Toyota Sienna vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Toyota Sienna retained its classic minivan silhouette, with Toyota attempting to inject some style into its design. The trapezoidal grille gave it a distinctive look, though it did little to shake off the "Dustbuster" metaphor. The upswept body lines and hidden sliding door tracks added a touch of modernity, while the rear fenders wrapped into a rear end that mirrored the front's cinched appearance. The narrow taillights with sharp corner spears drew a family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum trim level introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, replacing the previous split-five-spoke design. Despite these efforts, the Sienna still looked unmistakably like a minivan, prioritizing practicality over style.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt maintained a familiar appearance, with only slight styling changes. Its front end resembled a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV, with a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and an integrated grille insert. The Bolt straddled the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV, offering a single body style for 2027. Its tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty look. The RS model added gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector moved to the steering column, freeing up center console space. Despite the hard plastic surfaces, the Bolt's interior offered practicality and functionality, with ample storage options and a flat floor for rear passengers.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with an optional all-wheel-drive system that included a rear-mounted electric motor. The Sienna's net horsepower rating was 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 3,500 pounds. However, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. In city driving, the powertrain was unobtrusive, and on the highway, it was quiet. The CVT, however, emitted a moaning sound during hard acceleration. The hybrid powertrain aimed to maximize fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving for the FWD model. On the evaluation loop, the Sienna averaged 26.3 mpg with two occupants. The Sienna's handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging. The ride was smooth and absorbent, offering excellent impact isolation.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt introduced a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. It featured a motor from Chevy's Equinox EV, delivering 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's 0-60 mph time was similar to the previous model, landing in the low seven-second range. While not the fastest by EV standards, it was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. The Bolt offered one-pedal driving with medium or high brake regeneration levels. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the absence of an internal combustion engine made road noise more noticeable. The Bolt's low center of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The EPA estimated a range of up to 262 miles on a full charge, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats wrapped in perforated leather. However, the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The Platinum trim's second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with teenagers, and the refrigerated compartment on the back of the center console was a hit. The third-row seat accommodated adults, and the sliding side doors made loading and unloading easy. Storage space was generous, with a wide tray under the center console. The Sienna provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third-row seats stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 101 cubic feet, less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt's flat floor reduced the penalty for center-seat passengers. It offered 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor in its upper position. While there was no frunk, the Bolt provided ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. The Platinum trim included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display (HUD), and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. An Entertainment Package added an 11.6-inch display, HDMI input, remote, and wireless headphones. The TAM system offered five connected services plans, with varying complimentary subscription periods. The digital assistant, part of the Drive Connect plan, responded accurately to commands. The Sienna Platinum paired this infotainment system with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though the sound settings produced excessive bass. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated, and the digital rearview camera offered zoom-in/zoom-out capability.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, and wireless charging pad. The infotainment system featured logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. Separate physical climate controls reduced distraction, and the navigation system helped find charging stations en route. The Bolt offered vehicle-to-load charging, serving as a backup power source for a home during outages.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, an older technology set compared to TSS 3.0. TSS 2.0 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 also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The lane-centering assist performed well, though it could waver in some situations. The adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden traffic braking events. The Sienna added a rear-seat reminder system for 2025, detecting movement within the cabin and issuing warnings. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored three stars for driver protection in a frontal impact.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not yet available, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, digital rear-view mirror, automatic wipers, rear-pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost.