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Are you looking for a family-friendly Toyota vehicle? You can go the SUV route and get the Highlander — or go the minivan way — and get the Sienna. Find out the differences between the two models in this 2023 Toyota Highlander vs. 2023 Toyota Sienna comparison.

2023 Toyota Highlander vs. 2023 Toyota Sienna: What are the differences?

Front angle view of Wind Chill Pearl 2023 Toyota Highlander SUV
Wind Chill Pearl 2023 Toyota Highlander | Toyota

In this 2023 Toyota Highlander vs. 2023 Toyota Sienna SUV-minivan comparison, we evaluated several areas. This includes performance, gas mileage, towing, safety, passenger and cargo space, warranty coverage, reliability, and price.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Performance and gas mileage

Front angle view of Celestial Silver 2023 Toyota Sienna minivan
Celestial Silver 2023 Toyota Sienna | Toyota

On the performance front, the 2023 Toyota Highlander offers two engine options: a turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four engine (265 horsepower) and a hybrid (243 horsepower). In comparison, all 2023 Toyota Sienna models come equipped with a hybrid powertrain, which generates 245 horsepower.

Also, for the drive system, both the Highlander and Sienna offer a choice of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. 

For efficiency, the fully gas-powered Highlander has a gas mileage of up to 25 combined mpg, while the Highlander Hybrid has a fuel economy of up to 36 combined mpg. In comparison, the Sienna has an estimated gas mileage of up to 36 combined mpg.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Towing

Which Toyota vehicle can tow more? The 2023 Highlander has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, compared to 3,500 pounds for the 2023 Sienna.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Safety

The Highlander SUV and Sienna minivan are very safe vehicles and offer a solid roster of safety and driving assistance features. Also, for the previous model year, both Toyota models earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, which is the highest possible IIHS rating.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Passenger and cargo space

Which Toyota vehicle is bigger: the Highlander or the Sienna? Both models can seat up to eight people, but the Sienna provides more passenger space. It has a total passenger volume of 162.5 cu-ft, compared to 141.3 cu-ft for the Highlander. Also, the Sienna offers more storage space, with a maximum cargo capacity of 101.0 cu-ft, compared to 84.3 cu-ft for the Highlander.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Warranty coverage and reliability

For warranty coverage, both the Highlander and Sienna have a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Both models also have a free maintenance plan, with two years or 25,000 miles of coverage.

However, the Highlander is more reliable than the Sienna. For the previous model year, it earned a J.D. Power reliability rating of 82/100, compared to 74/100 for the Sienna.

Highlander vs. Sienna: Price

Which Toyota vehicle costs more: the 2023 Highlander SUV or the 2023 Sienna minivan? The starting price of the 2023 Sienna ranges from $36,385 MSRP for the LE trim up to $50,845 MSRP for the Platinum trim. 

The official price information is not yet available for the 2023 Highlander. However, it will likely cost slightly more than the 2022 Highlander. The starting price of the 2022 Highlander ranges from $35,855 MSRP for the L trim up to $49,510 MSRP for the Platinum Hybrid trim.

2023 Toyota Highlander vs. 2023 Toyota Sienna: Which is better?

In this 2023 Toyota Highlander vs. 2023 Toyota Sienna comparison, each Toyota vehicle has various advantages. For the 2023 Highlander SUV, advantages include gas engine horsepower output, towing, and reliability. Conversely, advantages for the Sienna minivan include hybrid horsepower output, higher gas mileage compared to the gas-powered Highlander, and passenger and cargo space. 

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2023 Toyota Highlander: Features, Price, Specs, & Overview