2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received an update in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt somewhat dated, with occasional upscale touches. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when closed, a detail that many automakers typically refine. The instrument panel appeared to be from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, though its simplicity made the controls user-friendly. The Sienna offered various trims, including CE, LE, SE, and XLE, each with distinct features. The base CE trim was well-equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. The LE trim added family-friendly features like sliding dual power side doors and heated front seats. The SE trim included a power liftgate, while the XLE added luxury touches like leather-trimmed seating and a power moonroof. The Nightshade Edition offered a sportier look with dark accents and wheels.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, like many compact crossovers, had a design that blended in with its competitors. Its styling was similar to other crossovers, with few distinguishing features. The CR-V was available in seven colours, though many were shades of grey, black, or white. The interior offered a modern look with angular seats and upscale touches like wood panels and chrome, depending on the trim. The CR-V's design prioritized function, comfortably seating five people and providing ample cargo space. It offered more interior volume than the Toyota RAV4 and had a variety of tailgate options, including a hands-free version on higher trims. Roof rails were standard on most trims, enhancing its practicality.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It featured a Sport mode for enhanced throttle and shift response, and a manual mode for towing up to 1,587 kilograms. The Sienna's powertrain was front-wheel drive by default, with all-wheel drive available on most trims, offering a unique selling point in its class. The front-wheel-drive Sienna achieved fuel efficiency of 12.6 L/100 km in the city and 9.1 on the highway, while AWD versions returned 13.4 L/100 km city and 9.6 highway. The Sienna's low centre of gravity and broad base contributed to decent handling dynamics, though its steering response was twitchy at higher speeds.

The 2021 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 190 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It offered smooth acceleration and predictable cornering, with a 0-100 km/h time of about 8 seconds. The CR-V's drivetrain was less engaging compared to competitors with conventional transmissions. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on most trims. The CR-V's suspension setup was typical for its class, providing decent handling and ride quality.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 4,247 litres, surpassing competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which could be cumbersome. The third-row seats folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat was challenging. Toyota offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making it easier for those with mobility needs.

The 2021 Honda CR-V prioritized function, comfortably seating five people and offering more interior volume than the Toyota RAV4. With the rear seats folded, it provided 1,065 litres of cargo space. The CR-V offered various tailgate options, including a hands-free version on higher trims, and most trims came with roof rails for additional cargo-carrying capability.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base CE trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trims offered an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a JBL premium audio system. The XLE Limited trim included Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system for communicating with rear passengers.

The 2021 Honda CR-V came standard with a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Lower trims had varying audio setups, while the Touring trim featured a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. The CR-V offered multiple charging ports, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna included standard safety features like lane-departure alert, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and dynamic cruise control as part of the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite. It earned five stars from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS in several crash tests.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included standard safety features like a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring.