2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. Despite its somewhat unconventional appearance, the Defender's appeal lay in its robust and adventurous look, with a wide range of customization options available to buyers. The base price for the Defender ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials, bringing the MSRP to $106,092. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its color clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, emphasizing quality materials and a purposeful design.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna maintained its minivan identity while attempting to incorporate more style into its design. The trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines gave it a distinctive look, though it still resembled a minivan. The Sienna Platinum model, tested in Magnetic Gray, topped a lineup that included various trims, with prices ranging from $40,980 to $57,940. Our test vehicle, equipped with additional features, had an MSRP of $58,634. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, with the Platinum trim featuring a new woodgrain finish. While a teenage passenger found the material unappealing, the adult professionals appreciated the improved interior. The Sienna's practicality and spaciousness remained its strong points, offering seating for up to eight passengers and a focus on functionality.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's performance was characterized by its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Defender offered robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds, showcasing its power. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement, where it excelled in absorbing bumps and providing a comfortable ride. However, its 5,685-pound curb weight and slow steering limited its agility on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy fell short of expectations, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the expected 19 mpg.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). With a net horsepower rating of 245, the Sienna offered adequate performance for a minivan, aided by the immediate torque from the electric assist motor. The Sienna's hybrid system prioritized fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving. However, during testing, it averaged 26.3 mpg. The Sienna's handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging. The standard suspension provided a smooth and absorbent ride, while the CVT occasionally emitted a droning sound during hard acceleration. The Sienna's quiet highway performance was a highlight, but its brakes showed signs of fading during a mountain descent.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The panoramic sunroof and large windows created an open and airy feel. However, the Defender's square side mirrors and limited rear visibility posed challenges. The Defender 130's cargo space was limited, with 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded. The maximum cargo volume was 89 cubic feet. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, making loading difficult in certain situations.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and hands-free power liftgate facilitated easy loading and unloading. Storage space was generous, though finding secure spots for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row stowed. The maximum cargo capacity was 101 cubic feet, less than some rivals due to the fixed second-row seats.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's response to voice commands was slower than desired, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, and the Meridian premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna Platinum boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The TAM system offered various connected services plans, with a digital assistant that responded accurately to commands. The Sienna's infotainment system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, paired with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera added convenience, while the see-through surround-view camera and HUD enhanced safety.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a range of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist decisively corrected potential lane departures, though it occasionally attempted to steer the Defender into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at press time.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna's TSS 2.0 provided a more straightforward experience compared to TSS 3.0. The Sienna also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a new rear-seat reminder system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it received lower scores in frontal crash tests.