Toyota Sienna Ranked Better For 8-Seater Rather Than Highlander. Better Family Car?

I try to write articles that will help you as a reader make the best decision and stay informed. For me that’s important because I like to see happy owners rather than sad owners or owners who had second thoughts. I know a lot of people who bought a car off gut feeling and are now stuck with a car which they don’t like.

Luckily there are news channels like us and Motor Biscuit who published an article a few days ago on whether or not it is a better option to go with the Sienna or the Highlander. Now before you comment that these are not the same vehicle and I am comparing apples to oranges, remember that they both seat 8, both come in hybrids, and both are around the same MSRP. Granted if you are buying off looks then you would have a different bias, but this is purely for better measure.

According to Motor Biscuit, “When you want to haul stuff, you might be surprised to learn that the Sienna can pack in up to 101 cubic inches of stuff with the seats folded. The Highlander only holds 84.3 cubic feet.” Chances are if you have a family of 5 and you want to go on vacation, you may need to take a few more luggage carriers than needed. For that reason, the Sienna offers way more room in the back than the Highlander.

In my opinion I feel like the Highlander has gotten a little smaller compared to previous generations. They used to be big and beefy with v6 engines. Now everything is a hybrid i4. However, that shouldn’t stop you from looking away from the Sienna.

Motor Biscuit also says, “Both the Sienna and the Highlander earn five stars from the NHTSA. They both also earned Top Safety Pick Plus designations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHAs. The Sienna has 10 airbags ringing the cabin, while the Highlander has eight.” Safety is important for a vehicle with a lot of passengers. Especially most of the time its going to be kids.

While the Highlander is more powerful than the Sienna, I can tell you firsthand that a hybrid minivan does not feel any less powerful. We took it out testing on the highway and with ease it climbed the numbers of acceleration and was pretty speedy.

I think that Motor Biscuits comparison was a great one and I think that if I was to pick between the two having 3 kids, I would probably pick the Sienna for its price, reliability, comfort, specs, and efficiency.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

Harutiun Hareyan is reporting Toyota news at Torque News. His automotive interests and vast experience test-riding new cars give his stories a sense of authenticity and unique insights. Follow Harutiun on Twitter at @HareyanHarutiun and on YouTube at Toyota Time for daily Toyota news.