2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since the 2011 model year. Despite a 2018 update to incorporate newer infotainment tech and minor changes, the 2020 version still felt dated. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when slammed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel seemed to come from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, though its simplicity made the controls easy to use. The Sienna offered various trims, from the base L to the Limited Premium, each adding more features and luxury. The SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, included a power rear liftgate, 19-inch alloy wheels, and sport instrumentation. The Limited trim added leather seats, a JBL premium audio system, and navigation. The Nightshade Edition aimed to keep the minivan looking cool with dark accents and wheels.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep design elements like round headlights, a 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. Primary trims included Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with special editions like the Jeepster and High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport started at $25,210, while the High Altitude test car reached $36,515 with extras. The High Altitude featured dark gray 19-inch wheels, a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, and a black leather interior with contrast stitching and metallic accents. Despite these luxurious touches, the interior still had hard plastic materials, making it look inexpensive. The Renegade's design made it feel larger inside, but it had cramped rear seats and limited cargo space.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The dash-mounted shifter had a Sport mode for livelier throttle and shift response. The Sienna offered stout acceleration in normal Drive mode and had a manual mode for its 3,500-pound towing capacity. Front-wheel drive was standard, but all trims except the base L had an all-wheel-drive option, available only with the 7-passenger configuration. The FWD Sienna returned 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions returned 18/24/20. The Sienna handled well for a minivan, with a low center of gravity and broad base, but its twitchy steering required constant attention at higher speeds.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade had a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine was available on higher trims, producing 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with FWD on base models and AWD on higher trims. The test vehicle had the Active Drive AWD system, which disconnected the rear wheels to save fuel and activated when the front wheels slipped. The turbocharged engine felt energetic, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy led to inconsistent power delivery. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The Renegade's driving dynamics were better in urban settings, but highway driving was a chore due to a flinty ride, sloppy steering, and a loud cabin.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet, more than competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which was easier with captain’s chairs than a bench seat. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat was challenging. Toyota offered mobility access features like the Auto Access Seat, making the Sienna a good choice for those needing mobility conversions.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade's boxy design made it feel larger inside, with a far-away windshield, thick pillars, and vertical side glass. The panoramic glass roof added to the sense of space. The driver’s seat was comfortable with eight-way power adjustment, but front passengers lacked seat height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, and there were few practical interior storage spots. Cargo volume was limited, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base L trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot with a 6-month trial. Higher trims added features like navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Limited trim included Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system that broadcasted the driver’s voice to the rear speakers.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade featured the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a WiFi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio provided connected services, and a new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on lower trims and standard on XLE and Limited trims. The Sienna earned five stars from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, including a Superior rating for its driver-assistance features.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered the Advanced Tech Group, which included adaptive cruise control, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS gave it commendable scores but did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.