2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, moving away from the traditional image associated with family road trips of the past. Toyota's design efforts were evident in the Sienna's front-end styling, which drew inspiration from Japanese bullet trains. The vehicle offered a variety of trim levels, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, Limited, and top-tier Platinum, with the 25th Anniversary Special Edition adding a unique touch. The interior of the Sienna, particularly in the Platinum trim, featured high-quality materials like brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents, making it a comfortable and stylish choice for families. With seating for seven or eight passengers, the Sienna provided flexibility, although the eight-passenger configuration was limited to the LE and XLE trims.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic, boxy profile with modern features, such as angular headlights, to maintain a visual connection with other Land Rover models. The interior of the Defender was rugged and adventure-ready, with soft-touch materials enhancing its durability. Offered in three body styles—two-door 90, four-door 110, and extended-wheelbase 130—the Defender catered to various preferences. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured the County visual package, adding vintage graphics and white wheels. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, and a panoramic glass roof. The Defender's interior was a blend of luxury and practicality, with options for premium Windsor leather upholstery and additional features like a center console refrigerator in higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, introduced in its fourth generation in 2020, featured a hybrid powertrain across all models. It combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear-mounted motor for all-wheel-drive trims, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While this setup was less powerful than some competitors, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering nimble handling and a pleasant driving experience. The Sienna's light steering made it easy to maneuver in urban settings, and it offered several drive modes, though the Normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, delivering 296 horsepower. The P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, producing 395 horsepower. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, offered 493 and 518 horsepower, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system enhancing its performance on challenging terrains.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, with numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins. It offered ample space for personal items, including a large open cubby below the center console and a long shelf across the dashboard. The Sienna's minivan platform provided significant cargo space, with 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 101 cubic feet with seats folded. However, the middle row of seats was not removable, limiting maximum cargo capacity compared to some competitors. The second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and adjustable tracks for added comfort.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender balanced luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row in the two-row version, while the Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment interface, lacking some of the advanced technology found in other Toyota models. It included core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though both required a wired connection. The interface, while reliable, felt outdated and clunky, with a 9-inch touchscreen that appeared adequate in person. The Sienna's technology package was complemented by a 12-speaker JBL audio system, providing good sound quality.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering a straightforward and utilitarian setup. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The touchscreen's simplicity aligned with the Defender's rugged persona, providing essential features without overwhelming users. Home buttons on the screen's rails facilitated easy navigation between functions.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 model, highlighting its commitment to safety. While competitors offered additional features like intercom systems and rear-seat cameras, the Sienna focused on essential safety elements.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured an extensive list of standard driver assistance technologies, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted for being overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated if needed. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.