2023 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox presented a restrained yet attractive design, lacking the boldness of some competitors but offering a refreshing change with its smaller grille and tasteful color options. The interior, while not luxurious, was practical and user-friendly, featuring two-tone leather upholstery and standard heated front seats in higher trims. Despite its dated appearance, the Equinox's interior was spacious and functional, with a straightforward PRNDL shift lever and ample storage.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna stood out with its distinctive styling and sporty XSE trim, featuring sleek fascias and bold color choices. The interior offered practical features like a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs provided ample legroom, though their non-removable nature limited cargo space. The Sienna's interior was designed for family comfort, with tri-zone climate control and optional luxury features like an ottoman in upper trims.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 175 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for city driving, it struggled with highway acceleration. The six-speed automatic transmission contributed to a noisy ride, but the Equinox handled well with tight steering and a well-sorted suspension. The AWD system required manual engagement, but the new brake-by-wire system improved braking performance.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna felt sluggish, especially on highways. The CVT provided smooth but slow acceleration, and the brakes were occasionally grabby. However, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience around town, with excellent visibility and light steering.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 63.9 cubic feet with seats folded. Passenger space was generous, with ample headroom and legroom. The interior featured quality plastic components, a silent power liftgate, and practical storage solutions.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through and sliding second-row seats offering up to 40 inches of legroom. The third row was accessible and comfortable, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was adjusted. The Sienna provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubic feet with seats folded. Tri-zone climate control and a kick-activated rear liftgate added convenience.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox featured a simple yet effective infotainment system with a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad in higher trims. The system was user-friendly, with quick response times and customizable icons.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna used an older infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the graphics were outdated, physical buttons provided easy access to common functions. The Sienna included a Wi-Fi hotspot, optional JBL stereo, and multiple USB ports, though the backup camera quality was lacking.

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox came with standard ADAS features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. It received a five-star NHTSA rating but scored poorly in some IIHS crash tests.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna included the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with features like lane departure alert and adaptive cruise control. It received high safety ratings from both NHTSA and IIHS, though its front crash prevention was rated as average.