Toyota Sienna vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, presented a traditional SUV aesthetic. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Distinguishing itself from the standard Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer boasted a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre caps were protected by acrylic glass. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent suspension, and the use of aluminum and composite materials helped reduce weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling cues with the Wagoneer but offered more luxurious materials and features, such as 24-way power front seats with memory and massage functions, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna aimed to shed its minivan image with a design inspired by Japanese bullet trains. Despite its minivan roots, the Sienna offered a smart choice for families with its larger cargo capacity and creative interior features. The Sienna's front-wheel-drive XSE trim level featured 20-inch wheels, while other trims had 17 or 18-inch wheels. The Sienna came in various trims, including the base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, and upper-class Limited, with a new 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim for 2023. Inside, the Sienna impressed with high-quality brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents. It offered seating for seven or eight passengers, with the option for three-across car seats in the middle row. The Sienna's interior was designed for practicality, with features like power-sliding doors and a power liftgate, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, despite its hefty weight of around 2,900 kilograms. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, featuring a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system, providing up to 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance. While the Grand Wagoneer excelled in off-road capabilities, its size and weight made it less agile on the road, with a bouncy ride at higher speeds and imprecise steering.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and two front-mounted electric motors, producing a combined 245 horsepower. While the Sienna's power output was less impressive compared to competitors, its chassis and steering offered a surprisingly nimble and enjoyable driving experience. The Sienna's light steering made it easy to manoeuvre in the city, and it cruised comfortably on the highway. The Sienna offered multiple drive modes, including EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport, but the Normal mode was recommended for the best balance of performance and efficiency. Despite its lacklustre acceleration, the Sienna's hybrid system provided a smooth and efficient ride.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer offered 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to the Grand Wagoneer's additional weight. The vehicle came with a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, although forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, with ample space for bags and personal items. It featured a large open cubby below the centre console, a long shelf across the dash, and numerous cupholders. The Sienna's three-zone climate control was standard, with four-zone available on higher trims. Measuring 5,175 millimetres in length, the Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row and 2,129 litres with the third row folded. Total cargo space was 2,860 litres, although the middle row of seats could not be removed or folded into the floor. The Sienna's second-row captain’s chairs were highly functional, with extending ottomans and sliding capabilities, providing ample legroom for third-row passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats available on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had access to a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which included an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. While the system offered a range of features, the screen response was occasionally slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were considered plain.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna, however, relied on Toyota's older infotainment interface. It included core features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional navigation system. The Sienna had seven USB ports and retained some physical buttons for ease of use. Despite its older design, the Sienna's technology was reliable, with a 9-inch touchscreen that didn't feel undersized. The 12-speaker JBL premium audio system provided good sound quality. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay required a wired connection, and accessing Android Auto involved navigating through the menu view each time.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, although a hands-free version was planned for future release. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of launch.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna impressed with its standard safety technology, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. These features were part of the Toyota Safety Sense package, enhancing the Sienna's appeal as a family vehicle. The Sienna received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. While competitors like Honda and Chrysler also received high safety ratings, Toyota focused on essential safety features without adding gimmicky extras.