2025 BMW X3 vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims such as LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum, presented a distinctive look that continued the "swagger wagon" vibe despite the absence of its iconic commercials. Competing with the Kia Carnival for style points, the Sienna featured sleek front and rear fascias and offered a palette of cool colors like deep blue, red, and green. Standard LED lighting was a highlight, with upper trims boasting Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty appeal, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors, was designed for a bit more off-road readiness, featuring roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

Inside, the Sienna offered standard cloth seats, three-zone climate control, and seating for eight. The XSE trim with the optional Premium package replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs and added heated and cooled leather-trimmed front seats. The interior design featured horizontal lines for a spacious feel, a fixed center console with satin accents, and easily accessible cup holders and shifter. While not luxurious, the interior was practical for families, with upper trims offering a built-in vacuum cleaner for convenience.

The 2025 BMW X3, redesigned for a more seductive appearance, featured a long and tall hood, captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and a tapering greenhouse and roofline for an athletic look. The test model, in Arctic Race Blue paint, paired with machined surface wheels and Calm Beige upholstery, emphasized its crouched appearance. The Veganza artificial leather, with perforated and quilted surfaces, mimicked the feel of real leather. The cabin, though not fancy, used quality materials where expected, but some plastic elements revealed its price point. The X3 was available in 30 xDrive and M50 xDrive models, with prices ranging from $51,125 to $65,875, making it a competitive option against rivals like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, a hybrid minivan, combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive models added an electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode button, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that contributed to a smooth but slow acceleration. The CVT could become loud, especially during highway merging or mountain pass climbs. Around town, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience, with Normal or Eco mode being preferable, and an EV mode for low-speed areas. The brakes were occasionally grabby, but steering was light and accurate, with excellent visibility.

In contrast, the 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Despite its 4,176-pound weight, the X3 achieved a zero-to-60 mph time of six seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD system. The engine's power curve provided peak torque from 1,600 rpm to near redline at 6,500 rpm. The X3 also included a 48-volt mild-hybrid system for improved responsiveness and a nearly imperceptible start-stop system. The M50 xDrive model offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, achieving 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The X3's sport-tuned suspension and performance tires provided a go-kart-like ride on imperfect roads but delivered an exhilarating experience on twisty backroads. Despite a fuel economy of 24.2 mpg, short of the EPA rating, the X3's turbocharged engine impressed with its power and efficiency.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs could slide 25 inches, offering up to 40 inches of legroom, while the third row provided 39 inches when the second row was pushed forward. The third-row seats tilted for comfort, and window shades and cup holders were abundant. The Sienna featured tri-zone climate control, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate, activated with a kick motion, revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubic feet with the third row stowed.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a power-adjustable driver’s seat with a sports car-like view of the hood. The cabin felt wider and larger than most compact crossovers, with a simple dashboard featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The front seats, with power adjustment and heating, were comfortable, while the rear seats were less so, with complaints about hard front seat-back panels. The cargo area measured 31.5 cubic feet, with a lightweight, easy-to-remove cargo cover, netted storage, and a temporary spare tire under the load floor. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo and passenger arrangements.

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. The Sienna offered a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. USB ports were plentiful, and a 1500-watt inverter with a 120-volt outlet was available. Optional features included an 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2025 BMW X3 featured the BMW Curved Display with iDrive 9 software, offering a Quick Select user experience. However, creating profiles and accessing BMW Digital Services proved challenging. The system occasionally froze, and media preferences were sometimes forgotten. Despite these issues, the navigation system with augmented video provided accurate directions. Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity worked flawlessly, offering a reliable alternative to the native infotainment features.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Sienna received a four-star rating from the NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 BMW X3's driver assistance features were more rewarding, with the standard Active Driving Assistant suite including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and active blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control and Parking Assistant Plus. The Driving Assistant Professional Package offered hands-free Traffic Jam Assistant and other advanced features. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.