2024 Toyota Sienna vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2024 Toyota Sienna presented a distinctive appearance with its various trim levels, including LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. Despite the absence of the "swagger wagon" commercials, the Sienna maintained its stylish vibe with sleek front and rear fascias and vibrant color options like deep blue, red, or green. LED lighting was standard, with upper trims featuring Bi-LED projector headlamps. The XSE trim, known for its sporty look, included a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Woodland Edition, available in Cement or Midnight Black Metallic, was designed for off-road readiness with roof rails, a tow hitch, and slightly increased ground clearance.

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

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 was considered one of the most attractive vehicles in the small SUV class, with graceful curves that set it apart. Despite not being redesigned since 2017, its design remained timeless, resembling an entry-level luxury SUV. The interior featured high-quality materials and a layout that balanced traditional and modern elements. It lacked a large infotainment touchscreen, opting for physical buttons and knobs, which enhanced usability. The CX-5's interior was comparable to last-generation Acura or Lexus models, offering a refined feel.

The CX-5's interior design was complemented by soft-touch materials and sturdy plastic elements. While it didn't match some rivals in practicality or space, it provided adequate headroom and rear legroom. The cargo area offered 30.8 cubic feet of space, expandable to 58.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate was standard on most trims, and the interior included moderately sized cupholders, door pockets, and a deep center armrest bin.

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. All-wheel drive models added an electric motor for the rear wheels. Despite a sport-tuned suspension and Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was not thrilling, feeling sluggish off the line with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that was smooth but slow. The CVT could become noisy, especially during highway merging or climbing.

Around town, the Sienna offered a pleasant driving experience with Normal, Eco, and EV modes. The brakes were slightly grabby, but steering was light and accurate, with excellent visibility. For those seeking more driving pleasure, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica with V6 engines were recommended.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and a Turbo model with 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive was standard. The base engine accelerated to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the Turbo model was quicker by two seconds. The Turbo engine provided more confident acceleration.

The CX-5 excelled in handling, with AWD and a suspension that minimized body roll, making it sporty for its class. It offered a firmer ride quality, noticeable on rough surfaces but acceptable for most passengers. The cabin was quiet, reducing fatigue on long journeys.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior functionality, with a lower storage pass-through for bulkier items and multiple cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs offered 40 inches of legroom and an ottoman for relaxation, though the slide function was complex, and seats couldn't be removed, limiting cargo space. The third row was accessible, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. Tri-zone climate control was standard, with an additional zone for the front passenger in the XSE trim. The rear liftgate revealed 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 101 cubes with seats folded.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior design and refinement were notable, though it lacked some practicality compared to rivals. It offered adequate headroom and rear legroom, with 30.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 58.1 cubic feet. The cargo area was wide and flat, with helpful latches for folding seats. A power liftgate was standard on most trims. The front seats included moderately sized cupholders, door pockets, and a deep center armrest bin, with a wireless charging pad on midlevel trims.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna featured an older infotainment system with a nine-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Physical buttons for common menus were included, but 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 head-up display.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 came with a 10.25-inch infotainment display controlled via a center console dial. The system was easy to operate while driving, with logical menus and the option to control Apple CarPlay and Android Auto via the touchscreen or dial. Wireless phone integration was available on midrange trims, along with a wireless charging pad. The CX-5 featured analog gauges, with a head-up display standard on higher trims. The audio system ranged from a four-speaker setup to a 10-speaker Bose system on the Signature model. Remote vehicle monitoring and a Wi-Fi hotspot were also available.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna included the Toyota Safety Sense suite with 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 standard. The Sienna received four stars from NHTSA for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. IIHS rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but "Average" in front crash prevention.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned five stars from NHTSA in all evaluations except rollover protection, where it received four stars. IIHS rated the 2024 model "Good" in all tests, with a Top Safety Pick rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, a surround-view camera, and more.