2021 Nissan Murano vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that was once ahead of its time, but by 2021, its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end had become standard in car design. Its interior was more conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use, making it an ideal SUV for commutes and road trips. The cabin's restrained styling ensured that all controls were intuitively placed, minimizing any learning curve for new drivers.

The Murano was available in four trims: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The base S trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, manual front seats, dual-zone climate control, four USB ports, push-button start, remote keyless entry, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like power-adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control, leather upholstery, heated seats, a Bose premium stereo system, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof.

Toyota's Sienna minivan had a long history, dating back to its debut in 1998. By 2022, the Sienna had evolved to present an SUV-like style while retaining its minivan functionality. The latest model featured a macho front end, re-engineered door hinges, and a sleek profile with integrated styling details. The base models came with 17-inch wheels, while upper trims offered 18-inch and 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Sienna avoided the typical minivan feel with an uncluttered design and ample storage. It offered comfortable seating for second- and third-row passengers, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench. The third row was a 60/40-split bench that easily stored away into the floor, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access to the third row.

The 2021 Nissan Murano was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it great for city driving, though the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano had a comfort-first ride, with refined driving characteristics that allowed it to handle corners well and absorb road bumps. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many other midsize SUVs.

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. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled CVT, offering four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The Sienna's handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to its TNGA platform, which provided minimal body roll and a comfortable ride. The big news was its fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models getting 35 mpg city/highway/combined. The Sienna's 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats and came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. While this was less than some competitors, the Murano made up for it with ease of use, featuring a traditional shifter design and a center console loaded with trays and cubbies. The Murano excelled in providing ample headroom and legroom for both front and second-row passengers, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. It 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 Sienna also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The third-row bench easily stored away into the floor, and each row had ample storage cubbies and cupholders. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, making it convenient for loading and unloading.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring a sensible menu layout and hard buttons and dials for easy navigation. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with available upgrades like an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology features, including a standard 9-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, one USB media port, and six USB charging ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna offered a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker JBL audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display, and a 10-inch color head-up display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror and included Qi wireless phone charging.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with standard driver assistance features as part of Nissan Safety Shield 360, including reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors were available.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included 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. A spare tire was available, mounted in the cargo space wall for convenience.