2023 Ford Escape vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Ford Escape showcased a departure from its earlier rugged, boxy design, embracing a more European aesthetic. The refresh introduced a traditional front end with a central Ford blue oval logo and a stylish LED light bar, replacing the previous grille. The ST-Line Elite trim, which we tested, featured 19-inch wheels and body-color mirror caps, giving it an upscale appearance akin to a Mazda CX-5. Inside, the Escape boasted diamond-stitched leather upholstery, though it felt somewhat hard and plasticky. Despite this, the seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat provided excellent long-distance driving comfort. However, the interior was dominated by plastic materials, some of which felt scratchy and poorly reinforced.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in multiple trims, maintained its distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias and vibrant color options. Our XSE tester, the sporty trim, featured a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Sienna's interior offered a spacious feel with horizontal design lines and a fixed center console with satin accents. The XSE trim with the Premium package included leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats and a leather-trimmed power steering wheel. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for family use, with features like a built-in vacuum cleaner in upper trims.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered multiple powertrain options, including a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, available with FWD or AWD. The ST-Line Select, Platinum, and ST-Line Elite trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired exclusively with AWD. Despite its impressive output, the Escape was not a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes provided predictable stopping power, and the steering was well-weighted, avoiding the twitchiness common in some competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models included an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna felt sluggish, with a CVT that contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration. The minivan excelled in town driving, with light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. However, the brakes were a bit grabby, and the Sienna's performance lagged behind competitors like the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival, which offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating with excellent ergonomics, though it fell short in cargo space compared to segment leaders. It offered up to 37.5 cubic feet of storage behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and padded front-seat backs, but rear-seat legroom was slightly less than competitors.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered up to 40 inches of legroom and included an ottoman in upper trims. However, the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row provided ample legroom and tilt functionality, with window shades and cupholders throughout. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 technology, featuring an 8-inch or optional 13.2-inch touchscreen. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look, and Sync 4 was well-organized, with easy navigation between applications. However, it was slightly slow to respond, and the volume knob's placement was inconvenient.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna retained older infotainment technology, with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter was available, though it required activation via a button near the driver’s seat.

The 2023 Ford Escape received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in most tests but a Marginal rating in the IIHS side-impact test. Standard safety features included the Co-Pilot360 suite, with options for Co-Pilot360 2.0, adding adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna received a four-star frontal crash rating from the NHTSA and a top score of “Good” from the IIHS, though its front crash prevention was rated as “Average.” The Sienna included numerous airbags and reminders for rear passengers and cargo.