2023 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, with its redesigned exterior, was a blend of subtlety and sportiness. The RX 350h Luxury model, despite its hybrid nature, looked almost identical to the standard RX 350, save for a discreet badge on the liftgate. Its Iridium silver finish and 21-inch wheels added a touch of elegance without screaming "hybrid." The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling, making it clear that this was a performance-oriented SUV. Inside, the RX offered a minimalist design with a modern infotainment system, ambient lighting, and luxurious materials like Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim in the RX 350h. The RX 500h's interior was sportier, with black artificial suede and dark gray aluminum trim, offering an option for Rioja Red upholstery for those seeking a splash of color.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims, maintained its distinctive "swagger wagon" vibe with sleek front and rear fascias and vibrant color options like deep blue, red, or green. The XSE trim, with its sporty black metallic mesh grille and 20-inch dark wheels, added a touch of flair. The Woodland Edition, with its off-road-ready features like roof rails and a tow hitch, catered to adventurous families. Inside, the Sienna offered practicality with features like a lower storage pass-through, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, though their slide function was a bit tricky. The third row was accessible and spacious, with tilting seats for added comfort. The Sienna's interior was functional, with tri-zone climate control and an optional built-in vacuum cleaner for convenience.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a hybrid system producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It was expected to average 36 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing showed 32 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter engine and Direct4 AWD system, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, its fuel economy was lower, averaging 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering system provided a sporty driving experience, while the RX 350h offered a more comfortable and efficient ride.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, with its hybrid powertrain, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing 245 hp. While it wasn't a performance powerhouse, the Sienna offered a smooth ride with its CVT, though acceleration felt sluggish, especially on highways. The sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode button in the XSE trim didn't significantly enhance the driving experience. The Sienna excelled in urban settings, with light steering and excellent visibility, though the brakes were a bit grabby. For those seeking more power, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable and luxurious interior, with the RX 350h Luxury trim offering ten-way power-adjustable front seats, premium leather, and a three-zone climate control system. The RX 500h F Sport Performance had eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger bolsters and standard-grade leather. The hybrids' battery packs were housed under the rear seat, providing good leg support but limited headroom. The RX offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, a significant improvement over the previous model.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and practicality, with a lower storage pass-through, multiple cupholders, and a shelf for smaller items. The second-row captain's chairs offered up to 40 inches of legroom, though their slide function was complex, and they couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible and spacious, with tilting seats and window shades for comfort. The Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid featured a new infotainment system, the Lexus Interface, which required a subscription for full functionality. It offered cloud-based navigation, an Intelligent Assistant, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system had some drawbacks, including limited screen views, reflections, and a lack of a tuning knob. The available head-up display with dual-function touch-sensing control pads was also problematic for users with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna retained Toyota's older infotainment system, with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While it lacked the speed and graphics of newer systems, it included physical buttons for common menus. The backup camera's grainy view was a downside, but the Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet were also available.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist and a new Traffic Jam Assist system were also available. However, some features, like the front cross-traffic alert and curve-speed reduction, had limitations, and the driver monitoring system could be obstructed by certain driving positions.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with features like lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. While most systems worked well, the lane-keeping assist showed some side-to-side movement. The Sienna had plenty of airbags, including side curtain airbags for all rows, and reminders for seat belts and rear passengers. It received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though its front crash prevention was rated as "Average."