2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Lexus GX

The 2025 Toyota Sienna retained its minivan essence despite Toyota's efforts to inject some style into its design. The trapezoidal grille, upswept body lines, and narrow taillights attempted to add flair, but the Sienna still looked like a traditional minivan. The new flower-petal wheel designs in the Platinum package added a touch of elegance, but the overall boxy shape prioritized practicality over aesthetics. The Magnetic Grey paint colour on the Limited with the Platinum package was a fresh addition, but the interior updates, including the woodgrain finish, received mixed reviews, especially from younger passengers.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus GX underwent a complete redesign, emerging with a striking new look reminiscent of classic Land Rover models. The boxy shape, LED headlights, and large grille gave it a bold presence. The GX 550 Overtrail+ test vehicle featured 33-inch tires, matte grey wheels, and a raised ride height, enhancing its rugged appeal. Inside, the GX exuded luxury with its clean design, quality switchgear, and ample headroom. The seats, made of stitched black and tan faux leather, offered comfort and functionality with heating, ventilation, and massaging features. The GX's visibility was excellent, thanks to its tall windows and elevated ride height.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a CVT, delivering a net horsepower of 245. While this might seem modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 1,587 kilograms, the electric motor's torque provided a responsive feel. The Sienna excelled in city driving with its quiet operation, but the CVT's noise became apparent during hard acceleration. The hybrid system prioritized fuel economy, achieving a combined rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres, although our test model averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with a smooth ride and minimal body roll.

The 2025 Lexus GX, on the other hand, boasted a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 engine producing 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This power was distributed through a full-time 4WD system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX accelerated from 0-100 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, a second faster than its predecessor. Despite its weight, the GX felt agile, with ample power throughout the rev range. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 19.0 L/100 km during our testing. The GX's chassis and suspension provided a comfortable ride, and its off-road capabilities were exceptional, especially with the Overtrail+ package.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered practical seating and cargo solutions, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. However, the cushions felt hard during long drives. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular among teenagers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's cargo space was generous, with 949 litres behind the third row and 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 2025 Lexus GX provided ample interior space, with generous headroom and legroom for front and rear passengers. The GX's cargo capacity was impressive, with 291 litres behind the third row, 1,138 litres with the third row stowed, and 2,177 litres with both rows tucked away. The Overtrail packages, without a third row, offered up to 2,563 litres of space. The GX's dimensions made it easy to manoeuvre and park, despite its size, and its towing capacity of 4,111 kilograms added to its versatility.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna 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 climate control system, a 10-inch HUD, and a digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered various connected services, with a digital assistant that responded well to commands. The JBL premium audio system provided decent sound quality, though it required adjustments for optimal performance. The Sienna's climate control and camera systems were appreciated, but the HUD lacked blind-spot warnings.

The 2025 Lexus GX impressed with its 12.3-inch gauge cluster and 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering smooth operation and intuitive design. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth were standard, and the Mark Levinson Premium Audio system delivered good sound quality. The GX included six USB-C ports for connectivity and charging, and the Executive and Overtrail+ packages added cooling to the armrest storage. The GX's tech was user-friendly and complemented its luxury appeal.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured 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's safety systems generally performed well, but the adaptive cruise control required vigilance in urban areas. The new rear-seat reminder technology was a thoughtful addition. The Sienna received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but its frontal crash-test result was less impressive.

The 2025 Lexus GX came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, offering adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, road sign assist, lane-departure alert, automatic high-beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. The GX's safety features were user-friendly and effective, with additional pedestrian detection on the Overtrail+ package. The GX also included a 360-degree camera system and trail-viewing cameras for off-road visibility. As of this writing, the GX had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it featured 10 airbags for occupant protection.