2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport bore a striking resemblance to the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the front. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform with the Ridgeline, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot SUV. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat, and featured distinct styling. Honda's design updates aimed to give the Passport a more rugged appearance, particularly with the new TrailSport trim, which was intended to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. Despite its off-road-inspired looks, the TrailSport was more about aesthetics than actual capability, although it did offer some off-road features like increased ground clearance and traction management modes.

The Passport's design updates were applied across all three trim levels: Sport, TrailSport, and Touring. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, featured unique 18-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, and simulated skid plates, enhancing its SUV-like appearance. Inside, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with quality materials and thoughtful design elements. The TrailSport trim added orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and embroidered emblems on the front seat headrests. The Passport's interior was one of the largest in the two-row midsize SUV segment, offering comfort and practicality for passengers and cargo alike.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to shed the traditional minivan image with its sleek design, reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. Toyota offered a variety of trim levels, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, and upscale Limited, with the new 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim introduced for 2023. The Sienna's design featured larger wheels on the XSE trim, adding to its sporty appearance. Despite its minivan roots, the Sienna's design was both practical and stylish, making it a smart choice for families.

Inside, the Sienna impressed with its thoughtful interior design and high-quality materials. The Platinum trim, although not available in Canada, showcased luxurious brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents. The Sienna offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with the option for three-across car seats in the middle row. The minivan's platform provided ample cargo space, although the middle row of seats could not be fully removed or folded into the floor, unlike some competitors. The Sienna's interior was designed for comfort and functionality, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Passport came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), featuring Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) system. This system allowed for mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and powerful, providing satisfying acceleration and a firm, communicative ride. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern given the Passport's towing capacity.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and two front-mounted electric motors, plus a third rear-mounted motor for AWD trims. This setup delivered 245 net system horsepower, which was less impressive compared to competitors. The Sienna's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was not the best-sounding, and its acceleration was lacklustre. However, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering nimble handling and a comfortable ride. The Sienna's light steering feel was particularly advantageous for city driving, and the minivan offered various drive modes, although the EV mode was largely ineffective.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy access with its large doors and low step-in height. The interior featured comfortable seats with leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel as standard. The TrailSport trim added heated rear seats, while the Touring trim included ventilated front seats. The Passport's interior was spacious, with ample room for passengers and generous cargo space. The power liftgate revealed 1,430 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,854 litres with the back seat folded down. The Passport's interior was designed for practicality and comfort, making it a versatile choice for everyday use.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, with numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins. The open cubby below the centre console and the long shelf on the dash provided ample space for personal items. The Sienna's three-zone climate control was standard, with four-zone climate control available on higher trims. The minivan's platform offered impressive cargo space, with 949 litres behind the third row and 2,129 litres with the third row folded. The total cargo space was 2,860 litres, although the middle row of seats could not be fully removed or folded into the floor. The Sienna's interior was designed for functionality and comfort, with features like extending ottomans and sliding middle-row seats.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Satellite radio was available on the TrailSport trim, while the Touring trim added a navigation system and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The system featured physical buttons for easy navigation, although the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. The Passport's technology was not the most advanced, but it was functional and user-friendly, with wireless smartphone charging available on all but the base Sport trim.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, however, used an older infotainment interface, offering core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons, which were practical for quick access. However, the interface felt outdated and required a wired connection for smartphone integration. Despite its quirks, the Sienna's technology was reliable, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, some of these systems were less refined, with the lane-departure warning and lane-centring assist functions being particularly intrusive. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision, which earned four stars. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. These features were part of the Toyota Safety Sense package, making the Sienna a safe choice for families. The Sienna received five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, highlighting its commitment to safety.