2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. Despite the Defender 90 appearing stubby and the 130 carrying excessive visual mass over its rear wheels, all models maintained an appealingly robust look. Buyers had numerous customization options, allowing for a personalized touch. The base prices in Canada ranged from $79,050 for a basic 90 model to $160,720 for a 130 V8, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $198,460. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, was priced at $125,500, featuring black exterior elements, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its colour clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while attempting to break away from the traditional minivan design, still retained its boxy shape to maximize interior space. The trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines added a touch of style, but the Sienna remained unmistakably a minivan. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, and our test vehicle, a Sienna Limited with the Platinum package, was painted in Magnetic Grey. Prices in Canada ranged from $51,219 to $73,753, including destination charges. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, with the Platinum package featuring a new woodgrain finish, though not all passengers appreciated the aesthetic. Despite this, the interior was considered an improvement over previous models, offering practicality and comfort for families.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's performance was marked by its turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system, provided robust acceleration and a smooth driving experience. The Defender 130 X, equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, boasted a maximum tow rating of 3,720 kilograms and accelerated to 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement during testing, where it handled urban environments with ease. The vehicle's 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its on-road agility, and its 2,578-kilogram curb weight affected handling on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was rated at 13.0 litres per 100 kilometres, but the observed consumption was 14.5 L/100 km.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission, producing a net horsepower of 245. While not particularly powerful, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The minivan's fuel economy was a highlight, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging. The standard suspension offered a smooth ride, and the vehicle remained quiet on the highway. The Sienna's brakes, however, showed signs of strain during a mountain descent, and the steering lacked precision.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The vehicle's tall seating position provided excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The Defender's interior felt open and airy, thanks to a panoramic sunroof and large windows. Storage space was ample for front passengers, but less accommodating for those in the rear. The Defender 130's third-row seat was accessible and comfortable, with a heated option. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, and the load floor was high, though the air suspension could be lowered to assist with loading. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 433 litres, expanding to 1,237 litres with the third row folded, and 2,520 litres with all rear seats down.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. However, the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and second-row seats facilitated easy loading and unloading. Storage space was generous, though finding secure spots for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna provided 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed, and a maximum of 2,860 litres. However, the second-row seats could not be removed, limiting maximum load space compared to rivals.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive than previous iterations, and programming favourite radio stations was straightforward. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system was also noteworthy. Additional technology included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia 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 access to four connected services plans, with varying subscription periods. The digital assistant, part of the Drive Connect plan, responded accurately to commands. The Sienna's JBL premium audio system produced excessive bass, but the four-zone climate control system was appreciated. The digital rearview camera and surround-view camera were helpful, though the head-up display lacked blind-spot warnings.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. The adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, though it struggled slightly in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at press time.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which 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 lane-centring assist performed well, though the adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden traffic braking events. The Sienna added new rear-seat reminder technology for 2025. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored lower in frontal crash tests.