Toyota Sienta gets 5-seater Funbase model in Japan

KUALA LUMPUR: The Toyota Sienta is very popular MPV in the Malaysian market and does pose to be a threat to its competitors. However, besides the global market, the company’s home country also has a huge demand for the car. And to make it more competitive, Toyota Japan has given the Sienta MPV a facelift.

However, it is not just a mild or a regular update. Instead, Toyota Japan has completely overhauled the cabin, albeit as a new trim. Called the Funbase, the variant now has a 5-seater layout instead of the regular 3-row seating.

Speaking about the new Sienta’s exterior, the company has added quite a few redesigned elements, including those at the front and rear. Up front, there is a new grille design and a restyled bumper. The headlamp and the taillight covers get new graphics. The total number of color options grow up to 10 with the inclusion of a new Beige tone. Plus, there is also an optional two-tone paint job with the roof either being brown or black.

The cabin, however, is the talking point of the story. The standard three-row variants get either a 6-seater or a 7-seater layout. On the other hand, the Funbase (5-seater) model get a huge cargo holding. There is also an underfloor tray along with nine utility holes on either side of the cargo space. There are also a lot of accessories offered by the dealerships, which include luggage nets & hooks, bars for tables, etc.

Under the hood, Toyota Japan has kept the engine options for the new Sienta MPV identical to the current model. This means, there is the same 1.5-litre petrol engine that makes 109 PS of max power and 136 Nm of peak torque. Besides this, there is also a hybrid variant with an Atkinson-cycle motor. The total power output from this engine is 101 PS.