2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Land Rover Defender

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's aesthetic appeal. Toyota's designers worked within the genre's constraints to give the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance. The wide grille and horizontally arranged LED headlamp arrays contributed to a sleek look, while the sculpted sliding side doors and various alloy wheel sizes enhanced its assertive stance. The rear design, featuring a large window, managed to maintain a wide and low profile. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan but not quite reaching the command seating of a full-size SUV. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with most controls clustered on the upper part of the center stack. The center console was practical, featuring a gear selector lever, cup holders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding fore and aft for maximum utility and comfort.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender sought to echo the vibe of its predecessors while bringing the SUV into the modern era. The Defender featured half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, and flat-topped fenders with diamond-plate patterns. The spare tire was mounted on the side-hinged tailgate, and short overhangs front and rear gave the SUV a planted look. Inside, the Defender's theme of exposed structure was prominent, with the dash appearing to be held between two horizontal beams and exposed Allen-head bolts securing the door panels. The leather-upholstered seating was both tough and luxurious, and the digital instrument panel and center touchscreen interface were crisp and clean. The interior materials felt authentic and of high quality, with real metal and leather surfaces.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid was Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors that combined to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was 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 offered four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. Handling was significantly improved over the previous model, thanks to new TNGA front suspension and steering and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The big news for the Sienna Hybrid was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined, while AWD models were rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. All Defender models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum ascent/descent gradient of 45 degrees. On the road, the Defender was quick for its weight, with the 2.0-liter model going from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter model in 5.8 seconds. The Defender also had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds. The Defender excelled in both highway and city driving, offering a comfortable and commanding ride.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was designed with convenience in mind, featuring a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored away easily and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The cabin had 16 cupholders and ample storage cubby space. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood inside 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 battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, not impacting cargo space. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated and responded to kick motions for easy access.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender rode on a unibody platform, making extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction and strength. The Defender featured four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension, enhancing both on-road and off-road performance. The interior configuration was flexible, with the option of adding a jump seat between the front seats and a third-row seat for two in the long-wheelbase 110 model. The Defender 110 offered 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The three-door model had 58.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna packed a ton of standard and available technology features, including a nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Sienna came with a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. The audio system ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch 1080p display. The driver enjoyed a color multi-information display and, in Platinum trim, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender used Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing for remote software updates. The Defender featured the new Pivi Pro system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, with multiple camera views available, including a "transparent hood" view. The audio system could be upgraded to a Meridian sound system with up to 14 speakers. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including 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. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2020 Sienna received "Good" ratings from IIHS for several categories and a Five-Star Overall Rating from NHTSA.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had an extensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, rear ISOFIX system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, including hundreds of thousands of miles through harsh conditions.