2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Toyota Sienna represented a significant departure from traditional minivan aesthetics. Toyota’s designers aimed to make the Sienna Hybrid appear more SUV-like, a challenging endeavor given the minivan's functional design constraints. The Sienna featured a wide grille that emphasized its width, and LED headlamp arrays offered a sleek, horizontal look, cohesively integrated into a panel housing the Toyota logo. From the side, the Sienna exhibited a more assertive stance, thanks to reworked sliding doors sculpted with a body line swooping up from the rocker panels and bulging over the rear wheels. This redesign required innovative hinge systems to tuck the door in, greatly improving its appearance. Alloy wheels, available in sizes from 17 to 20 inches, filled the arches nicely and came in various finishes.

Inside, the Sienna exuded a spacious feel with horizontal lines on the dashboard that emphasized width. The seating position was higher than that of a sedan but not quite as commanding as a full-size SUV, making for a comfortable ride. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls conveniently clustered on the upper center stack. The innovative center console bridged the dash to the storage compartment, offering smart design elements like a tray for a handbag. Materials used throughout the cabin were of high quality, providing a pleasant tactile experience.

Conversely, the 2021 Ford Explorer adhered to Ford’s “small, medium, large, XL” strategy, presenting a family resemblance with its SUV siblings. The Explorer's exterior bore sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages that made it stand out among other brands' SUVs. Depending on the trim, the Explorer was adorned with variations of black or chrome grilles, further distinguishing the models across the price spectrum, starting from $32,925 and escalating to $52,730.

Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard. Although the base trim featured cloth upholstery, even its seats were fairly comfortable, though adults might find the third row cramped on long journeys. The dashboard displayed familiar gauges and a clean center stack with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen as standard, encompassing audio and climate controls. The center console's rotary gearshift freed up substantial storage space, complemented by a covered bin ahead of the shifter and a larger storage bin under the center armrest.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid was Toyota’s first foray into hybrid minivans, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, yielding a combined 243 horsepower. With front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional across all trims, the Sienna offered versatile drivetrain options. Its electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while efficient, slightly dulled throttle response, focusing more on fuel economy than driving excitement. The Sienna’s handling saw substantial improvements from the outgoing model, featuring new TNGA front suspension, steering, and independent rear trailing arm suspension, ensuring a comfortable and stable ride. It also boasted impressive EPA fuel economy ratings, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg in all categories and AWD models slightly lower with 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and came with various powertrain options. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced an admirable 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims offered a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented ST variant ramped up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer’s 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability provided smooth transitions. While the Explorer prioritized towing power—capable of pulling between 5,000 to 5,600 pounds depending on the configuration—it also offered competitive performance within its class.

Minivans like the 2021 Toyota Sienna were judged heavily on their functionality. The Sienna excelled with a highly configurable interior, featuring a standard 60/40-split third-row bench that folded into the floor easily and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for convenient third-row access. The cabin was dotted with numerous storage cubbies and a remarkable 16 cupholders. Cargo capacities were generous: 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet with the second row down, and 101 cubic feet behind the front seats. Impressively, it could even accommodate a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood. The hybrid’s battery pack was cleverly placed under the front seats, leaving cargo space untouched. The Sienna also offered a towing capacity of up to 3,500 pounds. Both sliding side doors and the tailgate were power-operated, responding to kick motions for hands-free convenience.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base trim, with other trims featuring second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to six. Second-row legroom was generous at 39 inches, though it trailed behind competitors like the Kia Telluride. Even with all seats occupied, the Explorer managed an impressive 21 cubic feet of cargo space. However, its overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, slightly below expectations for its class.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with standard technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen across all grades with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Standard connectivity included various trials for Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Service Connect, and WiFi Connect. Bluetooth, multiple USB ports, and optional Qi-compatible charging and AC outlets enhanced its tech profile. The infotainment system ranged from a six-speaker stereo on lower trims to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers and Dynamic Navigation on higher trims. Rear-seat entertainment featured an 11.6-inch ceiling-mounted widescreen display.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and the Sync 3 system. Higher trims upgraded to a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system with HD radio, while the top trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. Charging ports were plentiful, with two USB ports in the center console and five 12-volt power points throughout. Optional upgrades included a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision systems with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. Standard safety features also included the Star Safety System and a total of 10 airbags. A rear-seat reminder system, tire pressure monitoring system, and roadside-focused inflator kit were part of the safety offerings. Although the 2021 Sienna’s crash-test ratings were pending at the time, the 2020 model had received favorable ratings from IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was a Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS, earning “Good” scores in all crash tests and an “Acceptable” rating for adaptive headlights. The base trim included Ford Co-Pilot360 with 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. Additional safety features were accessible from the Limited trim upwards through Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, speed sign recognition, and more.