2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and contemporary design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its rugged heritage while aligning with modern Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender's cabin diverged from its siblings, offering a more robust and adventure-ready feel akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims like S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, though it also catered to those preferring modern styling with aggressive packs.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna maintained its distinctive look across its LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum trims. Despite the absence of "swagger wagon" commercials, the Sienna's sleek front and rear fascias, coupled with vibrant color options like deep blue, red, or green, kept its stylish reputation alive. The XSE trim, which we tested, emphasized sportiness with a black metallic mesh grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in exclusive colors, offered a slight off-road edge with roof rails, a tow hitch, and increased ground clearance. The Sienna's interior was practical, with features like a lower storage pass-through, multiple cupholders, and a shelf with a wireless charging pad, though its seating configuration limited maximum cargo space.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, delivering 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. 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, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged terrains.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, was a hybrid minivan combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While not designed for high-performance driving, the Sienna offered a smooth, albeit sluggish, ride with its continuously variable transmission (CVT). The sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode button in our XSE tester provided minimal improvement in acceleration. The Sienna excelled in urban environments, with modes like Normal, Eco, and EV for different driving conditions. Despite some brake grab and CVT noise, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience with excellent visibility and light steering. However, those seeking more power might consider alternatives like the Honda Odyssey or Kia Carnival, which offer stronger V6 engines.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and practicality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside functional elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. Its seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, increasing seating capacity to eight. However, space was limited compared to larger SUVs like the Chevy Suburban. Cargo capacity also varied, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, while the Defender 110 provided up to 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row configuration. The two-door Defender 90 offered 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it practical for various needs.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, though some seating features were complex. The front featured a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items, multiple cupholders, and a shelf with a wireless charging pad. The second-row captain's chairs could slide 25 inches, offering up to 40 inches of legroom, though the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults and offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna's tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone in our XSE tester, ensured comfort for all passengers. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the third row stowed and the second row folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, complemented the Defender's utilitarian design. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup, with home buttons for easy navigation, provided a blend of refinement and utility, appealing to those who preferred simplicity over massive touchscreens.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna retained Toyota's older infotainment technology, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the newer system offered better graphics and features, the inclusion of physical buttons for common menus was appreciated. The backup camera's grainy view was a drawback, but the Sienna included a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. The available rear-camera mirror and 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system added to the Sienna's tech offerings, though our tester lacked these features. USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet provided additional convenience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were overly sensitive, potentially causing interference during normal driving. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, which is common for high-end vehicles.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite as standard, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The adaptive cruise control effectively reduced commuting stress, though the lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. The Sienna included numerous airbags, a seat belt reminder for rear passengers, and a reminder to check the rear seats for occupants or cargo. The NHTSA rated the Sienna with four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS awarded it top scores in crashworthiness and seat belt systems, though its front crash prevention was rated as "Average."