2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

Ford had taken a consistent approach to its SUV lineup, with the 2021 Explorer fitting neatly into the family resemblance shared by the Escape, Edge, and Expedition. The Explorer's exterior was sporty and distinctive, though it could be mistaken for the Edge at a quick glance. The vehicle offered six trim levels, each with varying degrees of exterior and interior refinement, from the base model to the luxurious Platinum. Inside, the Explorer featured three rows of seating, with the third row being less comfortable for adults. The dashboard was clean and user-friendly, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and large, easy-to-use controls.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV-like styling cues. The fourth-generation Sienna, launched in 2021, featured a bold front end and cleverly concealed sliding door channels. The interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, offering ample storage and comfortable seating across all three rows. The second-row seats could slide up to 25 inches, making access to the third row easy. The Sienna's interior was spacious and practical, with power-operated sliding doors and tailgate adding to its convenience.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing in at 4,345 pounds at its lightest, offered a range of powertrains. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming some competitors. The Limited Hybrid trim featured a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims came with a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented ST trim offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna continued with its hybrid-only powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, adding 54 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The Sienna's electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided smooth and efficient power delivery. The Sienna's handling was surprisingly good for a minivan, thanks to its Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg combined and AWD models getting 35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in the second row reducing capacity to six in higher trims. Second-row passengers enjoyed 39 inches of legroom, which was competitive within its segment. With the third row deployed, the Explorer provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a versatile family hauler, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading cargo. The Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The third-row bench easily stored away into the floor, and the power-operated sliding doors and tailgate added convenience.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, featuring AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna featured a 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. The Sienna lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a notable omission. The Sienna offered a range of telematics services, Bluetooth, and Qi wireless phone charging on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker setup to a 12-speaker JBL system. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was available on higher trims. The Sienna also featured a color multi-information display and an optional digital rearview mirror on higher trims.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The Sienna came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, including adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured 10 airbags, multiple LATCH connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit.