Mazda CX-90 vs Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 was designed to break new ground for Mazda, inching itself closer to the premium luxury segment that has been traditionally dominated by European manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The exterior demonstrated this ambition with a sleek and imposing design that stretched over 200 inches, featuring a large grille, wide-set front end, and wheels ranging from 19 to 21 inches. Tasteful chrome accents added an element of elegance to its considerable mass, making it an SUV that demanded attention.

Inside, Mazda tailored the CX-90's interior with varying degrees of luxury depending on the trim level. The high-end models showcased brown suede upholstery, wood inlays, and matte black plastics, exuding a high-end feel that could rival flagship models from even higher-end brands like BMW’s X5. Despite the luxury aesthetics, lower trims did not quite match this level of opulence, though they still benefitted from Mazda's signature stylish design and comfortable layout.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was available in six distinctive trim levels: LE, XLE, XSE, Woodland Edition, Limited, and Platinum. The Sienna's styling had character, with standout front and rear fascias, and came in unique colors such as deep blue, red, or green. Upper trims like the XSE accentuated its sportiness with a black metallic mesh front grille, black heated side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels, embodying the "swagger wagon" spirit that Toyota had advertised in previous marketing campaigns.

Inside, the Sienna's focus was on functionality and comfort for families. The XSE trim, for instance, featured heated leather-trimmed front seats and optional second-row captain’s chairs that added a sense of luxury. However, the minivan's interiors were more about practical comfort than luxurious finishes, and features like built-in vacuum cleaners in upper trims highlighted its family-friendly design.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 introduced two new powertrains. It was Mazda’s first SUV to offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant, aiming for superior fuel economy and a plug-in hybrid system combined with a 2.5-liter engine to produce 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, there were two variations of an all-new turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. In its base configuration, the turbo I6 delivered 280 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier models, designated “Turbo S,” boasted 340 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel.

Driving the Turbo S, and even its less powerful variants, was an exhilarating experience due to Mazda's efforts to provide an enjoyable driving dynamics similar to what one would expect from a much smaller vehicle. The all-wheel drive (AWD) system came standard across all trims, complemented by an eight-speed automatic transmission, although the transmission’s behavior was inconsistent at times, especially in Sport mode.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna exclusively featured a hybrid powertrain across all trims. Combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, it produced a total of 245 horsepower. AWD models added an additional electric motor for the rear wheels. Performance-wise, the Sienna was not designed to impress speed enthusiasts. Its continuously variable transmission (CVT) contributed to a smooth but somewhat sluggish acceleration, a noticeable detractor compared to non-hybrid competitors.

Driving the Sienna was meant to be practical rather than thrilling. The various driving modes, including Normal, Eco, and a limited EV mode, all excelled in efficiency but lacked in dynamic performance. The ride around town was comfortable and straightforward, ideal for daily errands, although merging on highways felt somewhat underwhelming due to the powertrain's slower response.

The 2024 Mazda CX-90 offered multiple seating configurations depending on the trim level. Lower trims could accommodate up to eight passengers with three-row seating, whereas middle trims replaced the second-row bench with captain’s chairs for a seven-seat configuration. The Turbo S configurations varied between seven-seaters and a six-seater variant for higher trims, which had two seats in the third row.

Cargo space was slightly increased from its predecessor, the CX-9. In models with a two-seat third row, the cargo space measured 75.2 cubic feet with all seats folded, 40.1 cubic feet behind the second row, and 15.9 cubic feet behind the third row. With the three-across seating in the third row, this reduced to 74.2, 40.0, and 14.9 cubic feet respectively. While an improvement over the CX-9, it didn’t compare favorably to competitors like the Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Highlander.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in practical interior space, designed predominantly with family usability in mind. It featured a unique slide function for the second-row captain’s chairs, providing up to 40 inches of legroom, which was equivalent to the front passengers' space. However, the inability to remove the second-row seats limited the maximum cargo capacity compared to other minivans.

The rear of the Sienna saw up to 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and expanding to 101 cubic feet when the second row was also folded. These figures positioned it well within the minivan segment, though the fixed second-row seats meant it fell short in absolute cargo space compared to the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey.

Mazda's approach to technology in the 2024 CX-90 emphasized reducing distractions to maximize safety. It used a rotary control knob and hard buttons instead of a touchscreen for its infotainment system. Although this method aimed to enable safer interaction while driving, the learning curve made it somewhat frustrating as simple tasks required multiple steps. Despite this, features like the personalization software adjusted seats, mirrors, and other settings through facial recognition, offering a tech-forward convenience.

Standard across all CX-90 trims were Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless for higher trims. Thankfully, these projection systems did incorporate touchscreen controls, simplifying user interaction with familiar smartphone interfaces.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna retained an older infotainment system, featuring a nine-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons for commonly used functions, such as audio, navigation, and phone, simplifying user interactions. However, the backup camera resolution was poor, reflecting outdated technology.

Still, the Sienna offered additional tech benefits like a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo. Higher trims even had rear-seat entertainment options and a rear-camera mirror to enhance convenience. Numerous USB ports, a 1500-watt inverter, and a 120-volt outlet positioned it as a tech-savvy minivan despite some dated elements.

Mazda’s 2024 CX-90 boasted an impressive suite of standard safety features with its i-Activsense package. This included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Premium Plus model further added cruising and traffic support technology, which smoothly blended lane-centering with adaptive cruise control.

Though not crash-tested at the time, Mazda’s track record with the CX-9 suggested high safety ratings were likely for the CX-90. The previous model received top marks from both the IIHS and NHTSA, so expectations were similarly high for this new iteration.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna came equipped with the comprehensive Toyota Safety Sense suite, including features like lane departure alert, pedestrian-detecting automatic emergency braking, road sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert rounded out the standard safety set.

Performance of these systems was generally satisfactory, though lane-keeping assist showed some inconsistency. NHTSA awarded the Sienna a mix of four and five-star ratings, while the IIHS rated it “Good” in most categories but “Average” in front crash prevention.