2023 Genesis GV70 vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2023 Genesis GV70 was a striking blend of style and luxury, drawing inspiration from its sedan counterpart, the G70. Its design featured split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that elegantly curved from behind the rear window, giving it a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was a testament to luxury, with top-notch materials and a design that was both contemporary and classic. The climate controls were seamlessly integrated into a curving bezel, and the touchscreen rose organically from the dash, offering a user-friendly interface. The GV70's interior was further enhanced by physical rollers on the center console and steering wheel, providing a tactile experience superior to touch capacitive controls.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Sienna was a minivan that embraced a distinctive look, with sleek front and rear fascias and a range of vibrant colors. The Sienna's design was complemented by LED lighting, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its sporty black metallic mesh front grille and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition added a touch of ruggedness with roof rails, a tow hitch, and increased ground clearance. Inside, the Sienna offered a practical and spacious interior, with features like a lower storage pass-through, multiple cupholders, and a shelf above the glovebox. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom, and the third row was easily accessible, making it a family-friendly choice.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered a choice between two powerful engines. The 2.5T model was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the 3.5T model featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, providing a balanced blend of power and handling. The GV70 Electrified model, on the other hand, utilized a 77.4-kWh battery pack and dual electric motors, generating a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It offered a smooth and confident acceleration, with a Boost Mode that temporarily increased output to 483 horsepower. However, its range was limited to 236 miles, though it supported fast charging.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, in contrast, was a hybrid minivan powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While it wasn't designed for high-performance driving, the Sienna offered a smooth and comfortable ride, particularly in Normal or Eco mode. The sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode provided a slightly more engaging driving experience, but the minivan felt sluggish off the line, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) could be noisy. Despite these drawbacks, the Sienna excelled in urban environments, offering light and accurate steering and excellent visibility. Its hybrid powertrain was efficient, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 provided a practical cargo space of 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 28.9 cubic feet with the seats in use, making it competitive in the compact luxury SUV segment. The interior featured decently large cupholders and a helpful tray in the center console. While the front seats were comfortable and easy to adjust, the rear seats offered less legroom, requiring front-row occupants to slide their seats forward for additional space. The rear bench did recline, enhancing comfort for passengers.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and functionality, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders throughout the cabin. The second-row captain's chairs could slide fore and aft, providing up to 40 inches of legroom, and upper trims even included an ottoman for added comfort. However, the slide function was somewhat complicated, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting maximum cargo space. The third row was easily accessible, offering ample legroom when the second row was adjusted. The Sienna's rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The interface was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, and the Genesis digital key were available features, enhancing the overall tech experience.

In contrast, 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 for a 2024 model. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were scattered throughout the cabin, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available for the second row and rear cargo area.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The 2.5T model's Advance Package added a blind-spot camera system, reverse automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The Electrified model included most of these features as standard, with the head-up display available in the Prestige trim.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received high safety ratings, with the NHTSA awarding it four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection, and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness and seat belt and child restraint systems, though its front crash prevention was rated as "Average."