2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Toyota Sienna aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, presenting a more SUV-like appearance. Its wide grille and horizontally arranged LED headlamp arrays gave it a sleek look, while the sculpted sliding side doors and various alloy wheel sizes added to its assertive stance. The rear design managed to look wide and low, maintaining Toyota's high standards of fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was smartly designed with ample storage, and the second and third rows provided comfort and flexibility for passengers.

The 2021 Ford Escape, with its curved snout and sleek roofline, straddled the line between SUV and hatchback. It featured a tall ride height, giving it a less truck-like look compared to some competitors. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package. These upgrades included 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather trim. However, the interior design choices were less cohesive, with materials that felt low-rent, even in the top Titanium model.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trim levels. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while maximizing fuel efficiency, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna's handling was significantly improved with new front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension, providing a comfortable and smooth ride. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, as well as hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base powertrain was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. An upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. However, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive. The 2.0-liter, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid models could be equipped with a Class 2 Trailer Tow Package, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience functions, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored easily into the floor and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The cabin featured 16 cupholders and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid's battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated, responding to kick motions for easy access.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space. The first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, with a standard sliding rear seat that could be moved to expand legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models offered 40.7 inches of rear legroom, while hybrid models had slightly less due to the battery pack. The gasoline Escape had 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward. Folding the rear seat provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space in gasoline models and 60.8 cubic feet in hybrid models. However, competitors like the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester offered more cargo space.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna packed a wealth of standard and available technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. Connectivity features included trials of Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Service Connect, and AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered Qi-compatible charging, a 1500-watt inverter, and a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver benefited from a multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display available on Platinum models. Remote keyless entry and push-button start were standard, with the Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim level included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was user-friendly, the Escape lacked some standard tech features offered by competitors and missed out on the wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with Sync 4.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System, with enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and more, was also standard. The Sienna featured 10 airbags and multiple LATCH connectors, along with a rear-seat reminder system and tire pressure monitoring system. While 2021 crash-test ratings were not yet available, the 2020 Sienna received high marks from IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Ford Escape earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and for LATCH ease of use. It also received high marks for front-crash prevention tech but had mixed ratings for headlights. NHTSA gave the Escape a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.