There are lots of vehicles that are great for transporting a family these days. Many people opt for SUVs, which are really popular. There are still minivan options as well though. Toyota offers two vehicles that have a lot of similarities, and you can’t go wrong with either the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid or the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid.

Similarities of the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Toyota Sienna Hybrid

According to Torque News, both the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Toyota Sienna Hybrid are green options. They can also both seat eight passengers, which is less common than the seven-passenger option in many other minivans and crossover SUVs.

Both come with all-wheel drive. Their powertrains are a 2.5-liter inline-four hybrid with two electric motors, and they’re paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. Other companies don’t have vehicles that provide room for eight passengers that are also green and have all-wheel drive. Toyota has two such options.

Unusually for vehicles of their size plus ones that have all-wheel drive, both the Highlander Hybrid and Sienna Hybrid have great fuel efficiency. The EPA rates the Highlander Hybrid AWD at 35 MPG combined. The Sienna Hybrid AWD gets 36 MPG combined. TorqueNews tested out the Sienna Hybrid AWD and found it got 38 MPG in its highway and suburban driving tests.

Both are also powerful vehicles. The Highlander Hybrid AWD produces 243 hp, while the Sienna Hybrid AWD generates 245 hp. Their electric motors are able to provide torque without delays caused by geared transmissions shifting or turbo lag.

Since they’re both Toyota vehicles, they also have the same warranties. They have a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranty.

Differences of the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and Toyota Sienna Hybrid

There are, of course, some differences between the Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The Highlander Hybrid is a crossover SUV, while the Sienna Hybrid is a minivan.

The Sienna is a slightly bigger vehicle, at 203.5 inches. The Highlander Hybrid is 194.9 inches long. Their heights are similar at 68.5 inches for the Sienna and 68.1 inches for the Highlander Hybrid. The Sienna is a bit wider. Its max width is 78.5 inches, and the max width for the Highlander Hybrid is 76 inches. The Highlander Hybrid has an inch or two more of legroom in the first- and second-row seats, but the Sienna has 11 extra inches of legroom in the third row. The Sienna also provides considerably more cargo room.

There are a few technical and design differences too. The Highlander Hybrid has a standard power liftgate, which isn’t available on the Sienna. The Highlander Hybrid also comes standard with a power driver seat, keyless start, and remote engine start, all of which aren’t available on the Sienna. The Highlander is available with a gas engine. It offers a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Sienna does have an optional universal garage door opener, which isn’t available on the Highlander Hybrid. And the Sienna has the sliding side doors common on minivans, while the Highlander Hybrid has four regular doors.

The 2021 Sienna minivan has a lower starting price than the 2021 Highlander Hybrid. The Sienna AWD starts at $34,460, while the Highlander Hybrid AWD starts at $40,010, according to CarBuzz.

You can’t go wrong with either option

Both the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid are great options for large families, and there isn’t a wrong pick between the two. They both provide space for eight passengers, all-wheel drive, and great fuel efficiency. Picking between the two is just a matter of personal preference.