2021 Audi Q3 vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a design that fit well within the era of "postmodern automotive styling." Its massive corporate grille paired seamlessly with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling, while primarily delivering on the latter. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, highlighting one of the Q3’s top features. Although the interior was a standout when it debuted in 2019, Volkswagen's newer interiors have caught up, making the Q3 feel modern and refined, but not as special.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV styling cues. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges and slides to conceal the slider channel, giving it a more assertive profile. The interior avoided a minivan/school bus feel with an uncluttered design and abundant storage options. The second- and third-row passengers enjoyed roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench that stored away easily. The Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided a lively performance with solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode, which quickened throttle response and altered transmission mapping for harder acceleration. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes, though the Off-Road mode was best suited for light dirt trails.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna carried over its hybrid powertrain from the previous year, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available on all trim levels. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, providing 54 hp and 89 pound-feet of torque. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), offering four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The Sienna’s handling was better than expected for a minivan, thanks to its front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models getting 35 mpg city/highway/combined.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the total cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with ample passenger space, providing comfortable front seats with deep cargo pockets and impressive headroom and legroom in the rear seats. It could seat five, but four passengers could take a road trip in comfort, provided they packed light.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight, with cargo measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity. The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away easily, and each row had ample storage cubby space and cupholders. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, providing convenience for families with their hands full.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features included wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display that could present the navigation map across nearly the entire screen.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard in all grades, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, one USB media port, and six USB charging ports throughout the cabin. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi wireless phone charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker setup on the LE to a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was available on XLE and above. The Sienna also offered a color multi-information display, a 10-inch color head-up display on Platinum trims, and a digital rearview mirror on Limited and Platinum models.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional available features were a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist for parallel and perpendicular parking spots.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured the Star Safety System, 10 airbags, several LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the wall of the cargo space for safety and convenience.