2025 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in Canada in LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited trims, presented a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias. It was offered in appealing colours like deep blue, red, or bronze, making it a stylish choice for families. The Sienna featured standard LED lighting, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. Inside, the Sienna offered 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 luxury. The interior design, with horizontal lines and satin accents, created a spacious feel, although it wasn't considered luxurious.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia, particularly the U.S.-only 1794 Edition, was equivalent to the Canadian Platinum trim but with unique features like dark grey painted 20-inch wheels and less exterior chrome. The Sequoia lineup in Canada included the SR5 TRD Off-road, Limited, Platinum, and Capstone trims, with prices ranging from $87,174 to $106,175. The Sequoia, dipped in Lunar Rock paint, garnered attention despite being a rarity on the road. The interior featured typical Toyota-grade plastic, which was not a compliment, but the Saddle Tan leather upholstery and open-pore walnut wood trim added a touch of elegance. The Sequoia's design was functional, but the high floor and low roof made accessing the third row awkward for adults.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was powered by a hybrid system combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models added an electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite having a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that was smooth but slow. The minivan excelled in urban driving with light and accurate steering, excellent visibility, and modes like Normal, Eco, and EV for different driving conditions. However, the brakes were a bit grabby, and the CVT could get loud. For those seeking more driving pleasure, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica offered stronger V6 engines.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia featured an i-Force Max hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged 3.4-litre V6 engine, an electric motor, and a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque. The Sequoia's part-time four-wheel-drive system and various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Tow/Haul, provided versatility. Despite its weight of 2,790 kilograms, the Sequoia offered quick acceleration and a robust engine note. However, its fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 14.5 L/100 km in testing. The Sequoia excelled in towing, with a maximum capacity of 4,137 kilograms and features like a digital rearview mirror and Trailer Backup Guide system. However, its solid rear axle and battery placement compromised rear-seat room and cargo space, affecting driving dynamics. The ride was jittery, and the steering, while light and fluid, lacked feel. The brakes were firm and hard to modulate, with fade issues during hard braking.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide fore and aft, providing up to 101.5 centimetres of legroom, although the slide function was complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible for adults, with ample legroom when the second row was adjusted. The Sienna offered tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate, activated with a kick motion, revealed 949 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,860 litres with the second row folded.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia accommodated up to eight people, with seven being more comfortable. The Platinum and Capstone trims featured 10-way power adjustable seats with heating, ventilation, and massage. The Sequoia's long rear doors facilitated access to the second and third rows, but they were cumbersome in tight spaces. The third row's stadium-style seating offered a good view but limited headroom. With the third row in use, cargo space was limited to 325 litres, expandable to 2,460 litres with both rows folded. The Sequoia's high floor and low roof made accessing the third row awkward, and its cargo space was less than rival full-size SUVs.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with an older infotainment system featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While the system included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. The Sienna offered available SiriusXM satellite radio, a 12-speaker JBL stereo system, and a rear-camera mirror. 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 Toyota Sequoia featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, starting at the Limited trim. Four connected services plans were available, with trial subscriptions ranging from three to ten years. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a wireless charging pad included in the Limited trim. A 14-speaker JBL premium sound system was available on higher trims. The Sequoia's infotainment system included a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing convenience and safety.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, 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 rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Toyota Sequoia featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard. However, the lane assist features were often aggravating, with false warnings and intrusive lane keep assist. At the time of publication, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable.