2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's image, traditionally seen as utilitarian rather than stylish. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated into a panel with the Toyota logo. The side profile showcased assertive lines, with re-engineered sliding doors that added a sculpted look. Alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches filled the arches, enhancing its visual appeal. From the rear, the Sienna managed to look wide and low, maintaining Toyota's high standards for fit and finish.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, avoiding the school bus feel. The seating position was higher than a sedan's, offering a comfortable ride. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls clustered around the infotainment screen. The center console featured a gear selector, cup holders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding to configure space for maximum utility and comfort.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair replaced the outdated MKC, riding on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. Lincoln succeeded in differentiating the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, unlike GM's Cadillac XT4 and XT5. The Corsair featured refined design cues like slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, making it appear larger than it was.

Inside, the Corsair's cabin shared design elements with more expensive Lincoln SUVs, such as a flowing dash and floating center touchscreen. However, it had more hard-touch materials. The black leather and dark wood trim seemed geared towards older buyers, while lighter palettes with tan leather appealed to younger ones. Trims included Standard, Reserve, and the new Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, each offering various features and upgrades.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors producing 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive 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 continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while efficient, tended to blunt throttle response. Four selectable drive modes—Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport—offered varying levels of performance. The new TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension improved handling, minimizing body roll. The Sienna Hybrid achieved impressive fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models at 35/36/35 mpg.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine provided 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired exclusively with AWD. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter akin to Sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine delivered strong acceleration and confident cornering, despite some body roll. The suspension absorbed potholes well, though road noise was noticeable. The new Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with a CVT, battery power, and electric motors for a combined 266 hp. It offered 28 miles of pure EV driving and 78 MPGe in electric mode, with 33 mpg combined in hybrid mode.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored easily. The second row slid up to 25 inches, facilitating access to the third row. The cabin featured 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option) 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 battery was tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, enhancing family-friendly functionality.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair had a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage. However, the pronounced lip when stepping in or out required caution. The test model featured reclining and sliding rear seats, providing impressive legroom for a compact SUV. The Corsair offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, average for its class. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna featured a nine-inch touchscreen standard across all trims, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. Connectivity included trials of Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Service Connect, and AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth, Qi-compatible charging, and a 1500-watt inverter were available. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker JBL package with Dynamic Navigation. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was optional. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display available on Platinum trims. A digital rearview mirror and Smart Key System were also offered.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came with an 8-inch touchscreen running the SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a head-up display. The steering wheel design improved voice control accessibility.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, featuring dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System added enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags, LATCH connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Crash-test ratings for 2021 were pending, but the 2020 model received high marks from IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added adaptive LED headlights, surround-view cameras, front parking sensors, speed-limit sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, and automatic parking assist. The Corsair earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating.