2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Toyota Highlander

In 2021, Toyota attempted to revolutionize the minivan aesthetic with the Sienna Hybrid by infusing it with an SUV-like appearance. This was no easy task for the design team, who worked diligently within the constraints of the minivan genre. The Sienna featured a wide grille, accentuating the vehicle's breadth, and sleek LED headlamp arrays that integrated horizontally into a panel adorned with the Toyota logo. A sculpted side profile with reimagined sliding side doors contributed to its assertive stance, while alloy wheel options ranging from 17 to 20 inches filled the arches remarkably, varying in finish based on the model grade. From the rear, the Sienna exhibited a large window while maintaining a low, wide appearance, a rarity for minivans. Toyota's build quality was evident, with superb fit and finish throughout.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, diverging from the traditional "school bus" feel. The seating offered a higher position than sedans, providing a comfortable ride, though not quite at the command seating level of full-size SUVs. The clean dashboard design concentrated controls on the upper center stack, just below the infotainment screen. The center console featured smart functionality, doubling as a bridge between the dash and a large storage tray underneath, perfect for handbags. Materials throughout the cabin felt premium, with a leather-wrapped, beefy steering wheel enhancing the tactile experience. Second and third-row passengers had ample comfort, with versatile configurations for utility, owing to sliding second-row seats.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Highlander bore a modern and slightly aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and the uniquely kicked-up third-row window streamlined its spacious interior, creating an illusion of compactness without sacrificing cabin space. The Highlander's interior, particularly in the XSE trim, was a spectacle with bold red leather contrasted against a sedate navy blue exterior. The XSE trim stood out with unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension, setting a different tone from the more classic minivan look of the Sienna.

The Highlander’s trim lineup ranged from L to Platinum, each adding a layer of sophistication and tech features. Even the base L trim was well-equipped with 18-inch alloy wheels, an eight-inch touchscreen, three-zone climate control, and more. As trims advanced, features like leather-wrapped steering wheels, power-adjustable seats, and luxury tech like the 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Platinum trim added layers of sophistication and convenience, appealing to families looking for an upscale experience.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna made waves as Toyota's inaugural hybrid minivan. It shared its hybrid engine setup with the Highlander Hybrid, merging a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, generating a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with an available all-wheel-drive system powered by an additional electric motor on the rear wheels, offering 54 horsepower and 89 lb-ft of torque. The Sienna utilized a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which promoted fuel efficiency but was somewhat sluggish on throttle response.

Despite the trade-offs, the Sienna Hybrid's CVT smoothly managed power distribution, offering a balanced ride through selectable drive modes like Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The vehicle's TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension notably minimized body roll, providing comfort over long distances. The Sienna's fuel economy was a strong point, achieving an impressive 36 mpg across all driving conditions for the FWD models, while AWD versions slightly dipped to 35 mpg combined.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Toyota Highlander showcased a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. This engine coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, which offered a tap-shift function and, in certain trims, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. An array of drive modes, including Sport, Normal, and Eco, and an AWD dial for various terrains like Mud/Sand or Rock, added to its adaptability.

The Highlander's V6 engine provided strong performance, especially at highway speeds where overtaking was made seamless by its throaty exhaust note. While its immediate off-the-line acceleration wasn't as aggressive as some competitors, it excelled in cruising scenarios. The Highlander’s handling was laudable with its sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim, reducing body roll and maintaining a supple ride over road imperfections. It topped the charts with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a payload capacity of up to 1,685 pounds in specific trims.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in functionality, a key judging criterion for minivans. Its interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stowed away easily. The second row’s 25-inch sliding capability facilitated access to the third row, ensuring ease of use. Storage was prolific, with a total of 16 cupholders and bottle holders in all side doors. Additionally, the Sienna could accommodate a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, emphasizing its cargo handling prowess. Nominal cargo capacities were substantial: 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. Its towing capacity maxed out at 3,500 pounds. The hybrid battery, stored efficiently under the front seats, caused no impact on cargo space and was accompanied by a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2022 Highlander, while not matching the gargantuan cargo space of the Sienna, offered commendable storage solutions. With all seats in place, it provided 16 cubic feet of space, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the second row folded, and a maximum of 84.3 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. The ease of use was highlighted by quick-release latches and pull-straps for reconfiguring the seats. The XSE model featured second-row captain’s chairs, providing a central aisle to the third row, which was slightly cramped for adults on longer trips. However, the front and second rows offered ample space and comfort.

Both vehicles were tech-savvy, though the Sienna Hybrid packed a bit more technology due to its newer hybrid powertrain. The Sienna came standard with a nine-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, and featured six USB charging ports throughout the cabin. Standard connectivity features 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 trial of AT&T WiFi Connect with 2GB of data. Optional tech upgrades included a 12-speaker Premium Audio + JBL package and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display.

For drivers, the Sienna offered a multi-information display (4.2-inch on LE, XLE, and XSE; 7-inch on Limited and Platinum) and, in Platinum models, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display presenting speedometer, navigation, and hybrid system information. The digital rearview mirror available in higher trims provided an unobstructed view, even when the cabin was fully loaded.

The 2022 Highlander shared a robust suite of tech features, including a standard WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an eight-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The user-friendly layout complemented its functionality, with hard buttons beside the screen for intuitive control. Higher trims offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a digital instrument panel screen. The XSE model also featured a convenient wireless charging pad and multiple USB/USB-C ports.

When it came to safety, the Sienna Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, encompassing a comprehensive set of driver-assistance features like 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. An additional layer of safety was provided by the Star Safety System, which included enhanced vehicle stability control and more. The Sienna boasted 10 airbags and multiple LATCH connectors for child seats, along with a rear-seat reminder system and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Though crash-test ratings for the 2021 Sienna were awaited, its predecessor had demonstrated strong results, with five-star overall ratings from the NHTSA and “Good” ratings in most IIHS categories.

The 2022 Highlander also came well-stocked with safety features. Toyota Safety Sense included standard forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, and a head-up display. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were noted to be overly sensitive, sometimes causing inconvenience to drivers.