota elected to do something different to most of its rivals, and ditch the naturally aspirated V6 that resided below the hood of the third-gen car. In its place was a 2.5-liter NA inline-four that was backed up by a single electric motor, which assisted the engine in getting the machine up to speed to help preserve fuel. Other than the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid, there was no other minivan on the market that boasted such a setup. The components worked together to provide a handy 245 horsepower, which allowed the seven- or eight-seater to glide past 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds. A single-speed CVT transmission transmitted the powerplant's grunt to the front wheels, or all four if you spent a little extra. The Sienna's Efficient Powerplant Put It Well Clear Of Its Rivals Toyota The Sienna was truly in a class of one when it came to fuel efficiency. Value for money tends to be a key attribute a car needs to achieve when going after larger families, and that's where the Sienna's powertrain really shines. Aside from providing a nice helping of power, it also allowed the car to achieve a combined 36 MPG. The Pacifica Hybrid could only manage 30 MPG due to it using a V6 engine alongside its electric motor, while non-hybrid rivals like the 2021 Honda Odyssey and 2022 Kia Carnival could only muster a combined 22 MPG thanks to their thirsty V6s. It was a handy benefit back then, but considering today's fuel prices, the Sienna's fuel efficiency is a huge plus point. You Can Make Decent Savings On Used Siennas Toyota Buying a new Sienna can be pretty costly, given that even the base LE trim will set you back $40,120. A better-equipped XLE AWD version, meanwhile, demands a shade over $46k from your bank account. Thanks to depreciation, you can hand over considerably less than that for an earlier 2021 example, as illustrated by the CarBuzz Marketplace. Entry-level LE FWD models currently have an average used value of $28,429, which offers you a near-$12k discount versus buying a brand-new one. Higher-end Siennas, such as the XSE, can be had for closer to $35k. For the most part, $28k will get you a middling mileage example in good condition, so you can save some more money by looking for specimens with well north of 100,000 miles on the clock. These will snatch closer to $25k from your wallet, but as long as they're well looked after, they should have plenty of life left in them. It is a Toyota, after all. The Sienna Is Comparably Practical To Its Rivals Toyota Being a minivan, one of the key ingredients it needs is practicality. Depending on which spec you opt for, the Sienna can be had in either a seven- or eight-seat configuration. Whereas the former gets two separate captain's chairs in the second row, as well as two similar seats out front and a three-wide bench seat for the third row, the latter gets a three-wide bench seat in the second row, too. The seven-seater therefore provides second row passengers with extra comfort versus the eight-seater, and also offers the chance to walk directly through the second row to access the third. This makes it easier to tend to any children placed in the most rearward row, though you do lose an additional space in the second row. In terms of overall cabin room, the Sienna is comparable to rivals like the Pacifica and Odyssey. Whereas the Odyssey gets the better of the Sienna everywhere other than third row legroom, the Toyota offers considerably more spacious second and third rows in terms of legroom versus the Chrysler. It does lose out in terms of headroom though, at least in the two rear rows. Overall though, the Sienna is easily big and versatile enough on the inside for most families. It's Not A Luxury Product Toyota Seeing as the primary job of the Sienna is to transport people in adequate comfort, don't expect to step inside and feel like you're riding around in a Rolls-Royce. The engine is smooth, and the cabin does a decent job of shielding its occupants from external noises, while the independent suspension is tuned to provide a comfortable ride in most situations, though things can get a little bumpy over really rough surfaces. It doesn't stand out when it comes to equipment either, as you tend to get what you'd expect at its price point. The base version comes with adaptive cruise control and automatic climate control as standard, though that's fairly par-for-the-course in a $30k+ minivan these days. All models come with useful power sliding side doors, which boast a kick-operated function that allows the door to slide even if your hands are full. You'll find more toys when you opt for something a little more expensive, like the XSE, as then you'll have a power liftgate, heated seats, as well as an electric moonroof. As a nice little extra, some wood trim is also added to bring a seasoning of class to proceedings. A Used Sienna Will Rarely Let You Down Toyota Being a Toyota, it likely won't come as a surprise to learn that the 2021 Sienna has proven pretty stout from a dependability standpoint thus far. There are few mechanical issues to worry about, with most rearing their heads due to the car being improperly maintained. It isn't perfect though, as a fair few random electrical problems have been reported, though they're pretty scattered in nature. The electric side doors have also proven problematic on occasion too, with the components sometimes failing to shut correctly, though this is usually due to debris getting stuck in the door runners. The door sensors could also be faulty, so make sure to thoroughly test them on any used Sienna you plan to purchase. You can't go too far wrong with them overall, as illustrated by CarEdge. The site reports that the minivan should only cost you around $6,400 to maintain over a ten-year period, which is around $3k better off than the industry average. In addition, the chances of the model suffering from a major issue sit around 9% down on the class average. The Sienna combines all the key attributes that a practical minivan should. It boasts a spacious and versatile cabin, bulletproof reliability, as well as cheap running costs thanks to its efficient powertrain. Plus, find a tidy used one, and you'll save a chunk of cash versus buying a brand-new one.