2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 MINI Countryman

For plenty of shoppers, the minivan aesthetic was a tough sell, and the 2023 Toyota Sienna fought to change that perception. Traditionally, minivans like the Sienna conjured childhood memories of sliding doors and utilitarian designs. The advent of SUVs in the '90s had relegated minivans to a less fashionable status. However, many contemporary crossovers essentially became high-riding minivans without the sliding doors. Recognizing the practical advantages, Toyota worked hard to elevate the Sienna's style. The front-end design resembled a sleek Japanese bullet train, and higher trims featured eye-catching 20-inch wheels.

The Sienna came in multiple trims including LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and the Platinum, with the addition of a 25th Anniversary Special Edition in 2023. The XLE trim, often favored by value-conscious families, boasted power-sliding doors and a power liftgate, making it exceedingly practical for families with children. Inside, the Sienna offered high-quality finishes such as brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents, particularly in the Platinum trim. It accommodated either seven or eight passengers, with eight-seater models including a middle bench capable of securing three car seats with LATCH anchors.

On the other hand, the 2024 MINI Countryman carried the distinct and playful DNA of the Mini brand. It featured classic styling cues like the wraparound windshield, floating roof, and Union Jack tail lights. The Countryman offered various customization options with different paint treatments, wheel designs, and a range of model designations: Cooper, Cooper S, Cooper SE, and John Cooper Works, reflecting its unique character. Surprisingly, privacy glass was an optional feature rather than standard. Our test vehicle, a Cooper S with Iconic trim, came with adaptive damping suspension, dark-tinted glass, and flashy 19-inch wheels. It was distinctively Mini with premium leather seats, additional customization options, and a panoramic moonroof, enhancing its appeal.

While the Sienna aimed to redefine minivan coolness with its spaciousness and modern design, the Countryman captured the retro spirit with its quirky and stylish look. Despite their distinct approaches, both vehicles delivered unique aesthetic appeals, each catering to its particular audience.

In terms of performance, the 2023 Toyota Sienna positioned itself as a hybrid-only vehicle following its redesign in 2020. It featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors, and a third rear-mounted motor for AWD versions, collectively producing 245 horsepower. This powertrain, more efficient than roaring, wielded a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Despite its inherent lack of acceleration punch compared to rivals like the Honda Odyssey, the Sienna delighted with its unexpectedly nimble handling and sharp turning radius. Drive modes such as EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport added versatility, though Normal mode was most recommended.

Conversely, the 2024 MINI Countryman offered more excitement in its top trims. The John Cooper Works (JCW) version, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, produced a vigorous 301 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed sport automatic transmission, achieving a speedy 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Meanwhile, the Cooper S variant delivered a more measured 189 horsepower and 206 lb-ft of torque, favoring a seven-speed DCT for FWD or an eight-speed sport automatic for AWD, translating to a respectable 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. The Countryman excelled in daily driving scenarios, although it was less engaging on twisty roads unless equipped with summer performance tires and adaptive damping suspension, reserved for the JCW.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a champion of functionality, renowned for its abundant storage options, including an open cubby below the center console, lengthy dash shelf, and ample cupholders. Spanning over 200 inches long with a 120.5-inch wheelbase, it provided impressive interior volume. Specifically, it offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, extending to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded, and maxed out at 101 cubic feet with both rear rows down. However, unlike some competitors, the Sienna's second-row seats could not be removed or stowed in the floor, slightly limiting cargo flexibility. Nevertheless, the second-row captain's chairs with extending ottomans and long sliding tracks enhanced passenger comfort, including genuine legroom for adults in the third row.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, more compact, still managed to offer practical space for four adults and holiday luggage. The Iconic trim featured dual-zone climate control, premium leather, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Rear legroom and foot space were adequate, though seating five might be cramped for adults. The Countryman adeptly balanced passenger space with compact SUV convenience, fitting snugly into tight parking spots aided by parking sensors and a rear camera. However, cargo capacity was limited to 17.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, and 47.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, competitive for its class but not enough to rival a spacious minivan.

While the 2023 Toyota Sienna included essential tech features, it lagged behind Toyota's newest offerings in models like the Tundra and Sequoia. The Sienna utilized a dated infotainment interface, incorporating features such as SiriusXM, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and optional navigation. Physical buttons added usability, but the system felt clunky and required wired connections for smartphone integration, limiting its modern appeal. The 9-inch touchscreen, though seemingly modest, appeared sufficiently large in practice, and the 12-speaker JBL system in higher trims provided good audio quality.

The 2024 MINI Countryman, although not tech-heavy, featured useful and user-friendly elements. Its digital instrumentation and head-up display (HUD) helped deliver key information efficiently. The central 8.8-inch touchscreen, embedded in a retro-themed housing, used BMW’s iDrive technology, offering multiple interaction methods: screen touch, physical controls, steering wheel buttons, a console knob, and voice-recognition. This versatile system, despite lacking Android Auto, proved particularly intuitive once accustomed to. With Iconic trim, the 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system added a premium touch, enhancing the auditory experience.

In the safety department, the 2023 Toyota Sienna shone brightly with a comprehensive suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It included 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. These extensive safety measures contributed to the Sienna earning a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2022 model, ensuring families' peace of mind.

The 2024 MINI Countryman's safety features were more limited. It came standard with Active Driving Assistant, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams, alongside rear parking sensors and an emergency SOS button. Adaptive cruise control was an optional extra on higher trims. Notably, the Countryman lacked several advanced safety features found in its rivals, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The IIHS awarded the Countryman the highest rating of Good in crashworthiness evaluations, although new testing procedures were still underway.