2024 Mazda CX-90 vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was a testament to Mazda's ambition to elevate its brand into the luxury segment. With its imposing size stretching over 200 inches, the CX-90 commanded attention with its elegant design, reminiscent of its smaller siblings, the CX-30 and CX-5, but on a grander scale. The SUV's exterior featured a big grille, wide-set front end, and large wheels, complemented by tasteful chrome trim, creating an elegant yet commanding presence. Inside, the top-tier models of the CX-90 boasted interiors that rivaled luxury brands, with brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastic accents, offering a sophisticated and premium feel. Despite the range of trims, all models benefited from Mazda's stylish design language and comfortable layout, making the CX-90 a compelling choice for those seeking luxury without the premium price tag of traditional luxury brands.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna maintained its minivan roots with a design focused on practicality rather than luxury. While Toyota attempted to add style with features like a trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines, the Sienna still resembled a traditional minivan. The Platinum trim level introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, but the overall look remained utilitarian. Inside, the Sienna offered practical features like power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, but the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were a hit with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. However, the interior updates, including a new woodgrain finish, received mixed reviews, with some passengers finding it unappealing. Overall, the Sienna prioritized functionality over luxury, catering to families seeking practicality and space.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option and an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. The base turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, while the upgraded Turbo S version offered an impressive 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel. All CX-90 models came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The CX-90 Turbo S featured three driving modes: Normal, Sport, and Off-Road, with Sport mode enhancing the driving experience by holding gears longer and delivering an exhilarating exhaust note. The PHEV model combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a 17.8-kWh battery and a 68-kW electric motor, producing 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. It offered an all-electric driving range of 26 miles and an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe in combined driving. Both CX-90 models impressed with their handling, tackling corners with agility and composure, reminiscent of Mazda's reputation for building outstanding driver's cars.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The net horsepower rating was 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight people and towing up to 3,500 pounds. However, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) model. While the Sienna offered predictable and secure handling, it lacked the driving enjoyment of the CX-90. The CVT's droning sound during hard acceleration detracted from the overall experience. The Sienna's standard suspension provided a smooth and absorbent ride, but the handling felt squishy in curves and corners. Overall, the Sienna prioritized practicality and efficiency over performance.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered a range of seating configurations, with lower-level trims seating up to eight passengers and mid-level trims featuring captain's chairs in the second row. The Turbo S models had a two-seat configuration in the third row, with the base trim seating seven and the Premium and Premium Plus models seating six. Cargo space varied depending on the seating configuration, with models featuring a two-seater third row offering 75.2 cubic feet of total cargo space. The CX-90 provided ample storage options, including a large center console, spacious door pockets, and well-placed cupholders. Despite its slightly smaller cargo capacity compared to some competitors, the CX-90 offered a comfortable and well-appointed interior with high-quality materials and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna focused on practicality, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, although the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and second-row seats made loading and unloading easy, even in tight parking spaces. Storage space was generous, with a wide tray under the center console, but finding secure places for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row stowed. However, the maximum cargo capacity of 101 cubic feet was less than its minivan rivals, as the second-row seats could not be removed. The Sienna prioritized practicality and ease of use, catering to families seeking a functional and spacious vehicle.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, which used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen interface. While the intention was to reduce distractions, the system's quirks and idiosyncrasies often led to frustration. However, the CX-90 offered personalization software that used facial recognition to adjust settings to the driver's preferences, enhancing convenience. The CX-90 came standard with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with wireless functionality in higher trims. These systems employed touchscreen controls, providing a familiar and user-friendly experience for most drivers.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) infotainment system in higher-spec models. The system provided access to various connected services plans, with features like a digital assistant that responded to voice commands. The Sienna Platinum featured a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, although the sound quality was muddied by excessive bass. The four-zone climate control system was appreciated by passengers, and the digital rearview camera offered zoom-in/zoom-out capability. The Sienna's infotainment system provided a comprehensive and connected experience, catering to tech-savvy families.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 came equipped with i-Activsense, Mazda's suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as standard. This included features like blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The CX-90's top-spec Turbo S Premium Plus model also featured cruising and traffic support, blending lane-centering with adaptive cruise control for a hands-on driver support system. While the CX-90 had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, it was expected to perform well, given the accolades received by the previous CX-9 model.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, an older technology set compared to TSS 3.0 found in other Toyota models. TSS 2.0 included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. While the Sienna's safety technologies generally worked as intended, the adaptive cruise control required human intervention during sudden traffic braking events. The Sienna added new rear-seat reminder technology for 2025, alerting drivers to movement within the cabin after exiting the vehicle. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it received lower scores in frontal crash tests, highlighting areas for improvement in safety.