2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims like LE, XLE, and XSE, presented a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias. Despite the competition from the Kia Carnival, the Sienna maintained its stylish appeal with colors like deep blue, red, and green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty vibe, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, with exclusive colors like Cement or Midnight Black Metallic, offered a bit more off-road readiness with roof rails, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

Inside, the Sienna provided standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight. The XSE trim with the Premium package added luxury with leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats and a leather-trimmed power steering wheel. The interior design featured horizontal lines for spaciousness, satin accents, and a fixed center console. While not luxurious, it was practical for families, with upper trims offering a built-in vacuum cleaner.

The 2025 Subaru Outback stood out as one of the few remaining wagons in the U.S., adopting crossover trends with chunky wheel-arch flares and a robust roof rack. Its design was intended for off-road adventures, with our test car in Crimson Red Pearl paired with a black leather interior. Subaru focused on buyers needing off-road capabilities, a strategy that paid off with popular models like the Crosstrek, Forester, and Outback.

For 2025, the Outback saw no major changes. Base and Premium trims featured cloth upholstery and 17-inch wheels, while Onyx and Wilderness models had StarTex synthetic leather. The Limited trim gained features like a power moonroof and Subaru’s DriverFocus tech. Our Touring XT trim test car boasted Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats. The Outback’s rugged exterior housed a well-executed interior with minimal chrome and glossy black plastic. The dashboard included easy-to-read gauges and a digital display for essential information.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a hybrid minivan with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing 245 horsepower. AWD models had an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna felt sluggish, with a CVT that made acceleration smooth but slow. The minivan was more suited for town driving, with Normal or Eco mode being preferable. The brakes were a bit grabby, but steering was light and visibility excellent. Competing models like the Honda Odyssey offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a Boxer engine in two forms: a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 182 horsepower and a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine with 260 horsepower. Both engines used a CVT and standard AWD. The turbocharged engine provided better acceleration, making the XT model a recommended choice for those who could afford the upgrade. The Outback offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, with the Wilderness model increasing it to 9.5 inches. The ride was smooth and comfortable, with light steering and powerful brakes. The CVT was generally unobtrusive, though the stop/start technology was less refined.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered 40 inches of legroom and an ottoman for comfort, though the slide function was complex. The third row was accessible, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna had tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubes with seats folded.

The 2025 Subaru Outback’s wagon shape provided practicality, with easy entry and a low roof for loading. It offered 32.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seat up, expanding to 75.6 with the bench folded. The Outback’s total passenger volume was 109 cubic feet, larger than some crossovers. Buyers were advised to test different trims, as the driving experience varied. The standard towing capacity was 2,700 pounds, increasing to 3,500 with the turbo engine.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical buttons were included for common menus, but the backup camera was grainy. A 7-inch digital display provided essential information. The Sienna offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM, and an optional JBL stereo system. USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter were available, though the outlets required activation.

The 2025 Subaru Outback had an 11.6-inch touchscreen with large icons, though the Starlink system was slow to respond. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, with wireless connectivity on most trims. The Harman Kardon audio system was effective, though navigation alerts limited audio to rear speakers. The dashboard had a mix of buttons and knobs, with some functions requiring touchscreen access. A CD player and USB ports were available for various devices.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came with Toyota Safety Sense, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. The Sienna received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. IIHS rated it “Good” in most areas, with “Average” in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured EyeSight technology with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The DriverFocus system monitored for distraction, though it had some false positives. The Outback earned a Top Safety Pick from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA.