2020 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, part of its third generation, had been around since the 2011 model year. Despite a 2018 update that introduced newer infotainment tech and minor changes, the 2020 Sienna still felt dated. The front doors emitted a hollow "thud" when slammed, indicating a lack of attention to fit and finish. The instrument panel seemed to come from Toyota's 2010 parts bin, though its simplicity made the controls easy to use. The Sienna offered various trims, from the well-equipped base L to the luxurious Limited Premium, with features like a power rear liftgate, leather-trimmed seating, and a JBL premium audio system.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, giving each a unique identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, making it cleaner and more handsome than some competitors. The Traverse's interior mirrored its restrained exterior styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS trim were fairly good but not quite worthy of the $50,000 MSRP. The Traverse shared a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Sienna offered stout acceleration in normal Drive mode, with a Sport mode for livelier throttle and shift response. It also had a manual mode, which was seldom used but could help with its 3,500-pound towing capacity. The Sienna's FWD version returned 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined, while AWD versions returned 18/24/20. The Sienna's low center of gravity and broad base provided decent handling dynamics, though its twitchy steering response required constant attention at higher speeds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 powertrain didn't feel particularly strong off the line but provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse impressed with its highway road manners, combining a quiet cabin, bump-absorbing suspension, and precise steering. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity with the tow/haul mode engaged, which was average for the segment.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 150 cubic feet, more than competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which could be cumbersome. The third row folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat was challenging. Toyota also offered mobility access features like the Auto Access Seat, making it easier for those needing mobility conversions.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse provided seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. It boasted substantial cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. Higher trim levels offered a gesture-activated liftgate and a power 60/40 split-folding third row. However, the Traverse was stingy on interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base L trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system supporting Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay. Other standard tech features included Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. Higher trims like the Limited offered navigation and a JBL 10-speaker premium audio system. The Driver Easy Speak intercom system allowed the driver to broadcast their voice to the rear speakers, making it easier to communicate with passengers.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse's standard infotainment system included a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Chevy provided two USB ports for each row as standard equipment, with wireless phone charging available on higher trims.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, dynamic cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was optional on lower trims and standard on higher trims. The Sienna earned five stars in NHTSA crash testing and top scores from the IIHS.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking available only on higher trims.