2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged yet refined appearance, with the Wilderness trim receiving a subtle update featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Premier XT model, which was described as a “green-tinged dark khaki.” The Outback's design was both appealing and tasteful, with varying levels of black and chrome exterior fittings across different trims. The Premier XT trim showcased the most chrome, which was tastefully integrated into the vehicle's design. Wheel sizes and designs varied by trim, with the Wilderness trim featuring matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx trim upgraded to 18-inch wheels in basic black. The interior of the top-trim test car was surprisingly luxurious, featuring Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery that was both handsome and supple. The Outback offered a range of seating materials across trims, from standard leather in the Limited trims to StarTex synthetic leather in the Onyx and Wilderness trims, and cloth seats in the Convenience and Touring trims.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while still resembling a traditional minivan, attempted to add style with its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines. The design included hidden sliding door tracks and swollen rear fenders, creating a family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, replacing the previous split-five-spoke design. Despite these efforts, the Sienna retained its minivan identity, prioritizing practicality with seating for up to eight passengers. The top-of-the-line Limited model with the Platinum package was finished in the new Magnetic Grey paint colour, capping a lineup that included LE, XLE, and XSE trims. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, with the Platinum package featuring a new woodgrain finish. However, opinions on the interior were mixed, with some finding the design unappealing. Despite this, the Sienna's interior was considered an improvement over previous models.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness trim, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 1,225 to 1,587 kilograms. The Outback's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Lineartronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) were standard across all trims. The Premier XT test car, with its turbocharged engine, provided a well-balanced driving experience, with the CVT effectively simulating eight distinct gears. The Outback's suspension and reasonably sized wheels contributed to a comfortable ride, while the Wilderness trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a CVT. The standard front-wheel drive (FWD) could be upgraded to an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system with an additional rear-mounted electric motor. The hybrid system produced a net horsepower of 245, which was adequate for the Sienna's seating capacity of up to eight passengers and towing capability of 1,587 kilograms. The electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving for the FWD model. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging, with a smooth and absorbent ride. The XSE trim offered a sport-tuned suspension for a slightly more dynamic driving experience.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space despite its sleek proportions. It provided more headroom up front compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, although it fell slightly short in rear-seat headroom compared to the RAV4. The Outback excelled in front-row legroom and offered competitive rear-seat legroom. The cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and expanded to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. While the RAV4 and CR-V offered more cargo space with all seats occupied, the Outback surpassed the RAV4 when the rear seats were folded. The Outback featured a range of convenience features, including dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. The Premier XT trim offered ventilated front seats, and the hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function with its minivan design, offering unique seating and cargo solutions. The front seats were power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated, but the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The Platinum package included second-row, long-slide, reclining captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests, which were popular with passengers. The third-row seat accommodated adults, and the sliding side doors facilitated easy loading and unloading. The Sienna provided 949 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third-row seats stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 2,860 litres, less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats. The Sienna's storage solutions included a wide tray under the centre console, though it struggled to accommodate large water bottles. The hands-free power liftgate was standard on all but the LE model.

The 2024 Subaru Outback offered a mix of old-school and modern technology features. The Premier XT trim was the only one to include a CD player, while all trims featured both USB-C and USB-A ports. The top-trim test car boasted an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the Subaru Starlink multimedia platform offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Wireless connectivity was available from the Touring trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display (HUD), and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered access to four connected services plans, with varying subscription periods. The digital assistant, part of the Drive Connect plan, responded accurately to voice commands. The Sienna's infotainment system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Limited trim featured a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated, and the digital rearview camera offered zoom capabilities.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Outback's safety features included the EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies, with adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking was standard from the Touring trim, and the Premier XT trim featured a digital rearview mirror and a driver-attention monitor. The Outback also included a wide-angle camera for improved cyclist and pedestrian detection.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The TSS 2.0 system provided a more straightforward driving experience compared to the newer TSS 3.0. The Sienna introduced a rear-seat reminder system for 2025, which detected movement within the cabin and issued alerts. The NHTSA awarded the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it received lower scores in frontal crash tests.