Hyundai Tucson vs Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson had received much praise for its striking design, which was first introduced with the 2022 model year. This fourth-generation compact SUV maintained its stylish and aggressive look through 2023 and 2024, characterized by taut angles and distinctive features like the seamlessly integrated grille and headlights. Each of these elements might have appeared over-the-top in isolation, but together, they formed a handsome, contemporary package. Even in a color like white—which is generally not the most flattering for vehicle photography—the Tucson exhibited a sharp and appealing look. Hyundai’s approach to design clearly differentiated it from luxury automakers that often scaled a uniform design across various sizes.

The trim levels for the Tucson ranged from SE, SEL, and XRT to Limited. The SE featured 17-inch alloy wheels and roof rails, while the SEL offered an available convenience package that upgraded these to 19-inch alloy wheels. The XRT trim showcased unique black 19-inch alloy wheels, side steps, dark exterior trim, and functional roof racks. The Limited trim upped the elegance with a dark chrome grille and enhanced headlights, continuing the refined and technology-rich design language into the cabin as well.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna carved out a distinctive niche in the minivan market with its bold looks and practical family-friendly features. Available in trims like LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, the Sienna embraced a sporty and functional design ethos. The XSE model, dubbed the “sporty” trim, featured a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels, embodying the “swagger wagon” persona even if the marketing tagline was no longer in use. The Woodland Edition offered a more rugged approach with roof rails, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance, positioning it as a bit more off-road ready while still catering to family needs.

The Sienna’s versatility extended to its interior, which could be upgraded to include luxurious elements like captain’s chairs, heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats, and advanced driver assistance controls conveniently situated on the steering wheel. Its horizontal design lines contributed to a spacious feel, although the interior was still practical and child-friendly rather than overtly luxurious.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, powered either the front wheels or an optional all-wheel-drive system. While the non-hybrid powertrain provided adequate performance for city driving, it left much to be desired on highways, especially when accelerating to merge or pass. In such situations, the engine had to work hard, resulting in notable noise and minimal performance gains.

For those desiring more power and efficiency, Hyundai offered a 226-hp Tucson Hybrid and a 261-hp Tucson Plug-In Hybrid. However, these models featured a proprietary button-style shifter that required some getting used to, especially for those accustomed to a conventional shifter. On a positive note, the Tucson excelled in handling and ride quality, balancing comfort and cornering ability. It adeptly absorbed road imperfections, making it an excellent choice for long drives or daily commutes.

In comparison, every 2024 Toyota Sienna operated as a hybrid, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for a total output of 245 horsepower. For all-wheel-drive models, an additional electric motor powered the rear wheels. While the Sienna's hybrid setup promised efficiency, it fell short of delivering brisk performance. Even with the sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode button, the Sienna felt sluggish, particularly in highway merging or mountain driving scenarios. The CVT further contributed to a loud and somewhat sluggish driving experience. However, around-town driving remained smooth and largely uneventful.

The Sienna did offer a variety of driving modes: Normal, Eco, and EV. The latter was particularly useful for slow-speed areas like parking lots. However, its brakes were a bit grabby, leading to the occasional spilled drink. The steering was light and accurate, and visibility was commendable. Though the Sienna's performance lagged behind some competitors, it provided a pleasant, if unremarkable, driving experience for daily errands and school runs.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson offered impressive cargo space, with 74.8 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded down and 38.7 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These figures ranked highly among compact SUVs, second only to the Honda CR-V. Most trims (from SEL upwards) included a convenient hands-free power liftgate, enhancing the practicality of loading and unloading cargo. Instead of the cumbersome foot-waving dance required by some systems, Tucson’s liftgate operated simply by standing within three feet of the rear bumper with the key fob in possession.

Inside, the Tucson comfortably seated up to five passengers. Both rows provided adequate headroom and legroom, especially in the front, which had slightly more space. This spaciousness made the Tucson a viable option for longer trips with four adults. Additional touches like deep cup holders and a center tray for device charging highlighted its thoughtful interior design.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in accommodating families with various practical features. Up front, a lower storage pass-through could fit larger items such as purses or small backpacks. The Sienna was abundant in cupholders, with four in the front alone, and creative storage solutions like a shelf above the glovebox for smaller items and the wireless charging pad. Power-operated side doors made access easy, especially for the second-row passengers, who could move their seats fore and aft by 25 inches, offering up to 40 inches of legroom. Upper trims even included ottomans for ultimate comfort.

However, the second-row seats could not be removed, which significantly limited maximum cargo space compared to other minivans. The third-row seats, although easily stowable, didn’t lock into place when flush with the floor. Despite this, the Sienna provided 33.5 cubic feet of storage behind the third row, expanding to 75 cubic feet with the third row folded down. Pushing the second row all the way forward unlocked up to 101 cubic feet of cargo space. Additionally, the Sienna's tri-zone (and in some trims, four-zone) climate control ensured a comfortable environment for all passengers.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen that supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This system was praised for its straightforward operation and user-friendly home buttons for functions like Radio, Media, and Setup. Although it lacked traditional volume and tuning dials, the thumb rollers were still convenient to use. Higher trims such as the SEL Convenience Package, XRT, and Limited offered a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen with a fully digital instrument panel. However, this larger screen did not support wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, relying instead on haptic buttons that some found less convenient than traditional dials.

Another highlight was the modernized remote start system. Once the Tucson was remotely started, simply entering the car with the key allowed the driver to put it in Drive and go without pressing any additional buttons.

In comparison, the 2024 Toyota Sienna lagged behind in infotainment technology with its older system that featured a nine-inch touchscreen equipped with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Despite the older interface, the physical buttons for audio, navigation, phone, and the home page were appreciated for their ease of use. However, the backup camera’s grainy image quality was a significant drawback for a modern vehicle. While the analog gauges were complemented by a 7-inch digital display, those reliant on digital screens might find the setup lacking.

Standard features like a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system added to Sienna’s tech offerings. Additionally, the available rear-camera mirror and in-dash navigation system provided further technological enhancements, though many users would still prefer using Google Maps. USB ports scattered throughout the cabin and a 1500-watt inverter with 120-volt outlets were practical touches, but turning on the outlets required the driver to activate a button near the seat, a step that could be easily forgotten.

The 2024 Hyundai Tucson was well-equipped with an array of standard driver assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Limited trim added parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, and the innovative Smart Park remote-parking feature, allowing the vehicle to be maneuvered into tight spots while the driver stood outside.

The Tucson also included a blind-spot camera system on the Limited trim, which provided real-time video feeds when the turn signal was activated. The safety credentials of the Tucson were reaffirmed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which rated it highly in most crash testing phases. The crash-prevention technology earned top marks, while the standard headlights were rated “Acceptable.” Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not fully evaluated the 2024 Tucson at the time, preliminary tests indicated strong performance in crash tests.

Similarly, the 2024 Toyota Sienna came with the comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included features like lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Adaptive cruise control functioned well in reducing commute stress, although lane-keeping assist occasionally caused some side-to-side movement.

The Sienna featured ample airbags, including side curtain airbags for all three rows, and reminders for rear passengers to buckle up and check for second- and third-row occupants when exiting the vehicle. The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Sienna a four-star rating for frontal crash and rollover protection, and a five-star rating for side crash protection. The IIHS gave it top scores in crashworthiness and child restraint systems but rated its front crash prevention as “Average.”