2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Jeep Renegade

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, traditionally not known for its style. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated into a panel with the Toyota logo. The side profile showcased assertive lines, with re-engineered sliding doors that bulged over the rear wheels, enhancing its sculpted look. Alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches added to its visual appeal. From the rear, the Sienna maintained a wide and low stance, with Toyota's signature quality fit and finish.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, avoiding the typical minivan feel. The seating position was higher than a sedan's, offering a comfortable ride. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls clustered around the infotainment screen. The center console featured a gear selector, cup holders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were spacious, with the second row sliding for maximum utility and comfort. The materials and surfaces throughout the cabin had a premium feel, making the Sienna a pleasant place to be.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015, drew inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV, featuring a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The 2021 model continued the design changes from its 2019 refresh, with some previously optional features now standard. The Renegade's interior boasted a modern, functional design, with an upright center stack reminiscent of the Wrangler, putting controls within easy reach. The Renegade offered various trims and special editions, each with unique features and equipment.

The Sport trim came standard with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Jeepster added keyless passive entry, remote start, 19-inch alloy wheels, and unique badging. The Latitude trim included an additional USB port and 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Upland trim featured beefed-up skid plates and a unique front bumper. The 80th Anniversary trim offered 19-inch alloy wheels, HD radio, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Islander trim featured exclusive hood graphics, white roof panels, and a dual-panel panoramic moonroof. The Limited trim provided luxury features like leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. The Trailhawk trim, focused on off-road capability, included skid plates, tow hooks, a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and an upgraded 4WD system.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trim levels. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while maximizing fuel efficiency, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna offered four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport.

Handling was significantly improved over the previous model, thanks to new front suspension and steering and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The Sienna Hybrid achieved impressive fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined, while AWD models were rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available with front-wheel drive or 4WD. The turbocharged engine provided better performance due to its higher torque, though the automatic transmission sometimes struggled with smooth shifts.

The Renegade had a solid ride quality, handling corners well despite its tall profile. The suspension was composed over rough surfaces, though the Trailhawk's off-road setup was less refined. The Renegade's short wheelbase made it highly maneuverable in tight spaces, and its impressive visibility made it an excellent city car. The Renegade also featured a terrain management system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes, with the Trailhawk trim leveraging its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and off-road suspension for trail capability.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and functionality, essential for a minivan. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily stored into the floor. The second row slid up to 25 inches, facilitating access to the third row. The cabin offered ample storage, with 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option) and bottle holders in all four side doors. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, showcasing its cargo versatility. Cargo space measured 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These specs were above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Renegade's tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space for adults in the rear seats. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space or as a table for gear.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. The Sienna included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers and surround sound. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch 1080p display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display and, in Platinum trims, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System, with enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology, was also standard. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and a tire pressure monitoring system. The 2020 Sienna received high safety ratings, though 2021 ratings were not yet available.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.