2022 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a dramatic new design, featuring sharp, angular cues across its fascia and sides. It was longer and wider than its predecessor, making it unmistakably different from the 2021 model. The grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a futuristic look. The base-level Blue trim had 17-inch wheels, while the mid-level SEL Convenience trim included a panoramic sunroof and a hands-free smart tailgate. The interior was open and airy, with heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat on the Blue trim level. The SEL Convenience trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited trim upgraded to 64-color ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Sienna aimed to blend SUV style with minivan functionality. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges to conceal the slider channel, giving it a more assertive profile. The interior avoided the typical minivan feel with an uncluttered design and clever storage solutions. The second and third rows offered comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious three-across bench in the third row. The third row was a 60/40-split bench that stored away into the floor, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access to the third row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity and power-operated sliding doors and tailgate with foot-motion triggers for added convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine and electric motor, producing a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The AWD system and six-speed automatic transmission provided responsive and direct steering. The suspension soaked up road imperfections while maintaining balance through corners. The Tucson Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined, with the Blue trim level rated at 38 mpg across the board. A plug-in hybrid version was expected to offer 80 MPGe with 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, carrying over from 2021, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing 243 horsepower. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trim levels. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used a CVT for smooth and efficient power delivery, with four selectable drive modes. The TNGA platform provided better-than-expected handling for a minivan, with minimal body roll and comfortable highway cruising. The Sienna Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 36 mpg city, 36 highway, and 36 combined for FWD models, and 35 mpg city, 36 highway, and 35 combined for AWD models. The 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats and came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered a spacious interior with 38.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, expanding to 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. It provided over 41 inches of front and rear legroom, with reclining rear seats. The cargo floor had a dual-level system for flexible loading, and the doors featured angled bottle holders. The front seats had two cupholders in the center console, and the rear seat had a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. The Limited trim’s ambient lighting added flair to the cabin.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight. Cargo measurements were 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 60/40-split third-row bench stored away easily, and each row had storage cubby space and cupholders. The power-operated sliding doors and tailgate with foot-motion triggers added convenience for busy families.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, but Android Auto and Apple CarPlay only utilized about 8 inches of the screen and required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating to use, but steering-wheel controls helped mitigate this issue. The Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, including two for rear-seat passengers, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard in all grades, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna included 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 offered a 12-speaker JBL audio system and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display. The Platinum trim featured a 10-inch color head-up display, and Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

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, and more. The Sienna had 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the wall of the cargo space for safety and convenience.