2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since the 2011 model year and received an update in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 version still felt somewhat dated. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when closed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel also appeared outdated, resembling parts from Toyota's 2010 lineup. However, this simplicity made the controls user-friendly. The Sienna was available in multiple trims, from the base L to the luxurious Limited Premium, each offering various features like 17-inch alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The styling carried over from the previous generation, with the most noticeable change being the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. The Forester Sport model featured orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact. The Forester's interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand wear and tear. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims like Limited and Touring offered leather upholstery and additional features.

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 a Sport mode for enhanced throttle and shift response, and a manual mode for better control when towing up to 3,500 pounds. The Sienna was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, with the latter being exclusive to the 7-passenger setup. The FWD Sienna achieved fuel economy ratings of 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while the AWD version returned 18/24/20 mpg. The Sienna handled well for a minivan, with a low center of gravity and broad base, but its steering response was twitchy at higher speeds.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. The Forester's towing capacity was 1,500 pounds, with Trailer Stability Assist as standard. While the engine felt adequate for most situations, it lacked the power needed for confident highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll and bounce. AWD was standard, along with X-Mode for different driving conditions. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling rough terrain.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. This was more than competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. 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 due to the awkward folding mechanism of the second-row seats. Toyota also offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making the Sienna a practical choice for those needing such accommodations.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided ample headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. This design also allowed for excellent outward visibility. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, it did offer a power liftgate on higher trims. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. The number of buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

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 like the Limited added navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Driver Easy Speak intercom system was also available, allowing the driver to communicate with rear passengers without raising their voice.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The Forester's infotainment system was user-friendly, but the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens in the dashboard and instrument cluster displayed secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex.

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 higher trims like the XLE and Limited. The Sienna earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and top ratings from the IIHS.

The 2021 Subaru Forester received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Subaru's EyeSight system, which offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also had a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.