2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Toyota Sienna aimed to redefine how minivans were perceived, attempting to shed the long-standing image of minivans as unfashionable. Unlike typical minivans, the Sienna adopted a more SUV-like appearance at first glance. Designers emphasized its width with a broad grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated horizontally into a panel featuring a proud Toyota logo. From the side, the Sienna showcased an assertive stance, with meticulously re-engineered sliding side doors sculpted to form a swooping body line that bulged over the rear wheels. This design necessitated rethinking the hinges and slides for a sleeker look. The alloy wheels, ranging from 17-inch to 20-inch sizes depending on the trim, added a metallic or dark finish that complemented the overall design. The rear of the Sienna presented a wide and low look with a large rear window, maintaining a superb fit and finish, which is characteristic of Toyota's quality.

Inside the Sienna, the focus on width continued with horizontal lines along the dashboard. The seating position was higher than a sedan's but not as elevated as a full-size SUV, providing a comfortable and pleasant ride. The simple and uncluttered dashboard had its controls clustered below the infotainment screen on the center stack. The center console featured a bridge design, housing the gear selector lever, open cup holders, and a large storage compartment beneath the armrest. This thoughtful design included a handy tray below the console bridge, perfect for a handbag. The leather-wrapped steering wheel added a touch of luxury with quality materials and surfaces throughout the cabin. The second and third rows provided ample comfort for adults, with the second row adaptable for maximum utility and comfort, either as captain’s chairs in seven-passenger configurations or a bench seat in eight-passenger versions.

The 2022 Ford Explorer, available in no fewer than eight models, showcased itself with a sporty and tough appearance, particularly in the new ST-Line trim. The design, benefiting from a rear-drive platform, featured a long, tall hood, short front overhang, a rakish roofline, and a tapering greenhouse for an athletic look. Shiny 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels, quad exhaust outlets, and King Ranch emblems on the doors and liftgate marked the top-trim model. The familiar “floating roof” effect was achieved through blacked-out roof pillars, save for those behind the rear doors.

Inside, the King Ranch trim exuded exclusivity with Del Rio leather seating featuring lasso-perforated inserts and branded markings on seats and armrests. Available only in a specific color combination, those desiring different interiors would have to opt for the Platinum trim. Quality was mostly high, though certain elements still hinted at the Explorer's base model origins. The King Ranch aimed to provide a sophisticated interior worthy of its higher price tag.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna introduced a hybrid powertrain—the first for a Toyota minivan—leveraging Toyota's extensive hybrid experience. The Sienna featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors to create 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD was achieved with a separate rear-wheel electric motor, offering 54 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque, simplifying mechanical complications. An electronically controlled CVT managed power delivery, focusing on smooth and efficient performance, though at the cost of throttle response, making it less exhilarating to drive. The Sienna included four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport, with handling significantly improved by the new TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The hybrid aspect prioritized fuel efficiency, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg across city, highway, and combined usage, and AWD models slightly lower at 35/36/35 mpg.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a range of powertrains. Base trims like XLT came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and available with RWD or 4WD. This setup could tow up to 5,300 pounds and achieve up to 24 mpg combined. A hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 was available for Limited and Platinum trims, pushing combined power to 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, with towing capacity at 5,000 pounds and combined fuel efficiency of 27 mpg. The most powerful choice was a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard in ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque and paired with a 10-speed automatic. This engine's towing capacity hit 5,600 pounds, though combined gas mileage was lower at 21 mpg.

The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg, offering impressive power despite lower efficiency. The robust nature of the Explorer translated well into off-roading capabilities, especially with the Trail setting, even though its ground clearance was modest. The Explorer Timberline provided enhanced off-road prowess. For everyday driving, the Explorer King Ranch balanced athleticism and comfort, while the sport-centric Explorer ST delivered a higher performance package with additional features.

Minivans like the 2021 Toyota Sienna were designed for maximum convenience. The Sienna offered a third row as standard, a 60/40-split bench that easily stored away. Its second row, sliding up to 25 inches, facilitated easy access to the third row. The cabin included 16 cupholders in total (15 with the spare tire option), with each row equipped with storage cubbies and bottle holders. The Sienna was impressively capable of cargo management, able to carry a full four-by-eight plywood sheet with the tailgate closed. Cargo space was versatile, measuring 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. Its hybrid battery was tucked away under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated side sliding doors and the rear tailgate, activated by kick motions, enhanced family-friendly practicality.

For families, the 2022 Ford Explorer offered comfort, especially for four passengers, though the third row was less accommodating for adults due to the low roofline and tapered rear design. The King Ranch featured premium amenities like triple-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable heated steering wheel, and massaging front seats, aiming to elevate longer journeys. Still, the rear-seat storage space was less practical, with a shortage of practical pockets and cubbies. Cargo capacity varied from 18.2 cubic feet behind the third row to 47.9 cubic feet with seats folded, and up to 87.8 cubic feet with all rear seats down, less than what the Sienna offered.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with standard and available technology features. All trims boasted a nine-inch touchscreen that supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. Connectivity included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect on XLE and above, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month AT&T WiFi Connect with up to 2 GB of data. Bluetooth, USB ports, and streaming services were standard across all trims. Upper trims added premium audio options with up to 12 JBL speakers, navigation, and a surround sound system. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch screen was available on higher trims. The driver benefited from a color multi-information display, available Head-Up Display in Platinum trim, and a digital rearview mirror option for Limited and Platinum models. Remote keyless entry and push-button start were standard features, upgraded to the Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured the Sync 3 infotainment system in two sizes: an 8-inch and a 10.1-inch touchscreen, although the latter seemed less integrated with the interior design. Our test King Ranch model included complete Sync 3 tech, encompassing remote engine starting, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Ford+Alexa functionality. It also offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. Additional tech features included wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. Some limitations in the voice recognition system affected its usability, emphasizing the need for the newer Sync 4. The King Ranch also had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, with autonomous parking capabilities. An optional rear-seat entertainment system with dual displays further added to its tech-rich environment.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, and lane-departure alert among others. Standard safety also comprised 10 airbags and LATCH connectors for child seats. A standard tire pressure monitoring system and an optional spare tire were other safety considerations. The 2020 model's crash ratings were favorable, with top scores from NHTSA and mostly positive ratings from IIHS.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS for all trims, the highest accolade bestowed by the organization. NHTSA's complete ratings were pending, but the 2021 model received mostly five-star ratings. Standard safety tech included Ford Co-Pilot360 with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist, among others. Post-collision braking and MyKey programmable features were additional layers of safety.