2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received an update in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt dated. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when slammed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel looked like it came from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, though its simplicity made the controls easy to use.

The Sienna offered various trims, including L, LE, SE, SE Premium, XLE, XLE Premium, Limited, and Limited Premium. The base L trim came well-equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, three-zone climate control, five USB ports, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. The LE trim added dual power sliding doors, black roof rails, and easy-clean upholstery, making it ideal for families. The SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, featured 19-inch alloy wheels, a mesh grille, and a power rear liftgate. The SE Premium added chrome-accented door handles, a power moonroof, and a DVD entertainment system. The XLE trim included leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, and woodgrain accents. The Limited trim added leather front seats, a JBL premium audio system, and navigation. The Nightshade Edition offered dark accents and wheels for those prioritizing style.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks received significant exterior updates, aligning its design with the 2021 Nissan Armada, Ariya, and Rogue. The front featured a bold V-motion design with a new "double V-motion" feature. The Kicks SR trim level had LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. The rear had a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, giving it a proportionate look. However, the piece covering the trunk release, rearview camera, and license plate lights appeared like an afterthought.

New paint options included Electric Blue Metallic, Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, and Boulder Gray Pearl. The Kicks continued to offer a two-tone paint job with a floating roof tinted Super Black. The SR trim had LED headlights, black heated outside mirrors, and a sportier aesthetic. The interior featured higher quality materials, new seat and door designs, and a full center console armrest. The Kicks SR Premium Package offered Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching.

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. It offered stout acceleration in normal Drive mode and livelier throttle response in Sport mode. The Sienna had a 3,500-pound towing capacity and was available with AWD on all trims except the base L. 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 2021 Nissan Kicks featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT and FWD. The Kicks had electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist, making it nimble in various driving conditions. It had a front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension with twist beam and twin-tube shock absorbers. The Kicks' power-to-weight ratio provided adequate power for its size. The Kicks SR trim maintained good handling on icy roads, though the CVT could get noisy under heavy acceleration. The Kicks S trim had 16-inch steel wheels, while the SV and SR trims had 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The Kicks also came with a traction control system, stability control system, and hill start assist. The Kicks SR had an integrated dynamic-control module with active engine brake, intelligent trace control, and intelligent ride control. The EPA rated the Kicks at 31 mpg city, 36 highway, and 33 combined, with a range of 356 miles on a single tank of gas.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet, more than its competitors. 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 was challenging. Toyota offered mobility access features, including a built-in rotating lift seat, making it easier for those with mobility needs.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks had easy-to-reach buttons and knobs, good small-item storage, and multiple smartphone storage options. The climate controls were easy to use, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat. The Kicks offered best-in-class front seat legroom, though the hip room was less ideal for larger drivers. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage in the rear cargo area.

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. Higher trims offered additional features like navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Limited trim had Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system that broadcasted the driver’s voice to the rear speakers.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks had a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert as standard. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, a 7-inch driver information screen, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium Package included a Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers and a surround-view monitor. A WiFi hot spot and NissanConnect services were also available.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P), which included 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.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert. The 2020 Kicks received Good marks from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.