2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's aesthetic appeal, traditionally not known for its style. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, with a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays that integrated seamlessly with the Toyota logo. The side profile featured an assertive stance, with re-engineered sliding doors that boasted a sculpted look, enhancing the vehicle's overall design. Alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches added to its visual appeal, while the rear maintained a wide and low look, typical of Toyota's high-quality fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a comfortable seating position and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was thoughtfully designed, providing ample storage and convenience features, while the second and third rows offered flexibility and comfort for passengers.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, presented a unique appearance. It combined quad LED strips for headlights and taillights with a large, shield-shaped grille and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback look. The GV70's profile was muscular, with ribbed detailing adding to its athletic stance. The Sport Prestige models featured unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia and 21-inch wheels with a web pattern. Inside, the GV70's interior was inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with an elliptical theme that extended to the controls and door handles. The design was minimalistic, with a touchscreen perched atop the dashboard and hidden air vents. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, with Nappa leather upholstery and suede seat inserts in the Sport Prestige model.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first foray into hybrid minivans, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available across all trims. The Sienna utilized an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while efficient, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna's handling was improved with new TNGA front suspension and steering, providing a comfortable ride with minimal body roll. The hybrid powertrain delivered impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models rated at 35/36/35 mpg.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powertrain options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine with 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode enhanced throttle response and transmission behavior, but the GV70's chassis felt heavy and lacked the sharpness of some competitors. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising, though the ride was firm with 21-inch wheels, lacking the solidity expected from a luxury vehicle.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and functionality, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily stored away. The second row slid up to 25 inches, facilitating access to the third row. The cabin offered ample storage, with 16 cupholders and bottle holders in all four side doors. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering flexibility for cargo loading. Cargo space measured 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. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, enhancing family-friendliness.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 provided mid-pack interior space for its segment, with front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, a covered storage cubby with USB ports was included. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions. The massage controls were buried in touchscreen menus, and the posture assist activated with driver movement.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology, featuring a standard nine-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. It offered 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. Higher trims included a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display. The driver enjoyed a color multi-information display, with a 10-inch color Head-Up Display available on Platinum models. Remote keyless entry and a Smart Key System were standard on higher trims.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, featuring a tile-based layout and crisp graphics. A glass rotary controller with pinch-and-zoom functionality enhanced usability. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation and other features, free for three years.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, and a pre-collision system. It featured 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system. A tire pressure monitoring system and inflator kit were standard. Crash-test ratings for 2021 were unavailable, but the 2020 model received high ratings from IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 included standard safety features like lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot assist. It had eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality. Highway Driving Assist provided smooth control inputs but struggled with curves.