2023 Toyota Sienna vs 2023 Ford Escape

The 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, shedding its traditional image with a design that echoed the sleekness of a Japanese bullet train. Toyota offered a variety of trims, from the base LE to the luxurious Limited, with the 25th Anniversary Special Edition adding a touch of exclusivity. The Sienna's interior was a highlight, featuring high-quality materials like brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents, particularly in the Platinum trim. With seating for seven or eight, the Sienna catered to families, offering configurations that supported three-across car seats in the middle row.

In contrast, the 2023 Ford Escape embraced a more European design language, moving away from its earlier blocky exterior. The refreshed model featured a traditional front end with a stylish LED light bar. The Escape was available in several trims, with the ST-Line Elite showcasing upscale features like 19-inch wheels and diamond-stitched leather upholstery. While the interior materials felt durable, they lacked the warmth of premium leather. The Escape's seats were comfortable, and the 10-way power adjustable driver's seat made long drives pleasant.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with electric motors, delivering 245 net system horsepower. While this setup was efficient, it lacked the punch of some competitors, and the CVT's sound was less than ideal. However, the Sienna's chassis and steering were commendable, offering nimble handling and a tidy turning radius, making it surprisingly fun to drive for a minivan. The Sienna featured multiple drive modes, but Normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency.

The 2023 Ford Escape offered a choice of powertrains, including a 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower. The latter, paired exclusively with AWD, provided better acceleration and passing power. Despite its output, the Escape wasn't a performance crossover, with a soft suspension and no paddle shifters. The brakes were predictable, and the steering was well-weighted, making it easy to manoeuvre without twitchy inputs.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage, with clever solutions like a large cubby below the centre console and a long dash shelf. It offered ample cargo space, with 949 litres behind the third row and 2,129 litres with it folded, though it fell short of some competitors due to non-removable middle-row seats. The Sienna's second-row captain's chairs were highly functional, with features like extending ottomans and sliding tracks for added legroom. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with higher trims offering ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats.

The 2023 Ford Escape provided comfortable seating and excellent ergonomics, with well-positioned armrests and a convenient head-up display. However, it lagged behind segment leaders in cargo space, offering 1,061 litres behind the second row and 1,851 litres with it folded. Passenger space was adequate, with good headroom and padded front-seat backs for rear passengers. While the Escape was suitable for daily use, it might feel cramped during larger moves.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with core features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though both required a wired connection. The interface was reliable but felt outdated, with some quirks in accessing Android Auto. A 9-inch touchscreen was standard, and a 12-speaker JBL audio system was available on higher trims, providing good sound quality.

The 2023 Ford Escape impressed with its Sync 4 system, offering an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 13.2-inch screen on higher ones. The larger screen enhanced the cabin's look, and Sync 4 was intuitive, with easy navigation between applications. While the system was occasionally slow, its layout and features were commendable. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with a Bang & Olufsen system optional on higher trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna boasted a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, underscoring its commitment to safety. While it lacked some gimmicky features found in competitors, its safety credentials were solid.

The 2023 Ford Escape also received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it fell short of a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS due to a Marginal score in the side-impact test. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The optional Co-Pilot360 2.0 added advanced features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera, enhancing its safety offerings.