Which Minivan is Best for Road Transportation in Nigeria, Efficiency and Fuel Consumption

Minivans are one of the vehicle types that has been in the market for the longest time. Minivans were designed for families, to enable them to accommodate as many family members as possible. But, in Nigeria, the minivan serves a multi-functional purpose it’s used by families and is also used as a means of public transportation.

As such, one of the questions drivers looking to buy a minivan for business and those that have families ask is: how much fuel does the minivan consume? There are a handful of minivans in the market and while they all have their various fuel efficiency level, one in particular beats all of them, and is the Toyota Sienna.

The Sienna is popular in Nigeria and leads the minivan Nigerian market followed by others like the Honda Odyssey. So, if you are considering a fuel-efficient minivan the Toyota Sienna is your best bet.

However, with the insane price of new cars, perhaps you should consider getting a used Toyota Sienna. If you are looking for a fuel-efficient Sienna that bridges the gap between affordability and modernity, then the 2018 Toyota Sienna is a good purchase.

This Sienna does not only have great fuel economy but its used models are scattered across Nigeria and even a 2018 Sienna still has 85% similarities (in terms of modern features and design) with the latest models.

The 2018 Toyota Sienna Overview

The 2018 Toyota Sienna belongs to the 3rd generation of the Sienna that started with the 2018 model and ended with the 2021 model. The major difference between the 2017 Sienna and the 2018 model is that its interior was enhanced with a laminated windshield and acoustic glass in the front-row side windows to make the running quieter. Also, Toyota added a new 4.2-inch driver information display in the gauge cluster. 

Also, Toyota upgraded the Entune infotainment system across the Sienna lineup with up to five USB ports and an optional 4G Wi-Fi hotspot. It also comes with a rear-seat entertainment system that can stream from Android devices. There are also premium audio systems in the vehicle, and the 2018 Sienna also gets a Toyota Safety Sense P as standard.

Some interesting and essential driver-assist safety features in the vehicle include forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

What Type of Engine Does the 2018 Toyota Sienna Use?

The 2018 Toyota Sienna comes equipped with a 3.5L V6 DOHC engine with Dual VVT-I and produces 296 horsepower, which is one major reason this minivan is as efficient as possible. The 2018 Toyota Sienna has an estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

With a 20-gallon fuel tank, the 2018 Toyota Sienna can easily cover 380 city miles or 540 highway miles with just one full tank. But, if you only drive until you hit that quarter-tank mark of your vehicle, you will enjoy a 285-city / 405-highway mile estimated driving range with the 2018 Toyota Sienna, which is impressive.

Note: this calculation was made using the fuel economy estimation Toyota made for the 2018 Sienna. However, the amount of fuel your Sienna consumes could increase depending on your driving style, your tire and wheel balance, and the amount of heavy load you carry in your vehicle. Want to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy? These simple tips will help you.

Here are Reasons Why Nigerians Love the Toyota Sienna

Of all minivans, there’s none as popular as the Toyota Sienna in Nigeria. Many Nigerians looking for minivans immediately go after the Sienna, and here are the reasons behind this:

1. Toyota Sienna Has Low Fuel Consumption

If you are a transporter or you have a lot of kids, going from one location to another becomes the highlight of your day, and you need fuel to do all that. With the current price of fuel (N640/per liter), there’s no denying that you need a car that doesn’t easily consume fuel and that’s where the Sienna comes in.

2. The Toyota Sienna Is Very Spacious

Toyota built the Sienna with large families in mind, which means this vehicle is spacious enough to serve large families and sufficiently serve as a public vehicle. If you are looking for a vehicle with enough leg and headroom for passengers, then go after the Sienna.

3. The Sienna is a Low Maintenance Vehicle

You can hardly see anyone who owns a Toyota and complains about the high cost of maintaining the car. The same goes for the Sienna, and if you have children, the amount you spend at the mechanic shop will be reduced so you can put that money into other personal and family needs. 

4. The Toyota Sienna is Durable & Reliable

Like most Toyota vehicles, the Sienna is a very durable and reliable vehicle that lasts long. Owning a Toyota Sienna means fewer trips to the mechanic shop for repair and more time to focus on using your vehicle for whatever purpose you purchased it—whether school runs or transportation business.

Problems With the Toyota Sienna You Should Know

While the Sienna is a must-have minivan for either business or family purposes, it’s also important to know the various problems associated with this vehicle. Note that these problems take a long to develop, especially when the Sienna has exceeded the 15-20 years mark. Here are they:

1. The Toyota Sienna’s Electric Sliding Door Mechanisms Could Stop Working

Experts reported problem involved the Toyota Sienna’s motorized sliding door. This problem was reported four times as often as the next most common problem. It was also reported more often than every other problem combined. Problems with the electric sliding door have been found in every model year. 

2. Cracks Appearing on the Dashboard

The second most reported problem for the Toyota Sienna is dashboard cracks. Owners reported large cracks started forming throughout the dashboard after a while. To fix the problem, the dashboard needs to be replaced, which can cost a lot of money. 

3. The Sienna’s Oxygen Sensors Could Fail

The third most reported Toyota Sienna problem involved the oxygen sensor, which failed after several years. Most people didn’t notice any problems with the vehicle but were alerted when the check engine light went off. While many of the sensors failed after the car went over 60,000 miles, several owners reported problems under 25,000 miles.

4. The Sienna Also Develops Massive Oil Leak and Loss of Oil Pressure Failure

Another problem the Toyota Sienna has is in its oil line. This leak usually happens in older vehicles. The leak requires immediate attention because the vehicle could run out of oil and suffer complete engine failure. 

5. The Sienna Could Develop Evaporative Emission System Issues

Another problem with the Toyota Sienna is its evaporative emission system. Several reviewers had the check engine light come on when there was a problem with the system. This usually happened because a canister needed to be replaced. 

Conclusion

When it comes to fuel efficiency, the Toyota Sienna is a great purchase. It has many pros. However, note that older models of Sienna could develop any of the issues mentioned above. So, when purchasing a Sienna, consider going for models like the 2018 model, or better still, from 2010 upwards.