2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in Canada in LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited trims, presented a distinctive appearance with its sleek front and rear fascias. It was offered in a variety of appealing colours, such as deep blue, red, and bronze. The Sienna featured standard LED lighting, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty flair, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna provided a spacious feel with horizontal design lines and a fixed centre console adorned with satin accents. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for families, offering cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and room for eight passengers. The XSE trim replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs and leatherette-trimmed sport seats, adding a touch of sophistication.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90, with its lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels, exuded a luxury SUV vibe. Its sculptural sheet metal created a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, while the short front overhang, long hood, and rear-axle-focused cabin placement contributed to its athletic appearance. Inside, the CX-90's interior was elegantly designed, featuring polished metallic trim, Nappa leather with contrast stitching, and clearly marked switchgear. However, some ergonomic issues, such as a confusing electronic shifter and counterintuitive climate controls, detracted from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the CX-90 maintained a sophisticated look and feel, standing out among midsize three-row crossover SUVs.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, delivering a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel-drive models featured an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. While the Sienna offered a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode for improved acceleration, it lacked the excitement of more powerful competitors. The minivan felt sluggish off the line, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a less engaging driving experience. However, the Sienna excelled in urban environments, offering smooth acceleration in Normal or Eco mode and an EV mode for low-speed areas. The brakes were occasionally grabby, but the steering was light and accurate, providing excellent visibility.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 introduced a turbocharged 3.3-litre inline-six engine, available in standard and high-output versions. The standard-output model produced 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the high-output version delivered 319 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The power was transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard all-wheel-drive system, which favoured rear-wheel dynamics. The CX-90 offered various driving modes, including Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing, with a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. Despite its impressive ride and handling, the CX-90's drivetrain refinement was lacking, with unpredictable power delivery and transmission behaviour. Noise and impact harshness further detracted from the driving experience, although the CX-90 remained one of the most agile family haulers available.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders throughout the cabin. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft 63.5 centimetres, providing up to 101.5 centimetres of legroom. However, the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum cargo space. The third row offered ample legroom, with 99 centimetres available when the second row was pushed forward. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed and 2,860 litres with the second row folded.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90, in Signature trim, featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, the three-zone climate control system struggled to cool the cabin efficiently. The panoramic sunroof provided natural light, and second-row passengers enjoyed comfortable seating with height-adjustable armrests and window shades. The CX-90's third row was best suited for children, with limited seat-track travel and snug clearance for rear-facing child seats. The centre console lacked practical storage, offering only a smartphone charging tray and a shallow bin. The hands-free power liftgate revealed 451 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,155 litres with the third row folded and 2,129 litres with the second row flattened.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing for a 2024 model. The Sienna offered a 7-inch digital display in the instrument cluster, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available for the second row and rear cargo area.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. While the infotainment screen was touch-sensitive for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the native Mazda Connect platform required using a centre console knob and buttons. The CX-90's voice recognition system was subpar, but a new Google built-in infotainment system was expected in future models. The test vehicle included a 12-speaker Bose audio system and Mazda’s Active Driving Display, providing a head-up display with helpful data.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received four out of five stars from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS awarded the Sienna a top score of "Good" in crashworthiness and seat belt and child restraint systems, with an "Average" rating in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was one of only four midsize, three-row, gas-powered SUVs to receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The CX-90 PHEV earned five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests, with a four-star rollover resistance rating. Mazda provided a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Higher trims added advanced features like steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-90's driver aids generally met expectations, although some features, like the speed reduction function, were less refined.