The Toyota Sienna has long been recognized as a reliable and family-friendly minivan, consistently earning praise from авторитетные publications like Car and Driver. For the 2025 model year, Toyota is enhancing the Sienna’s appeal with a groundbreaking safety feature: the standard Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system. This innovative technology, a global first for Toyota, leverages millimeter-wave radar to provide an extra layer of protection for passengers, particularly children and pets left in the vehicle.
Understanding the Advanced Rear Seat Reminder System
Toyota’s commitment to safety is evident in the design and implementation of the Advanced Rear Seat Reminder. Unlike conventional systems, this technology utilizes a high-resolution 60GHz band radar sensor, discreetly mounted above the Sienna’s headliner. This radar is engineered to scan the second and third rows, detecting even微小的 movements after the vehicle is turned off and locked.
The system is designed to be proactive and multi-tiered in its alerts. If movement is detected after the driver has left and locked the Sienna, the system initiates a sequence of escalating warnings:
- Initial Alert: The first stage involves subtle vehicle chimes and flashing hazard lights, drawing attention to a potential occupant in the rear seats.
- Escalation Warning: If movement persists approximately 90 seconds after the initial alert, the system escalates the warning by sounding the horn, providing a more prominent audible signal.
These initial alerts are built directly into the vehicle’s hardware and do not require a smartphone or app connection to function.
Enhanced Connectivity with Toyota App and Safety Connect
For Sienna owners who are subscribed to Toyota’s Safety Connect services and have enabled Advanced Rear Seat Reminder notifications within the Toyota app, the system offers an even more comprehensive safety net. Approximately four minutes after the horn escalation, if movement is still detected, the system can:
- Send a Push Notification: A notification is sent directly to the user’s smartphone via the Toyota app.
- SMS Text Message: An SMS text message is dispatched to the mobile number registered with the user’s Toyota account.
- Automated Phone Call: After an additional two minutes, the system initiates an automated phone call to the saved contact number, ensuring multiple layers of communication to alert the vehicle owner.
It’s important to note that if the vehicle is left unlocked, the initial chime, hazard lights, and horn warnings will not activate. However, for users with Safety Connect and app notifications enabled, push notifications and SMS messages will still be sent if movement is detected in an unlocked vehicle.
Millimeter-Wave Radar: A Technological Advantage
The choice of millimeter-wave radar sets Toyota’s Advanced Rear Seat Reminder apart from many competitive systems that rely on ultrasonic sensors or camera-based monitoring. Millimeter-wave radar offers several key advantages:
- Higher Resolution Movement Sensing: The radar technology provides a more detailed and accurate detection of movement compared to ultrasonic systems.
- Detection Under Objects: Unlike some systems, millimeter-wave radar is capable of detecting movement even if an occupant is obscured by objects like blankets, enhancing its effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
- Performance in Low-Light Conditions: Radar technology excels in low-light environments, offering superior performance compared to camera-based systems that may struggle in darkness.
This advanced radar technology underscores Toyota’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge solutions to enhance vehicle safety and provide peace of mind to drivers and families.
Toyota’s Dedication to Innovation and Safety
The Advanced Rear Seat Reminder system is a product of Toyota’s internal innovation culture, originating from a technology competition within Toyota Motor North America. Its development involved collaboration across various Toyota divisions and external partners, showcasing a global effort to bring this crucial safety technology to fruition. The project has resulted in over 40 patent applications, highlighting the innovative nature and significant advancements in this technology area.
The inclusion of standard Advanced Rear Seat Reminder in all grades of the 2025 Toyota Sienna demonstrates Toyota’s ongoing commitment to prioritizing safety and incorporating advanced technologies into their vehicles. As Car and Driver and other automotive authorities assess the 2025 Sienna, this new safety feature is sure to be a significant point of praise, further solidifying the Sienna’s position as a leader in the minivan segment.
*Advanced Rear Seat Reminder uses a sensor from the vehicle to detect movement in a defined rear seat area to provide an alert that an occupant is present. If you have downloaded, registered for and enabled the Toyota App on your smartphone, you may also receive a notification, SMS and/or an automated call to the verified account phone number.
System functionality and sensor coverage is limited and may not detect all occupants under all circumstances. Phone- or app-based functions require an active Safety Connect subscription, which depends on factors outside Toyota’s control, including 4G network availability and GPS signal, and requires acceptance of Connected Services Terms of Use and Master Data Consent. Drivers are responsible for ensuring no occupants are left in a vehicle. See Owner’s Manual for additional limitations and details. Specifications pertain to U.S. and Canadian market 2025 Toyota Sienna. Final specifications vary by region.
Updated September 24, 2024.
