2020 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Nissan Murano had the face of the last generation of Nissan products. While its styling was updated for the 2019 model year with a refreshed grille, redesigned LED headlights and taillights, added fog lights, new wheel designs, and additional paint color choices, the Murano’s exterior design remained attractive, just not particularly modern. This became glaringly apparent as the redesigned Nissan Pathfinder and Armada debuted, leaving the Murano as one of the only models without Nissan’s new looks.

Nissan sold the Murano in S, SV, SL, and Platinum grades for 2020. Midrange and higher trim levels received more standard features. The Murano SV got heated outside mirrors, adaptive cruise control, and rear sonar. The Murano SL added traffic-sign recognition technology, while the top-tier Murano Platinum featured a new leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Murano rode on standard 18-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels, with the SL and Platinum grades getting 20-inch wheels in different finishes. The interior, especially in the Platinum grade, had premium appointments but felt dated, particularly the center stack, console, and steering wheel, which were reminiscent of the 2014 design.

Toyota’s designers did their best to change the minivan’s image with the 2021 Sienna Hybrid, giving it a more SUV-like appearance. A wide grille emphasized the minivan’s width, and LED headlamp arrays provided a sleek look. The sliding side doors were nicely sculpted, and alloy wheel sizes ranged from 17-inch to 20-inch, depending on the grade. The Sienna’s fit and finish were superb, maintaining Toyota’s high standards. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, and the seating position was higher than a sedan’s, providing a comfortable ride. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with most controls clustered on the upper part of the center stack. The center console housed the gear selector lever, cup holders, and a big storage compartment beneath the center armrest. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding fore and aft for maximum utility and comfort.

Despite its age, the 2020 Nissan Murano’s standard 3.5-liter V6 engine was a strong point, delivering 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Though not the quickest off the line, the Murano had no trouble overtaking other vehicles on the highway. The powertrain was completed by a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that acted quietly compared to other CVTs, contributing to a “library level” sound in the cabin. The Murano achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. It came with a front-wheel-drive (FWD) drivetrain as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available. The Murano had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and a four-wheel independent suspension that minimized harsh vibrations. However, it wasn’t particularly agile, and body lean was noticeable.

The 2021 Sienna Hybrid was Toyota’s first hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trim levels. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which delivered power smoothly but tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna Hybrid had four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. Handling was significantly improved over the outgoing Sienna, with minimal body roll and a comfortable ride. The big news for the Sienna Hybrid was its EPA fuel economy numbers: 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined for FWD models, and 35/36/35 mpg combined for AWD models.

One of the Murano’s best features was its Zero Gravity seats, providing comfort for hundreds of miles. The Murano had more headroom than the Lexus RX but less front legroom. It offered more shoulder room in the second row compared to the RX. The Murano had 32.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row upright and 67.0 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. Though it had less overall cargo space than the class average, the Murano’s low cargo floor and easy-to-fold rear seats made it practical for daily use. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control and keyless entry, with available features like leather-appointed seating, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-pane panoramic moonroof.

The 2021 Sienna Hybrid was designed for convenience, with a third row standard on all grades. The second row slid up to 25 inches, making it easy to access the third row. The cabin had 16 cupholders and plenty of storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood inside with the tailgate closed. Cargo measurements were 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna could tow up to 3,500 pounds. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, a family-friendly feature.

The 2020 Murano came standard with an 8-inch infotainment system touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, four USB ports, Bluetooth, satellite radio, a six-speaker audio system, and voice recognition. Buyers could upgrade to an 11-speaker Bose audio system, HD Radio, and navigation. Murano Platinum buyers had NissanConnect Services capability, including automatic collision notification, emergency call, and stolen vehicle locator. An Amazon Alexa skill was available free of charge.

The 2021 Sienna Hybrid packed in a ton of standard and available technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. The Sienna came with a year’s trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers, Dynamic Navigation, and surround sound. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a color multi-information display and, in Platinum trim, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

For the 2020 model year, Nissan added its Safety Shield 360 to the Murano’s SV, SL, and Platinum trim levels. The suite included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Murano earned all "good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) except in the headlight category and received a "superior" mark for front crash prevention. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Murano all five-star marks except for the rollover category, which was rated four stars.

The 2021 Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system standard. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) was also standard. The 2020 Sienna received “Good” ratings from IIHS for several categories and a Five-Star Overall Rating from NHTSA. The 2021 Sienna’s crash-test ratings were not yet released.