Hi Scotty,
How much can I expect to tow with a 2023 Toyota Sienna without harming it?
I ordered a 2023 Toyota Sienna that comes with a 3500 lb tow package, 2.5L hybrid. Forums and Google keep giving me different answers from people who exceed the towing capacity to others that say under 1000 lbs. I would love a small trailer, I am happy driving under the speed limit, and watching the temperature but I also want the van to last as long as possible. I would be loading up the van with approx 900 lbs of gear and passengers.
Outside of the US people tow 2,000lbs with their i20 mini cars with 83 horsepower 1.2L naturally aspirated engines,
And z 1.0L VW CUV was touted as a "sensible match" for a light caravan ( - it was tested with a 2,000 lbs caravan: https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/seat-arona)
So I do not really see why you wouldn't tow at least 2,000lbs with a Sienna - assuming it's not a mountainous region.
Just replace the engine and CVT fluid frequently and make sure you're compliant with local laws and owner's manual instructions.
Also it’s important to add that there’s no belt inside of your CVT - it’s an eCVT.
I’d argue this design is more bulletproof than the kind of tiny conventional auto with an unreasonable amount of gears you’d find in a modern SUV.
No mechanical shifting, no slippage - it’s 3 motors (1 petrol engine and 2 EV motors) working together and through engineering magic achieve the effect of a very advanced transmission.
As long as it doesn’t overheat (I’d say that’s be above 110°C) you should be fine
ok that's different. I hate that name eCVT.
Same.
Technically it is an "Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission" but it still could have had a better name.
They should have named it after the small mechanical device that's unique to their design and does all the magic - the PSD (Power Split Device)
Follow the owner's manual and the GVWR on the door jamb sticker.
The manual talks about a towing package, but seems like the same generic language in every manual and doesn't give definitive answers. I want my Sienna to last a long time, and I am not interested in max capabilities if its going to wear it out fast. On the flip side if it is capable of towing a small trailer without severe repricussions how much can I pull with approx 900 lbs of passenger and cargo weight? That a 1050lb boler trailer or a 2800 lb travel trailer?
Owners manual recommends not towing and then talks about its 3500 lb towing capacity... https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/owners/manuals Forums and google all have different answers which is why I am seeking a car expert like Scotty or if there is another expert that can weigh in.
I don't have the vehicle yet so I can't see the sticker, but google says 6170 lbs gvwr.
In Canada the weight list is crazy long, most dealerships listed 2-3 years (as they legally can't charge over MSRP). I ordered a while back, but want to figure out the details before I get it
The manual talks about a towing package, but seems like the same generic language in every manual and doesn't give definitive answers. I want my Sienna to last a long time, and I am not interested in max capabilities if its going to wear it out fast. On the flip side if it is capable of towing a small trailer without severe repricussions how much can I pull with approx 900 lbs of passenger and cargo weight? That a 1050lb boler trailer or a 2800 lb travel trailer?
Owners manual recommends not towing and then talks about its 3500 lb towing capacity... https://www.toyota.ca/toyota/en/owners/manuals Forums and google all have different answers which is why I am seeking a car expert like Scotty or if there is another expert that can weigh in.
I don't have the vehicle yet so I can't see the sticker, but google says 6170 lbs gvwr.
In Canada the weight list is crazy long, most dealerships listed 2-3 years (as they legally can't charge over MSRP). I ordered a while back, but want to figure out the details before I get it
I am not interested in max capabilities
well that's the only hard and fast number you're going to find.
Nobody is ever going to say (unless they're lying) "you can safely tow 936.47 lbs and not a lb more", because nobody can possibly know that. There are far too many variables.
if its going to wear it out fast.
Of course it will wear out faster. Any kind of towing will put more strain on the powertrain. And the more weight you tow, and the more frequently you tow, the faster it will wear out. That you can be certain of. There's no precise weight where damage starts to happen. It's the same with loading it with people/cargo, except now you're wearing out the car's axles and suspension.
The manual is exactly right ... if you really want your Sienna to last "as long as possible", then don't tow!
The powertrain is like a pair of work gloves. The harder and the more often you use them, the sooner you'll be replacing them.
Just keep under the maximums, and be sensible about it. You can feel how hard the vehicle is working and struggling up hills. With a 2.5L engine, I can tell you it will struggle a lot. Use the vehicle. It was made to do work, but don't abuse it.
Thanks for the reply.
I understand that the more you use an vehicle the more it will wear. What I am trying to figure out will it wear out disproportionally compare to other vehicles if it tows. To compare I am sure Chevrolet Spark would wear out disproportionately if you tried to test its capabilities peeling out at every green light much more so than a mustang would.
Should I be worried about a 2.5L CVT hybrid having the same tow capacity as a regular minivan that also shares the 3500lb tow capacity
Yes, absolutely. A 2.5L engine engine does not leave much extra power for towing, and CVT transmissions are weak, prone to wear, and expensive. I wouldn't do it.
If I really needed to tow, I would get an SUV or something with a larger torquey combustion engine and conventional automatic transmission.