CUSTOMER STORY

Cory Lee's BraunAbility Toyota Sienna Hybrid

“Never before have I been so pleased as I have been with my most recent purchase. I now have a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna hybrid, and it is awesome.”

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Written By: Cory Lee

Since getting my first powered wheelchair at the age of four, my family and I have purchased multiple accessible vans. We even had an old minivan in the early years with just a couple of 2x4 wooden boards used as a makeshift ramp. My mom would have to lift me out of my wheelchair and place me in a car seat, and then drive my wheelchair up those two boards. All of this still had to be done in the rain, snow, and whatever else life threw at her. It wasn’t easy, but it was all we had. So trust me when I say that I have had my fair share of accessible vans. As the years passed, I tried full-size vans, minivans, and even considered trying an adapted SUV. But never before have I been so pleased as I have been with my most recent purchase. I now have a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna hybrid, and it is awesome.


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Cory Lee Toyota Sienna handicap van review
Cory Lee, from Georgia

With the BraunAbility conversion, there's plenty of ground clearance, and it has been life-changing for me.

Cory Lee, from Georgia
Cory Lee Toyota Sienna Handicap Van Review
Cory Lee, from Georgia

As much as I travel, I like to be able to load my van with everything I need for my journey.

Cory Lee, from Georgia

The Spacious Vehicle Interior

The Toyota Sienna hybrid is spacious. I can roll inside the vehicle thanks to the automatic foldout ramp and still have plenty of space inside for my Hoyer lift, luggage, shower chair, or all-terrain wheelchair for all of my travels. The best part is that even with my all-terrain wheelchair behind the driver’s seat, I can still roll in, turn my wheelchair to park in the front passenger’s spot, and lock into my restraint. This is helpful when we are going on a road trip and want to stop, eat, use the restroom, and load back up. I can get in and out without having to move any luggage. The interior height also provides plenty of space for headroom and for my caregiver to maneuver around inside the vehicle.

BraunAbility vs. VMI Wheelchair Vans

One of my favorite things about my van is that it hasn’t scraped, dragged, or bottomed out on anything. In my old VMI vans, I would cringe any time I saw a speed bump or hill in the road. I knew that we were about to experience the worst screeching sound in the world as we tried to roll over them. Trust me, it was worse than fingernails on a chalkboard. The clearance was never enough, and often I felt like we might get stuck in some places. With the BraunAbility conversion, there's plenty of ground clearance, and it has been life-changing for me. I never have to think twice about the hills and humps in the road because I am confident that my van can clear them with ease.


The vehicle and battery are so quiet that you don’t even realize it’s running; you just know that it’s ready for the next adventure.

- Cory Lee

The Quiet Ride of a Toyota Sienna Hybrid

Another feature that is super impressive with this BraunAbility conversion is how quiet both the road noise and the hybrid battery are. When you use the push-button start, it is silent. The vehicle and battery are so quiet that you don’t even realize it’s running; you just know that it’s ready for the next adventure. With this van, I don't have to yell over the road noise. My foldout ramp doesn’t rattle, and the sound from the road is sealed out. My family and I can have normal conversations without yelling to each other and saying “What?” a million times. It is so relaxing, and the suspension and handling are smooth. I love nothing more than riding in my van and listening to the tunes on the radio as I travel from place to place.

Best-in-Class Wheelchair Ramp Conversion

I also can’t let you go without telling you about my foldout ramp. It is made of heavy-duty aluminum for durability. This allows me to easily roll inside. The doorway and ramp width are plenty wide enough for my wheelchair, and I never feel like I am going to run off the edge with my tires. My wider all-terrain wheelchair even makes it up with ease, so there are no worries. That extra space really makes a difference. I also love the fact that the back seat has an easy-to-use, full-length footrest. I don't need it, but my friends say it's comfortable to rest their feet on. And when I come up the ramp, it can easily fold up and stow away when not in use, which allows for extra space.

As much as I travel, I like to be able to load my van with everything I need for my journey. The BraunAbility Toyota Sienna hybrid conversion can safely carry all of the luggage and medical equipment I need for a trip. This gives me peace of mind, knowing that I can always add that “one more thing” for my trip. And no matter where my travels take me, there’s often a BraunAbility dealer nearby. 

So, what are you waiting for? With the purchase of a BraunAbility vehicle, a safe and relaxing journey is possible without any worries. Join me, and let’s hit the road in style, comfort, and durability. I can assure you that it will be the best decision you’ve ever made.

Cory Lee

Cory Lee

Travel Blog Author and Accessibility Advocate

Cory Lee has visited over 40 countries and all seven continents as a wheelchair user. He also runs the award-winning travel blog Curb Free with Cory Lee, where he hopes to inspire other wheelchair users to break out of their comfort zone and experience all of the beauty our world has to offer. 


Lee is supprted by BraunAbility and his local mobillity dealer, MobilityWorks in Chattanooga, TN. When you purchase a mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.

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