2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a remarkable effort by Toyota to reshape the traditional minivan aesthetic into a more sophisticated and modern guise. The Sienna broke away from its conventional image, employing a front-end design reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. This effort was further complemented by 18- to 20-inch wheel options, depending on the trim level, notably the XSE and Platinum trims featuring larger 20-inch wheels. Shoppers had a plethora of trims to choose from—starting from the base LE and climbing up to the XLE, sporty XSE, luxurious Limited, and the top-tier Platinum trims, with the newly introduced 25th Anniversary Special Edition sitting comfortably just below the Limited trim. The Sienna’s design was practical yet aesthetically appealing with features like standard LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate making it a practical choice for families, especially in the XLE trim.

Inside, the Sienna boasted high-quality interior materials, especially noticeable in the Platinum trim with its elegant brown leather upholstery and refined wood-grain accents on the center console. The spacious interior accommodated seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim, making it versatile for larger families. The eight-seater models were particularly family-friendly with middle bench seats capable of supporting three-across car seats with LATCH anchors.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 retained its striking design from the 2019 overhaul, especially evident in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims. The Adventure trim featured robust styling elements like a more aggressively styled grille with the Toyota badge positioned closer to the center, blacked-out wheels, faux skid plates, and prominent black cladding around the wheel arches, exuding a rugged persona albeit more form than function. The interior sported orange accents, giving it a playful yet rugged look with contrast stitching and noticeable orange trims in the center console.

Frameless rearview mirrors and the more upscale feel of the Adventure trim, particularly with its synthetic leather-trimmed seats, added a premium touch. Fabric seats in the LE and XLE trims and the upgrade to SofTex in the XLE Premium trim all culminated with the Limited trim’s full leather upholstery. Heated and ventilated front seats, along with various degrees of power adjustability and dual-zone climate control, provided a comfortable environment for both drivers and passengers.

Toyota's move towards a hybrid-only lineup for the Sienna caught many by surprise but was ultimately a smart play for eco-conscious consumers. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two front-mounted electric motors and a third rear-mounted motor for AWD models, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. While this setup might have looked less impressive compared to competitors, it was adequate for everyday use. However, the Sienna struggled with its acceleration, often feeling sluggish, partly due to the CVT which tended to over-rev and make a lot more noise than desired. Despite that, the Sienna excelled in its chassis and steering, providing a nimble and fun driving experience, especially in city driving where the light steering and tight turning radius came in handy.

In contrast, the 2023 RAV4 stuck to a traditional combustion engine setup with a single engine choice for non-hybrid models. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While this setup was reliable, it was unremarkable in terms of acceleration, falling short of being either particularly invigorating or painfully slow. The RAV4 Adventure, though dressed for off-road capabilities, did not include the full off-road gear of the TRD Off-Road trim, such as the all-terrain tires and specially-tuned suspension. Yet, it maintained a balance of decency in its performance metrics, enough for casual adventuring while keeping the noise levels acceptable, although not particularly quiet.

The Sienna exemplified the minivan's prowess in interior space and functionality. With a length of over 200 inches and a 120.5-inch wheelbase, it utilized its dimensions quite effectively. The storage solutions were innovative, featuring an open cubby below the center console for large items, a shelf across the dash for phones, and numerous cupholders. Cargo space was a significant advantage for the Sienna, offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded into the floor, and maxing out at 101 cubic feet in total. Though this fell short of some rival minivans, the Sienna made up for it with practical usability of its second-row seats, which, despite being fixed and not foldable like in some competitors, provided substantial legroom even for adults in the third row.

The RAV4, while not matching the Sienna's cavernous cargo space, did a commendable job within the compact SUV segment. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This made it more competitive in its class, surpassing some rivals like the Mazda CX-5, while lagging behind leaders like the Honda CR-V. Passenger space was comfortable in the RAV4, offering 41 inches of legroom in the front and 37.8 inches in the back, although it was slightly narrower compared to some competitors. Nevertheless, the RAV4 provided practical storage solutions for the front passengers, with ample door pockets and a functional center console.

The technology offerings in the 2023 Sienna were a bit of a mixed bag, featuring Toyota’s older infotainment system. The 9-inch touchscreen served its purpose, though it wasn’t groundbreaking. Core features included SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, albeit requiring a wired connection. The interface, though functional with some physical buttons, felt outdated and somewhat clunky. For instance, accessing Android Auto required navigating through the menu each time, and sporadically, it failed to provide a seamless experience. Despite these drawbacks, the system remained reliable, and the optional 12-speaker JBL audio system delivered quality sound.

Contrastingly, the 2023 RAV4 embraced significant tech upgrades. It featured a modern infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. Screen sizes were upgraded, starting with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a more generous 10.5-inch screen available in higher trims like the Limited and TRD Off-Road. OTA updates ensured the system stayed current, and the voice command feature added a layer of modern convenience. Our test model included the 10.5-inch screen alongside an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system, which substantially enhanced the media experience. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a larger 12.3-inch version available on select trims.

Safety was an area where the 2023 Sienna excelled. It came equipped with a comprehensive suite of ADAS technologies. Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. These features provided a safety net especially valuable for family use. The Sienna received a full 5-star rating from the NHTSA, and the 2022 model—identical mechanically—earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation, underscoring its commitment to safety.

Similarly, the 2023 RAV4 was strong in safety, equipped with the TSS 2.5 suite of ADAS technologies. This included lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert starting from the XLE trim. The updated dynamic radar cruise control worked even at speeds below 20 mph. The RAV4 also garnered high safety ratings, earning the 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, highlighting its strong crash-test performance and safety features.