2024 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan presented itself as a stylish and premium-looking compact SUV, especially when compared to its non-European counterparts. Its design elements, such as standard LED headlights and taillights, along with an illuminated grille light line on the Highline R-Line trim, contributed to its upscale appearance. The exterior featured silver roof rails on the Highline R-Line, while lower trims had black ones. The rear end showcased the model name in a fashionable all-caps style, complemented by the classic Volkswagen badge. Colour options were limited on the base Trendline trim, but higher trims offered more vibrant choices and varied interior colourways.

Inside, the Tiguan offered a range of features across its trims. The base Trendline came with heated front seats and cloth upholstery, while the Comfortline added an eight-way power driver’s seat and leatherette upholstery. The R-Line trims included a panoramic sunroof, and the Highline R-Line further upgraded to real leather, front-seat ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and three-position driver’s seat memory. The Highline R-Line also provided eight-way power adjustability for the front passenger’s seat and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while maintaining the traditional minivan silhouette, attempted to add style with features like a trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines. The rear end mirrored the front's cinched-in-the-middle look, and narrow taillights added a touch of elegance. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs. Despite these efforts, the Sienna still resembled a minivan, prioritizing practicality over aesthetics. The top-of-the-line Limited trim with the Platinum package, tested in Magnetic Grey, offered a luxurious interior with a new woodgrain finish, although opinions on its appeal varied.

The Sienna's interior updates for 2025 included features like ventilated front seats and a refrigerated compartment on the back of the centre console. The second-row captain’s chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular among passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The hands-free power liftgate, available on all but the LE models, added convenience. While storage space was generous, some found it challenging to secure larger water bottles. The Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed. However, its maximum cargo capacity of 2,860 litres was less than its rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it offered a driving experience distinct from the more common CVTs. In Canada, the Tiguan came standard with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. Fuel economy ratings were 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 8.0 on the highway, and 9.4 combined for non R-Line trims, while the R-Line trims had slightly higher consumption.

Driving the Tiguan Highline R-Line revealed some inconsistencies in power delivery, with noticeable turbo and transmission lag during acceleration. The gas pedal was touchy, even in Eco mode, and the brake pedal had excessive travel. Steering was light and somewhat rubbery, though visibility and handling were commendable, making the vehicle feel more maneuverable than expected. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the seating surfaces drew some complaints.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a CVT. The standard front-wheel drive could be upgraded to all-wheel drive, which included an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. The hybrid system produced a net 245 horsepower, which, while not overwhelming, was sufficient for city driving and highway cruising. The electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish.

The Sienna's hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with a Natural Resources Canada rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres combined for the FWD model. However, during testing, it averaged 8.9 L/100 km combined. The Sienna offered predictable handling with minimal body roll, though the steering lacked precision. The ride was smooth and absorbent, akin to a marshmallow on wheels, and the vehicle remained impressively quiet on the highway, except when the CVT droned during hard acceleration.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a choice between two-row and three-row configurations, with the third row being an optional extra. The two-row model provided 1,064 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. In the three-row version, cargo space was reduced to 340 litres behind the third row, 934 litres with it folded, and 1,849 litres with only the front seats in use. Passenger space was largely unaffected by the third-row option, with the second row offering 983 millimetres of legroom, dropping slightly to 924 mm with the third row. The third row itself was tight, with 858 mm of headroom and 708 mm of legroom.

The Tiguan was one of the few compact crossovers to offer a third row, with the Mitsubishi Outlander being its main competitor. Despite the limited space in the third row, the Tiguan's offering was more generous than the Outlander's 475 mm of legroom.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, offering innovative seating and cargo solutions. The front seats were power adjustable, heated, and ventilated in the Limited with Platinum package, though they felt firm after extended driving. The second-row captain’s chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and second-row seats made loading and unloading easy, even in tight spaces.

Cargo space was generous, with 949 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed. The maximum cargo capacity of 2,860 litres was less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats. However, Toyota's research suggested that most minivan owners rarely removed seats, making the Sienna's setup practical for everyday use.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. However, the physical volume knob, with its integrated on/off button, was less user-friendly. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch centre touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Trendline had USB-C ports, while higher trims offered wireless charging. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the R-Line trims featuring a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen.

The Tiguan's nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System received positive feedback, enhancing the overall audio experience.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered four connected services plans, with varying complimentary subscription periods. The Drive Connect plan included a digital assistant that responded accurately to 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 see-through surround-view camera and HUD were also helpful features.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, though it had not yet received the same distinction for 2024. Standard safety features in Canada included forward collision avoidance with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, emergency calling, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and Emergency Assist were available from the Comfortline trim, offering semi-autonomous highway driving and parking assistance.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured TSS 2.0, an older version of Toyota's safety suite, which some preferred for its less intrusive approach. TSS 2.0 included forward collision warning with 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 new rear-seat reminder technology was a thoughtful addition for families.

The Sienna received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it scored lower in frontal crash tests, with four stars for frontal impact protection and three stars for driver protection.