2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid presented a sporty exterior with its black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, though its interior was relatively basic. The Sport-L Hybrid offered an upgrade with leather-lined interiors, while the Sport Touring Hybrid topped the lineup with a more sophisticated cabin. Our test vehicle, painted in Canyon River Blue, had a total MSRP of $41,175, including destination charges. The CR-V's styling was conservative, with a technical face that resembled an angry robot, and it carried too much visual weight over its front wheels. However, the rear quarter view was its best angle, with Volvo-adjacent taillights and a tidy design that gave it an upscale appearance. Inside, the Sport Touring featured leather seats with orange contrast stitching and numerous quality details, such as a soft-touch dashboard and metal mesh air vent covers, contributing to a sophisticated cabin feel.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna maintained the traditional minivan look, despite Toyota's efforts to add style with a trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines. The Platinum trim level introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, but the Sienna still looked like a minivan. Our test vehicle, in Magnetic Gray, was the top-of-the-line Platinum model, with an MSRP of $58,634, including destination charges and additional accessories. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, with a new woodgrain finish that didn't impress a teenage passenger. However, adult professionals found the interior improved. The Sienna offered practicality with seating for up to eight, but for those seeking a more fashionable SUV-shaped package, the Toyota Grand Highlander was a better option.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a fourth-generation two-motor hybrid drive system, combining a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. This setup delivered 204 horsepower to either the front or all four wheels, with an EPA rating of 37 mpg in combined driving for the Sport Touring model. However, during testing on a mountainous loop, the CR-V returned only 32.4 mpg. The hybrid system worked transparently, with only low-speed acoustic warning noises and engine droning on hills being noticeable. The CR-V offered a compliant ride with predictable handling, impressive grip, and durable brakes, though the steering effort was unusually heavy.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, on the other hand, came with a hybrid system featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a CVT, delivering 245 horsepower. The Sienna's powertrain was designed for fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving for the FWD model. However, during testing, it averaged only 26.3 mpg. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, with squishy handling in curves and corners. The brakes struggled during a mountain descent, and the steering lacked precision. Despite these shortcomings, the Sienna provided a smooth, absorbent ride with excellent impact isolation.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid excelled in form and function, offering quality materials, intuitive controls, and comfortable seating. The 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat provided excellent support, while the front passenger seat offered similar comfort with limited adjustments. The CR-V's back seat was spacious and comfortable, with a high bottom cushion for leg support and adjustable backrest angles. The cargo area varied from 34.7 to 36.3 cubic feet, depending on the trim, with a maximum of 76.5 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna focused on practicality, with 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 teenagers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna offered generous storage space, though finding secure spots for large water bottles was challenging. The cargo area provided 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 101 cubic feet, less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with a 7-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a larger 9-inch display available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless smartphone charging, were reserved for higher trims. The Sport Touring trim included a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and subscription-based connected services. The voice recognition system was basic, and the walk-away automatic locking feature provided peace of mind.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the TAM infotainment system in higher trims. The Platinum model featured a four-zone climate control system, a 10-inch HUD, and a digital rearview mirror. The TAM system provided access to various connected services, with a digital assistant that responded well to commands. The Sienna Platinum included a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, though the sound quality was muddy. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated, and the digital rearview camera offered zoom capabilities.

The 2024 Honda CR-V Hybrid was equipped with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and a driver monitoring system. The CR-V also had a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist performed well, though there were occasional inaccuracies. The CR-V received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS for 2023, but NHTSA ratings were not available.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured TSS 2.0, an older version of Toyota's safety suite. It included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The TSS 2.0 system performed well, though the lane-centering assist could waver in some situations. The Sienna added a new rear-seat reminder system for 2025. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it scored poorly in frontal crash tests, with only three stars for driver protection.