2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received a refresh in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt somewhat dated, with occasional upscale touches overshadowed by its overall aged design. The hollow "thud" of the front doors and the instrument panel's simplistic design, reminiscent of Toyota's 2010 parts, highlighted its age. However, this simplicity also made the controls user-friendly. The Sienna offered a range of trims, from the well-equipped base L to the luxurious Limited Premium, each adding features like power sliding doors, leather upholstery, and advanced infotainment systems. The Nightshade Edition aimed to add a touch of style with dark accents and wheels.

The 2021 Honda Passport, essentially a two-row version of the Pilot, shared many styling cues with its sibling, including the awkward "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials. It offered four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding features like leather upholstery, power liftgates, and advanced audio systems. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with ample headroom and legroom, reclining and sliding rear seats, and plenty of storage options. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, making it a practical choice for families and adventurers alike.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission. It offered a Sport mode for enhanced throttle and shift response, and a manual mode for those who needed it. The Sienna's FWD provided the best fuel economy, with 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions returned slightly lower figures. The Sienna's handling was surprisingly decent for a minivan, with a low center of gravity and broad base, though its steering response could be twitchy at higher speeds.

The 2021 Honda Passport also featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both FWD and optional AWD, with the latter providing additional drive modes for various terrains. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance for light off-roading. It could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and 5,000 pounds with AWD, making it a versatile choice for those needing towing capabilities.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which could be cumbersome. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat could be challenging. Toyota also offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making it a practical choice for those needing such accommodations.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The Passport's upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the interior featured ample storage options, including deep in-door pockets and a spacious center console. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. It also included Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The Limited trim added navigation and a JBL premium audio system, along with the Driver Easy Speak intercom system for communicating with rear passengers.

The 2021 Honda Passport featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While these features were a welcome addition, the system's dated graphics and confusing menu layout left room for improvement. The inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, though the lack of a tuning dial was noted.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and dynamic cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS in several crash tests, with its driver-assistance features receiving a Superior rating.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and parking sensors. It received a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, though it only managed "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.