2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

Volvo, once a purely Swedish brand, had undergone significant changes over the years. After being acquired by Ford in 1999 and later sold to Geely Holding Group in 2010, Volvo experienced a rebirth. The 2021 XC60, positioned between the XC40 and XC90, was built on Volvo’s SPA platform, shared with other 60-series and 90-series vehicles. The XC60 featured an elegant, tailored design with short overhangs, an upright grille with Volvo’s iron mark logo, and Thor’s hammer-shaped LED daytime running lights. The interior boasted clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene aura, with a 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen and elegant HVAC vents.

Toyota, on the other hand, never shied away from the minivan market. The Sienna, first introduced in 1998, had evolved over the years, with the fourth generation debuting in 2021. The 2022 Sienna aimed to blend SUV style with minivan functionality. It featured a macho front end, re-engineered door hinges, and styling details integrated into the rear fender well. The interior was designed to avoid the minivan feel, with clever storage solutions, comfortable seating, and a spacious third-row bench that could store away into the floor. The Sienna also offered power-operated sliding doors and tailgate with foot-motion triggers for added convenience.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 came equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 models offered 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the T6 models provided 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 models, being plug-in hybrids, combined a gasoline engine with an 87-hp electric motor, resulting in 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Polestar Engineered model further boosted the output to 415 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The XC60 offered a smooth and secure driving experience, with EPA fuel economy figures ranging from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined for the T5 FWD to 27 mpg combined for the T8 PHEV and 57 MPGe combined in electric-only mode.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, continuing from its 2021 model, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and offered four selectable drive modes. The handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform. The Sienna Hybrid achieved remarkable fuel economy figures, with FWD models rated at 36 mpg city/36 mpg highway/36 mpg combined, and AWD models at 35 mpg city/36 mpg highway/35 mpg combined. The 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats, with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was designed for comfort and style, with highly adjustable front seats and a heating system capable of handling sub-freezing temperatures. The XC60 offered smart storage solutions throughout the cabin, with 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet behind the first row. The XC60 was also rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood inside with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight, with cargo measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity. The third-row bench stored away easily, and the power-operated sliding doors and tailgate added convenience.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a tablet-style touchpad interface. The system offered Bluetooth hands-free and streaming audio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot with a three-month trial period. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system was exceptional, and the Volvo On Call app added vehicle-specific functionality.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. The Sienna offered a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trim levels featured a 12-speaker JBL audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a 10-inch color head-up display. The digital rearview mirror and Smart Key System were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was awarded a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and received five-star ratings from the NHTSA. It came with a host of standard safety features, including LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, and more. Volvo’s semi-autonomous driving system, Pilot Assist, was available, and the XC60 was governed to a top speed of 112 mph for safety.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna also received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also had 10 airbags, several LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit.