2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to demolish the stereotypical minivan aesthetic that many shoppers found unappealing. Indeed, for plenty of people, the sliding doors and slab-sided designs were reminiscent of childhood road trips marked by backseat boredom and cereal crumbs in the carpet. Once the 1990s ushered in the popularity of body-on-frame SUVs, the minivan's social standing took a nosedive. However, as those bulky SUVs gradually morphed into car-based crossovers, they began to resemble high-riding minivans minus the sliding doors. Toyota, recognizing the inherent virtues of the minivan—such as larger cargo capacity, easier access, and versatile interior features—committed to making the Sienna a smarter family choice.

Toyota worked diligently to banish the minivan stigma from the Sienna. The front-end design, mimicking that of a Japanese bullet train, immediately set it apart. While most trims had 18-inch wheels, FWD versions of the XSE and Platinum trim levels stood out with their 20-inch wheels. The Sienna offered a multitude of trims, starting from the base LE and advancing through XLE, sporty XSE, luxurious Limited, and culminating in the top-tier Platinum. The 2023 lineup also introduced a new 25th Anniversary Special Edition, priced just below the Limited trim.

The XLE trim likely appealed most to value-focused shoppers, bringing in standard features like LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate, indispensable for parents juggling multiple children. Inside, the Sienna Platinum flaunted high-quality brown leather upholstery and beautiful wood-grain accents on the center console. Toyota offered configurations for either seven or eight passengers, with the higher capacity available on the LE and XLE trims, which could accommodate three car seats across the middle row.

In stark contrast, the 2023 Subaru Forester continued its tradition of prioritizing functionality over flashy design. The Forester's external appearance had not significantly changed in two decades, often blending into the background with its familiar boxy form. Yet, this homely SUV offered substance beneath its plain exterior, especially evident in the Cascade Green Silica paint of the test vehicle. The trim levels for 2023 spanned from Base to Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and the top-tier Touring.

Externally, the Forester's design echoed that of a shrunken Subaru Ascent, featuring flared fenders, a narrow waist, and pincer-shaped lighting elements. Among the bunch, the Touring trim stood out slightly with its 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim. Roof rails came standard on nearly all trims, robust enough to support considerable weight, even enabling tent pitching atop the vehicle.

Inside, the Forester Touring boasted exclusive Saddle Brown leather and trim, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, framing a traditional Subaru interior design with a mix of analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen. The extensive use of hard plastics made the cabin easy to clean, but the numerous buttons and knobs ensured functionality remained a priority. Despite its somewhat cluttered look, the interior presented a practical and user-friendly environment, appealing to those preferring tactile controls over touch interfaces.

When Toyota introduced the fourth-generation Sienna in 2020, it made a significant shift by equipping every model with a hybrid powertrain. The 2023 Sienna used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors, with an additional motor for the AWD trims, cumulatively offering 245 horsepower. However, this system didn’t quite pack enough punch for the Sienna's substantial size and weight. Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) tended to whine its way through the revs, making the powertrain sound less refined than its competitors.

Despite the underwhelming powertrain, the Sienna excelled in chassis and steering. Its agile platform made urban driving straightforward and cruising on highways a breeze. The minivan was genuinely enjoyable to drive, thanks to its light steering and tight turning radius. Toyota also provided multiple driving modes—EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport. However, Normal mode was the most practical, as Eco mode overly extended the CVT, and Sport mode didn’t offer significant performance improvements. EV mode, theoretically allowing electric-only driving, often couldn't engage fully, invoking the gas engine frequently.

The Subaru Forester, powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a CVT, delivered power to all four wheels. Subaru's SI-Drive system added a Sport mode to sharpen the SUV’s responses, while the X-Mode traction management system (available from the Premium trim up) provided various driving modes for off-road conditions.

Our test vehicle, the Touring trim, had its off-roading prowess validated by Southern California's torrential rains, flooded roadways, and muddy trails, showcasing its dependable handling in harsh conditions. The Forester’s responsive driving dynamics colored perceptions of its powertrain positively, eclipsing expectations set by its theoretical specs. Its 2.5-liter engine performed adequately, feeling more agile in the lighter Forester compared to the Outback.

The Forester's strong suit was its superb driving dynamics, featuring communicative steering, effective brakes, and a well-tuned suspension that encouraged confident driving without inducing lateral rock or fore-aft motions common in other SUVs. Nevertheless, a turbocharged engine would have been a welcome addition to improve performance, particularly at higher elevations. The Forester’s fuel economy, falling short of the official EPA ratings, indicated a potential need for a more efficient or powerful alternative.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna proudly upheld the minivan tradition of offering a plethora of storage solutions, making excellent use of its extensive interior space. One could easily find ample room for a large bag or purse under the center console, complemented by a stretching shelf from the middle of the dash to the passenger’s seat, ideal for phones or small items. Higher trims introduced a wireless charging pad on this shelf. The abundance of cubby holes, bins, and cupholders ensured every passenger's needs were met.

With an overall length exceeding 200 inches and a 120.5-inch wheelbase, the Sienna presented a sizable vehicle. The practical layout of the minivan allowed for generous cargo space behind the third row (33.5 cubic feet), which extended to 75.2 cubic feet when folded, summing up to a total of 101 cubic feet. However, this was slightly less than what competitors offered due to the immovable middle-row seats. Nonetheless, the comfortable and adaptable second-row captain's chairs, designed to slide forward and backward, facilitated proper legroom for third-row passengers, making it a superior choice for family trips.

In comparison, the 2023 Subaru Forester emphasized function with a simple and user-friendly interior design. Standard features included a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and power-adjustable seating from the Premium trim upwards, while higher trims offered even more luxurious additions like StarTex synthetic leather, perforated genuine leather, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The Forester prioritized excellent outward visibility with tall windows, thin pillars, and well-placed mirrors, enhancing overall spatial awareness and ease of parking.

However, the Forester's panoramic sunroof lacked adequate tinting, leading to a hot cabin in sunny weather, and while front seats remained comfortable, rear seats fell short in terms of leg support and comfort for taller passengers. The vehicle's interior was strategically designed with ample storage solutions, but it notably excelled in its cargo space. With 26.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats (28.9 cubic feet without a sunroof), expanding to 69.1 cubic feet (74.2 cubic feet without a sunroof) when seats were folded down, the Forester offered considerable room for gear and goods, making it average yet practical within the compact SUV segment.

Despite Toyota’s advances in automotive technology, the 2023 Sienna retained an older infotainment system. This system provided the essentials like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and optional navigation, along with seven USB ports. While the physical buttons were a boon for usability, the interface felt outdated and clunky. The reliance on wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto added to these frustrations, with no dedicated access points for these features within the system.

Nevertheless, the 9-inch touchscreen was surprisingly well-sized, and the 12-speaker JBL audio system offered satisfactory sound quality, ensuring the Sienna remained competent despite its aging tech infrastructure.

The Forester’s technology, although appearing outdated at first glance, proved to be quite practical. The Base trim included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system encompassing Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with further enhancements in higher trims such as satellite radio, HD Radio, Starlink connected services, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a premium Harman Kardon audio system. Despite the lack of a wireless charging option, the Forester’s more tactile and accessible user interface, separating climate and audio controls, was highly appreciated.

However, its voice recognition system lagged significantly, providing erroneous responses to basic location queries, thereby rendering it almost useless for practical navigation. The reliable physical controls and consistent interface functionality made up for these shortcomings, establishing Forester’s technology as user-friendly despite its occasional hiccups.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna distinguished itself with its comprehensive suite of standard safety technologies. Features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control underscored Toyota's commitment to safety, particularly valued in a family vehicle. The Sienna’s performance in safety evaluations further cemented its status, with an impressive 5-star rating from the NHTSA and an anticipated Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS based on its 2022 model.

Similarly, the 2023 Subaru Forester showcased its dedication to safety through the next-generation EyeSight suite, encompassing updated software and enhanced camera views for improved performance. Key additions included blind-spot monitoring with automatic emergency steering and Rear Automatic Braking (RAB), although the latter proved overly sensitive at times. The Touring trim's exclusive DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System enhanced driver alertness, albeit with unnecessary gesture controls for climate settings.

Subaru’s proprietary safety features generally worked seamlessly, though the Forester’s safety ratings reflected its aging design. Garnering a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS, it fell short of the previous year's Top Safety Pick+ designation, although it still managed to secure high marks across NHTSA crash tests.