The Toyota Sienta has received its mid-life facelift in ASEAN. The MPV was given a minor change in its domestic market of Japan late last year, but ours isn’t a carbon copy of the JDM car.

The Sienta made its ASEAN debut in April 2016 in Indonesia, which is the model’s production hub for the region. The model was launched in Malaysia almost exactly three years ago to this date, and a mid-life facelift is due. Like before, the facelifted Sienta is made in Indonesia, although exports to Thailand have come before a local launch.

The Sienta’s distinctive looks remain, and the changes are truly minor. To spot the MC, look at the nose of the MPV – it’s no longer visually connected to the lower intake, thanks to a body coloured bar (where the number plate sits) that replaces a black strip. The grille has honeycomb mesh (used to be horizontal lines) and a chrome “cradle” for the Toyota emblem.

The headlamps appear to be unchanged, and so is the unique black trim that connects them to the fog lamps, framing the face. This design theme also applies to the MPV’s rear end, which is unchanged. Even the 16-inch two-tone wheels are carryover items. The Citrus Mica Metallic colour you see here is new; it replaces the pre-facelift’s orange hero colour.

By the way, the JDM facelift sticks to a one-piece nose, with a studded grille pattern and no chrome cradle. The Japanese market car also features revised light clusters at both ends, while the vertical black strips don’t connect with the lower intake for a fully framed face.

Inside, the funky dashboard with its asymmetrical centre stack remains unchanged, but the orange fabric seats have been swapped out for black leather with orange stitching. Toyota has added some fold down armrests (driver’s left side, outer edges for the middle row), front/rear dashcams, 360-degree parking camera system, a charging socket for rear passengers, and T-Link for the 6.8-inch touschscreen head unit.

In Thailand, the Sienta is available in G and V trim levels, priced at 765,000 baht (RM103,434) and 875,000 baht (RM118,307). That’s an increase of 15,000 baht (RM2,028) for the G and 10,000 baht (RM1,352) for the V, respectively.

Like before, available equipment include Bi-LED headlamps, LED daytime running lights, rear LED signatures, electric folding wing mirrors with turn signals, twin electric sliding doors, keyless entry and push start, auto air con with rear blower, Optitron meter panel with 4.2-inch multi-info display, the above-mentioned 6.8-inch touchscreen head unit with T-Link, Bluetooth and six speakers, plus an 8.0-inch screen for rear passengers.

Safety wise, the Thai Sienta gets ABS, EBD, BA, VSC, hill assist and three airbags (dual front plus driver’s knee). No mechanical changes, so it’s the familiar 2NR-FE 1.5 litre Dual VVT-i unit with 108 hp/140 Nm, paired to a CVT with manual mode.

-paultan