2024 Toyota 4Runner vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that defied traditional expectations with its sleek design and practical features. Toyota worked hard to shed the typical minivan image, giving the Sienna a front-end styling reminiscent of a Japanese bullet train. The Sienna offered a variety of trims, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, and the luxurious Limited. The 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim was a new addition for 2023, positioned just below the Limited. Inside, the Sienna impressed with its high-quality materials, such as the brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents in the Platinum trim. It accommodated seven or eight passengers, with the eight-seater option available in the LE or XLE trims, making it a practical choice for families.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner was a nod to the past with its classic, boxy design that had remained largely unchanged since 2010. While it may have appeared outdated, its rugged exterior, flared fenders, and underbody skid plates on the TRD Pro model gave it a brawny and stable look, perfect for off-road adventures. Inside, the 4Runner's old-school styling and analog instrument panel were reminiscent of a bygone era. The interior featured hard plastics, but cushioned panels provided some comfort. Despite its dated appearance, the 4Runner offered practicality with its spacious interior, excellent outward visibility, and ample cargo space, making it a reliable choice for those seeking adventure.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear-mounted motor for AWD trims. This setup delivered 245 net system horsepower, which was somewhat underwhelming compared to competitors. The Sienna's CVT struggled with acceleration, but its nimble chassis and light steering made it enjoyable to drive in urban settings. The Sienna offered various drive modes, but the Normal mode was the most practical choice, as Eco and EV modes had limitations, and Sport mode didn't provide a significant performance boost.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4.0-litre V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. While these figures were competitive, the 4Runner's five-speed automatic transmission hindered its performance compared to rivals with more advanced gearboxes. The TRD Pro model came with 4WD and a two-speed transfer case, making it capable off-road. However, on pavement, the 4Runner felt sluggish, and its soft suspension led to noticeable body roll and rear-end squat during acceleration. Despite these drawbacks, the 4Runner remained composed under hard braking and offered a comfortable ride over rough terrain.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and storage solutions. It featured numerous cubbies, shelves, and bins, including a large open cubby below the centre console and a long shelf on the dashboard. The Sienna's three-zone climate control was standard, with four-zone available on higher trims. With a length of 5,175 millimetres and a wheelbase of 3,061 millimetres, the Sienna offered ample cargo space, with 949 litres behind the third row and up to 2,860 litres with seats folded. The second-row captain's chairs were functional and comfortable, with extending ottomans and sliding capabilities for added legroom.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's interior design felt dated, but it offered practicality with easy-to-use controls and excellent outward visibility. The front seats provided ample space, though taller drivers might find the steering wheel's telescoping range limited. The second row offered generous legroom, but headroom was limited due to the elevated bench height. The 4Runner's cargo space was impressive, with 1,337 litres behind the rear seats and up to 2,540 litres with seats stowed. The optional sliding deck reduced capacity but added convenience. The 4Runner's sliding glass rear window and hitch receiver with a 2,268-kilogram towing capacity added to its versatility.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment interface with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though both required a wired connection. The system included SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and an optional navigation system, but its interface felt outdated and clunky. The 9-inch touchscreen was adequate, and the 12-speaker JBL premium audio system provided good sound quality. Despite its quirks, the Sienna's technology was reliable, with physical buttons offering a practical touch.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner's infotainment system included standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the small eight-inch touchscreen was challenging to use while driving. The TRD Pro model featured a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system, but road noise often overshadowed its quality. The 4Runner included additional terrain controls in the headliner console, with Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select systems for off-road adventures. However, the lack of off-road-specific apps and gauges was a drawback compared to competitors.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. It received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS, making it a safe choice for families.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with four out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall and frontal crash protection, and five stars for side impacts. However, it scored three stars in rollover evaluations. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings for moderate frontal overlap and side protection tests but had incomplete ratings for newer tests. The 4Runner included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning, but its alerts were often oversensitive.