2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to evoke the spirit of the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible through its exterior design. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it retained Mustang-like features such as thin headlights, a long hood, and a large, nonfunctional oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's look, complete with sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior color palette, including the eye-catching Grabber Blue, further reinforced the Mustang connection.

Inside, the Mach-E featured a massive infotainment touchscreen awkwardly suspended in the middle of the dashboard. A thin rectangular display served as the instrument cluster, displaying speed as "ground speed," similar to other Mustang models. The minimalist interior, dominated by Ford’s standard rotary gear selector on the center console, was reminiscent of Tesla electric cars. Interior materials were of decent quality, but the lack of a leather-upholstery option might have disappointed some buyers. The First Edition models boasted unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna continued Toyota's legacy in the minivan market, a segment many other automakers had abandoned. The Sienna debuted in 1998 and evolved through several generations, with the fourth generation launching in 2021. The latest Sienna embraced SUV styling cues, featuring a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges to conceal the slider channel. The overall profile was assertive, with 17-inch wheels standard on base models and up to 20-inch wheels on upper trims.

Inside, the Sienna avoided the typical minivan feel with an uncluttered front cabin design and ample storage options. The second and third rows offered comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious three-across bench in the third row. The third-row bench could easily store away into the floor, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to live up to the Mustang name with sporty performance. It came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offered various powertrain configurations. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most powerful option was the all-wheel-drive (AWD) GT Performance Edition, boasting 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, with a zero to 60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Our test car featured the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and a zero to 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel thanks to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with AWD available on all trims. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) for smooth and efficient power delivery.

Handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform’s front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The Sienna Hybrid achieved excellent fuel economy, with EPA ratings of 36 mpg city/36 mpg highway/36 mpg combined for FWD models and 35 mpg city/35 mpg highway/35 mpg combined for AWD models. The 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats and came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was marketed as an SUV but had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn’t create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom. The Mach-E provided 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and 59.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. It also featured a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk (frunk).

The narrow space between the front seats housed a decent-sized storage bin under a flip-up armrest. A large, flat area beneath the touchscreen was perfect for storing smartphones, with a grippy rubberized surface and a wireless charging pad. USB ports were available for both the first and second rows.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight. Cargo measurements were 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity.

The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away into the floor easily. Each row had storage cubby space and cupholders, with bottle holders in all four side doors. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated, with foot-motion triggers for added convenience.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured the new Sync 4 infotainment system, with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system were standard, with Premium, GT, and First Edition models getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The 15.5-inch touchscreen was a signature feature, but its design was cluttered and text-heavy. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders, which were less convenient to use.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard in all grades, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, one USB media port, and six USB charging ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect.

Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker setup on the LE to a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system was available on XLE and above, with an 11.6-inch 1080p display. The instrument panel featured a color multi-information display, with a 10-inch color head-up display available on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, a reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. A 360-degree camera system was standard on higher trims.

The Mach-E was also set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways. This feature would be available via a $600 OTA update in the third quarter of 2021.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also featured the Star Safety System, 10 airbags, and several LATCH child-seat connectors.

A rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit were standard, with an optional spare tire mounted in the cargo space wall for safety and convenience.