Does a vehicle really need sliding doors to be a good family-hauler? Renita Van-splains: Yes, yes it does
Comparing third-row legroom and cargo space
Let’s start by acknowledging that Toyota did an amazing job when it came to utilizing that extra space it gained over the non-Grand Highlander. Most three-row SUVs have minimal legroom for third-row passengers, and while many reviewers will say it’ll fit a couple of small children, many (Boomers) also fail to realize just how large modern car seats are, and that little kids don’t have legs long to touch the ground, which therefore dangle forward and outward.
Kids are also in some form of car seat, now, for a lot longer than way back when our parents stuck us in the family-haulers of old. That said, Toyota made sure the Grand Highlander had adequate legroom in the third row for adults, but what makes it even better is that there’s still usable cargo space with the third row’s seats up.
That said, the Sienna also has great legroom in the third row without compromising any cargo space. In fact, it’s got way more space, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to loading the vehicle with stuff — think double-stroller amounts of space. Not to mention, fold those third-row seats down into the trunk and you’ve got loads more volume. In its defence, the Grand Highlander’s third row folds down flat, too, but the Sienna still wins when it comes to cargo space and legroom combined.
Which vehicle is more family-friendly?
Sliding doors — need I say more? How much more family-friendly can a vehicle get? The Toyota Sienna, in my humble opinion, is the far superior car when it comes to being considered “family-friendly.” Sure, the Grand Highlander takes strides in becoming family-friendlier, especially considering it has adequate third-row legroom and cargo space, but the Sienna just does everything a tad better.
The Sienna is lower to the ground, so the kids don’t have to climb in or jump out. I needed to open the heavy doors of the Grand Highlander for my youngest to get in — as well as for the older kids if we’re in a parking lot, because I don’t trust that it won’t swing out and hit the smaller vehicles beside us — and then proceed to lift her in. With a minivan, I can tap the button on the key to slide open the doors and everyone can climb in, without my help, meaning one less thing for me to do. That’s a win.
The Sienna can be equipped with rear-seat entertainment, but I won’t give it any points for that, because I’ve never been a fan of rear-seat entertainment, in any car. If there’s a problem with the tech, it isn’t an easy fix while driving. Aside from that, one screen and three kids is a recipe for a fight, because who gets to choose the movie? Plus, if you do use it, then you won’t be able to see anything out of the rearview mirror. Fortunately, there’s a digital rearview mirror that can be used — so get used to it.
You know what else is kind of family-friendly? The paint colour on the tested Sienna. The Grand Highlander is a kind of boring greyish shade, while the bronze-coloured Sienna thoroughly entertained my kids for a couple days because “it looks like poo,” and if you have young kids, then you know just how much they love to talk about farts and poop.
How much is a big SUV in comparison to a minivan?
But we aren’t talking about used prices, so let’s break down the difference in pricing for a new Toyota Sienna and Grand Highlander.
First, let’s note that the Sienna is only available as a hybrid. The base LE holds eight passengers and starts at $44,950 before delivery and taxes; add $2k for AWD. Most shoppers won’t opt for the base trim, but for a $5k bump up in price, there’s the mid-level XSE trim for seven passengers. If you really want to go all-in, the top LImited trim costs a whopping $63,150.
For over $60k, as much as I love a Sienna, I don’t think it’s worth it. The Sienna hasn’t been updated enough for it to be worth that much money, especially when you consider all the additional features in the Grand Highlander, including a much better back-up camera. But just how many people are actually splurging on the top-of-the-line Sienna? Likely not many.
Which vehicle drives better?
I’ll be honest: as a busy mom of three, the drive isn’t always what’s most important. I understand some people want a vehicle that makes them happy in their own specific way, such as wanting something with good pickup or a smooth drive, or a relatively quiet cabin. I want something that comfortably and safely gets me from point A to point B. On my way to school drop-off, I don’t really care how long it takes the vehicle to get from zero to 100 km/h, and as for cabin noise, it’s easily blocked out by my children arguing, or perhaps the Disney music I’ve put on to stop my children from arguing.
That said, the Grand Highlander is the better drive all-around. It’s smoother, picks up way faster, and is far quieter. And you can still block out the arguing children by blasting some Disney music, or whatever you choose to listen to on the way to the grocery store.
If the drive feel isn’t too important to you, then maybe we need to circle back around to pricing, and the more important question is—
Does a three-row SUV need more gas than a minivan?
In this case, yes. All versions of the Grand Highlander, hybrid or not, will drink more fuel than the Sienna. The non-hybrid Grand Highlander has an average fuel consumption of just over 10 L/100 km, likely a little more if most of your driving is within the city. The Grand Highlander hybrids will be a bit better on the wallet — the lower hybrids should get roughly 7.0 L/100 km, and the Max claims 8.7 L/100 km, but note that we never saw numbers quite that low during our long-term test; it was usually in the higher 9s.
The Toyota Sienna has a rating of 6.7 L/100 km with the AWD variants; again, we usually tracked numbers a bit higher, but this time in the low 7s, so still significantly better than the three-row SUV’s fuel consumption numbers. Once again, the Sienna wins — just saying.
Should you buy a Toyota Grand Highlander or Sienna?
We all knew I was going into this comparison with a heavy bias towards the Toyota Sienna — I love a minivan. But it didn’t occur to me just how much of a bias I had until I got into the Sienna and realized just how much better the Grand Highlander proved to be, and how I still found myself picking the Sienna. The Sienna drives heavier, sounds louder, and feels larger overall, but damn, those sliding doors really are life-changing.
Look at it this way: whether you drive a minivan or big SUV, you’re still a soccer mom (well, at least I am) so why not have the practicality to get you through the day? However, if modern technology is something you can’t live without, and if you’re on the SUV bandwagon (and refuse to get off) then the hybrid Grand Highlander would be one of the best options sans sliding doors.
For me, personally, the Sienna is the clear winner, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. If it were up to me, I’d tell everyone to buy a minivan, despite the Grand Highlander seeming better on paper. The Sienna just does its job — the specific job of family-hauling — better, and makes my life easier. Plus, I can’t say it enough: SLIDING DOORS!
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