2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Kia Sorento

The 2021 Toyota Sienna attempted to change the minivan's image from a purely functional vehicle to something with a bit of flair. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, starting with a wide grille emphasizing the vehicle's width and LED headlamp arrays that look sleek and modern. The sliding side doors were nicely sculpted and featured a swooping body line that added to its assertive stance. This design was made possible by reworking the hinges and slides to tuck the door in. The Sienna offered various alloy wheel sizes, ranging from 17-inch to 20-inch depending on the trim level, which added to its overall aesthetic. At the rear, the Sienna had a spacious window, providing the appearance of being wide and low for a minivan. Inside, the horizontal lines emphasized width without making the space feel like a school bus. The dashboard was uncluttered with most controls conveniently placed on the upper part of the center stack. The steering wheel and materials throughout the cabin provided a high-quality feel, and the seating position offered comfort without quite reaching the command seating of a full-size SUV. The second and third rows were designed for adult comfort, with the second row being particularly versatile as it could slide fore and aft to configure the space better.

In comparison, the 2021 Kia Sorento moved away from its previous bubbly design to adopt a more athletic and muscular silhouette. Our test car was the SX Prestige trim with the X-Line package, which included roof rails and a shark fin antenna complementing the rear roof spoiler. The front featured an expanded tiger-nose grille with a noticeable curve towards the car's corners, complemented by squinting but appropriately sized headlights accented with running lights. The side had a silver accent between the front fender and door, adding to the visual interest. Heading toward the rear, the long, pointed edge of the side window created a large D-pillar, which looked stylish but could potentially become a blind spot. The vertical rectangular taillights on either side appeared cohesive and modern. Inside, the Sorento offered high-value features like heated outside mirrors, second-row air vents, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and keyless entry. The front seats offered six-way adjustment on the base LX trim but upgraded to 10-way adjustment with power lumbar support on higher trims. The exterior visibility was excellent, especially with the panoramic sunroof, although it let in a bit too much sunlight during our test drive. The Sorento's materials and leather upholstery on higher trims were comfortable and exceeded expectations for the class.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna marked Toyota's first foray into hybrid minivans. The hybrid setup featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that produced 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard but all-wheel drive was available across all trim levels. The AWD system was uniquely accomplished with a separate electric motor driving the rear wheels. The Sienna used a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which delivered power smoothly but dulled throttle response, making the drive somewhat less exciting but very efficient. Handling was significantly improved due to the new TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The big news was its fuel economy, achieving 36 mpg city, highway, and combined for FWD models, and 35/36/35 mpg for AWD models.

In contrast, Kia offered the 2021 Sorento with a small range of powertrains. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine provided 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque through a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission, available with either FWD or AWD. However, we tested the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder version, which produced an impressive 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque routed through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. This setup provided ample power for merging, cruising, or passing. The Sorento also offered a hybrid version, which we did not test. Our AWD test model used torque vectoring and featured a center-locking differential for better traction. The X-Line package added AWD, an additional 1.3 inches of ride height, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a roof rack. The suspension setup provided a smooth and comfortable ride, even with the 20-inch wheels. Different drive modes, including Eco, Normal, and Sport, significantly impacted throttle response and fuel efficiency. Despite its roughly 4,000-pound weight, the Sorento handled corners effectively, minimizing wild head-tossing in tight turns.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and cargo capacity, critical attributes for minivans. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily folded into the floor. The second-row slid up to 25 inches, facilitating easy access to the third row. The cabin was loaded with storage cubby space, cupholders in each row, and bottle holders in all four side doors, totaling 16 cupholders. Cargo handling was exceptional, with the ability to carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood inside with the tailgate closed. Cargo capacity measured 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 hybrid's battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. The vehicle also offered power-operated sliding doors and a tailgate that responded to kick motions.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Kia Sorento was similarly practical but more suited as a four-seater when choosing the top trims. The third row was tight and more apt for children than adults, while the second-row captain's chairs were very comfortable and provided ample legroom. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 12.6 cubic feet, making it more practical to fold those seats down for better utilization. Interior storage included a spot for a phone with optional wireless charging, a decent-sized center console bucket, and multiple cupholders in the front and rear doors. Total cargo volume was 75.5 cubic feet, which was on the smaller side for a three-row, midsize crossover and comparable to compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with standard and optional technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard on all trims, providing access to Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. The Sienna also came with various connectivity trials, such as Safety Connect and Remote Connect for a year, Service Connect for ten years, and a three-month AT&T WiFi Connect trial. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers, available on Limited and Platinum trims. Higher trims also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with a wide-screen 11.6-inch display. Other notable features included a color multi-information display, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display on Platinum trims, and a digital rearview mirror option for Limited and Platinum models.

Comparatively, the 2021 Kia Sorento was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen display on lower trims, flanked by hard buttons and knobs for easy navigation. The higher trims featured a 10.25-inch screen that looked fantastic but had usability quirks, such as requiring a physical connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sorento also included numerous USB ports, although none were USB-C. Our test vehicle had an optional Bose stereo, which was decent but not exceptional. The navigation system needed some improvement, particularly in voice search and Point-of-Interest functionality. Most drivers would likely rely on CarPlay or Android Auto for navigation.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was equipped with an impressive array of safety features through the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite. These included full-speed range dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. Additional standard features were the Star Safety System, 10 airbags, a rear-seat reminder system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. A spare tire option was available, mounted within the cargo space for convenience. At the time, crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA for the 2021 Sienna were not yet released, but the 2020 model had received "Good" ratings in several dimensions and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.

The 2021 Kia Sorento also came with a robust array of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a driver-attention warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, lane-following assist, and auto high beams. The surround-view camera offered front and rear views at low speeds, and adaptive cruise control worked smoothly without aggressive braking or acceleration. Although the lane-keeping assist sometimes made constant corrections, the safety systems as a whole were commendable. The NHTSA awarded the Sorento four out of five stars overall, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick, although the more affordable trims with LED reflector headlights received a poor rating compared to the all-aces LED headlights on the SX trims.