2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna presented a distinctive appearance with its various trim levels, including LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. Despite the absence of the "swagger wagon" commercials, the Sienna maintained its stylish vibe, competing closely with the Kia Carnival in terms of aesthetics. The minivan featured sleek front and rear fascias and was available in appealing colors such as deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors, was designed for off-road readiness, featuring roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

Inside, the Sienna offered standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and seating for eight. The XSE trim with the optional Premium package replaced the second-row bench seat with captain’s chairs and added heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats. The interior design featured horizontal lines for a spacious feel, a fixed center console with satin accents, and easily accessible cup holders and shifter. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for families, with upper trims offering a built-in vacuum cleaner. The Sienna's practicality extended to its cargo space, with a rear liftgate revealing 33.5 cubic feet of storage, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, was a $75,000 SUV with an exclusive Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers. Despite these unique features, the RX's design was considered unremarkable, with a large front grille and a dramatic rear haunches swell. The RX lineup included three models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different power and efficiency levels. The RX 350h was the base model with 246 horsepower and 36 mpg, while the RX 500h delivered 366 hp and 27 mpg. The RX 450h+ was a plug-in hybrid with an estimated 37 miles of electric-only range and 35 mpg in hybrid mode. All models featured standard all-wheel drive, with various trim levels available across the lineup.

Inside, the RX Hybrid offered a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting. The controls ranged from baffling to brilliant, with Lexus avoiding the single curved display approach. The RX 500h model featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and a sophisticated Direct4 all-wheel-drive system. The RX 500h's drivetrain provided plenty of power and quick acceleration, though it was not very fuel-efficient, averaging 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h was quiet on the freeway but firm on city streets, with the adaptive damping suspension producing unnatural sensations. While capable on twisty roads, the RX 500h filtered communication, making it difficult to discern dynamic limits.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a hybrid minivan with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models had an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that was smooth but slow. The minivan was pleasant to drive around town, with Normal or Eco mode being the best options. The brakes were a bit grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, with excellent visibility.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three models with varying performance levels. The RX 350h was the least powerful with 246 hp, while the RX 450h+ PHEV had 304 hp and a 6.2-second zero-to-60 time. The RX 500h featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine, producing 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, with a six-speed automatic transmission. The RX 500h's drivetrain was rewarding but not fuel-efficient, averaging 20.9 mpg. The RX 500h was equipped with a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, performance brakes, and a dynamic rear-wheel steering system. While capable on twisty roads, the RX 500h filtered communication, making it difficult to discern dynamic limits.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft 25 inches, providing up to 40 inches of legroom. However, the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row offered 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model had heated and ventilated front seats with enhanced bolstering, though the bottom cushions were uncomfortable after extended use. The rear seats were power-reclining, heated, and ventilated, with ample room for adults. The RX Hybrid offered 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, with hooks for grocery bags and a small amount of storage under the load floor. Folding down the second row created 46.2 cubic feet of cargo volume, which was limited for a midsize SUV.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured older infotainment technology with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons for common menus, but the backup camera's view was grainy. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were scattered throughout the cabin, with a 1500-watt inverter and 120-volt outlets for the second row and rear cargo area.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid met luxury vehicle standards with high-tech features, though some expected items were optional. The RX 500h model featured a 14-inch touchscreen display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Lexus Interface infotainment system included a volume knob and large dials for climate control. The RX offered generous subscriptions to connected services, including a three-year Drive Connect plan with a digital voice assistant. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system sounded great, though the steering wheel controls were distracting to use while driving.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated the Sienna "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, offering automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency assistance button, and roadside assistance. The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS rated it "Poor" in an updated frontal-impact test.