2025 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna, available in various trims like LE, XLE, and XSE, presented a distinctive look with sleek front and rear fascias. Despite the competition from the Kia Carnival, the Sienna maintained its stylish appeal with options for deep blue, red, or green colors. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty vibe, included a black metallic mesh front grille and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition offered a more rugged look with exclusive colors and off-road features like roof rails and a tow hitch.

Inside, the Sienna provided a spacious feel with horizontal design lines and a fixed center console. Standard features included cloth seats and three-zone climate control, with the XSE trim offering leather-trimmed heated and cooled front seats. The interior, while not luxurious, was practical for families, with options like a built-in vacuum cleaner. The Sienna's design catered to family needs, ensuring comfort and functionality.

The 2025 Ford Explorer, redesigned with a rear-wheel-drive platform, boasted balanced proportions and a sleek, less boxy design. The refreshed model featured a restyled front end, giving it a wider and more rugged appearance. New LED taillights and a variety of wheel designs enhanced its modern look. Inside, the Explorer's updates improved its appeal, with competitive colors, materials, and displays.

Ford reduced the available trims to four, including the new base trim Active and the sporty ST-Line. Prices ranged from $39,755 to $55,505. During a driving event, the ST-Line with RWD and additional packages was highlighted for its style rather than performance. The Explorer's interior upgrades and design made it a strong contender in its segment.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a total of 245 horsepower. While equipped with a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line. The CVT provided smooth but slow acceleration, especially noticeable during highway merging. Around town, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience with light steering and excellent visibility, though the brakes were occasionally grabby.

In contrast, the 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engines. Most trims had a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower, while the ST featured a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 400 horsepower. All Explorers came with a 10-speed automatic transmission and RWD, with optional 4WD. The Explorer's turbo four provided quick acceleration, and the 10-speed automatic delivered decisive shifts. The ST-Line's performance was enhanced with larger wheels and performance brakes, offering a delightful ride on winding roads.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space, with a lower storage pass-through and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered up to 40 inches of legroom, though the slide function was complex, and the seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible and comfortable for children, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was moved forward. The Sienna provided 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 101 cubes with seats folded.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an option for a second-row bench seat. The ST-Line featured comfortable front seats with black artificial leather upholstery and cloth inserts. The second-row captain’s chairs were equally comfortable, with manual rear side window shades. The third row was less comfortable for adults but suitable for children. Cargo space was competitive, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 85.8 cubic feet.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was equipped with an older infotainment system featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. While it included physical buttons for common menus, the backup camera's grainy view was disappointing. The Sienna offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM radio, and an optional JBL stereo system. USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter were available, though the outlets required manual activation.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 13.2-inch touchscreen. It included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and app downloads available. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the ST-Line featuring 10 speakers and the Platinum and ST boasting 14 speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. While most systems worked well, lane-keeping assist showed some side-to-side movement. The Sienna had numerous airbags and reminders for rear passengers. It received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash protection and five stars for side crash protection. IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured Ford CoPilot 360+, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. The ST-Line and higher trims included BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise performed well in testing, though it showed inconsistency near large trucks. NHTSA had not fully rated the 2025 Explorer, but it earned five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.