“Seats seven,” the TV ad says. You look at your partner and ask if they mean the seven dwarves from Snow White or if they’ve got the crazy contraption from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids on board cause it sure doesn’t look like that SUV you just saw on your screen could hold seven adults. But that was before the words “grand” was added to the SUV’s name, leading me to believe it would be both bigger and better.
So, can an extra-long mid-size SUV really compete with a minivan? I had the opportunity to compare the Toyota Grand Highlander to the Toyota Sienna and see for myself which of these 7-passenger Toyotas won the prize.
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Toyota Grand Highlander Vs Toyota Sienna: Where is the Tipping Point?
Both the Toyota Grand Highlander and Toyota Sienna we test drove were hybrids, and both came with AWD but are available as FWD only. Both the Grand Highlander Hybrid, which starts at $45,380, and the Sienna Hybrid, with a starting price of $39,185, had USB ports in every row, hands-free lift gate opening, and all of the Toyota safety features we love.
But what are the major differences between the two? We found out during our week driving them side by side.
Related: No Minivan Shame: 6 Reasons Why Minivans Are the Best Thing Ever
Hybrid Engines and Fuel Economy: Grand Highlander vs. Sienna
The Grand Highlander we drove for this comparison had the 2.5L 4-cylinder hybrid engine, making it both fuel efficient and comparable in power to the Toyota Sienna minivan with the same engine. The Grand highlander is powered by a 4-cylinder hybrid engine that generates about 245 HP and averages about 34 MPG, vs the Sienna, which generates 245 HP and averages about 36 MPG.
The Grand Highlander is also available with a less efficient all-gas 4-cylinder turbo engine that generates 265 HP and averages about 24 MPG, and the Max Hybrid which is a performance hybrid that generates 362 HP and averages about 27 MPG.
The all-gas and hybrid max Grand Highlander models do have a larger towing capacity of about 5,000 lbs. vs 3,500 lbs. for the hybrid, which could make a difference for those wishing to haul a small camper or boat.
Related: Toyota Grand Highlander: Roomy, Luxe, Easy on the Gas
This Hybrid or That: Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Toyota Sienna
Trying both of these vehicles in the same week for a road trip gave us a really good look at how child car seats would fit in each and how teens and adults would fit in the third row. For reference, I have a 16-year-old who is 6’ 2”, and for this trip, he and his 12-year-old brother would need to sit in the third row with their 3-year-old sister, who is in a front-facing booster seat. This would allow for the grandparents to sit in the second row. Whichever vehicle we didn’t choose would be driven by my husband’s brother with his wife and their two kids as passengers.
So, we tried putting all three of our kids across the 3rd row of the Grand Highlander Hybrid and the 3rd row of the Sienna Hybrid. In the Grand Highlander, the boys’ shoulders couldn’t relax, and they had zero spare room. So, while all three kids fit, they weren’t comfortable enough for a long ride. The Sienna’s back seat is obviously wider because the boys had hip and shoulder room, and both of them were able to use their laptops for homework on the trip.
Related: A Mom’s Take on Why the Toyota Sienna is so Popular
Overall, Which Is Better For Child Car Seats?
Either vehicle would be great for multiple child seats and easy to install and access in the second row. But if you need to have child seats in the third row, consider how many you’ll need and if a kid will need to sit between the two seats. In the Grand Highlander, that could be a tight squeeze.
In either model, captains chairs make 3rd row access easier, though so do the slide-and-tilt center row seats that can move to allow access even with a child car seat installed (forward facing or rotating seat, that is). For families that need a center row bench, this is how you’ll access the 3rd row.
For rear-facing seats, I would prefer the Sienna because the sliding doors mean easy access for everyone. And, you can kick under the door to open it hands-free when your arms are full of baby, seat, diaper bag. You know the drill.
More Significant Differences Between the Two
Our second test was getting the grandparents in and out of the vehicles. We found ease of entry into the Sienna Hybrid won, hands down, thanks to the low ground clearance and the sliding doors. It’s just harder to get mobility-challenged people into an SUV with swinging doors.
The final test was luggage space. While the Grand Highlander’s luggage space is larger than the original Highlander, it still does not compare to the Sienna, thanks to the minivan’s deep cargo well behind the 3rd row vs. the Grand Highlander’s flat cargo space.
Seating and Cargo Space: Which is Better?
The 3rd row seats in the Grand Highlander Hybrid fold completely flat for a nice big cargo space, and the second row also folds, but you’ll end up with a little void where the space between the captains chairs, though it’ll be flat in center bench-equipped models.
The Sienna’s 3rd row folds down, then flips back into the deep cargo well, creating a nice flat loading area for cargo, too. Then, depending on whether you have a bench or bucket seats, you may end up with a void when the 2nd-row seats are folded.
Overall, though, the Sienna wins the space race with 193 cubic feet of volume (so, the entire cabin) versus the Grand Highlander, which has about 149 cubic feet of space.
Grand Highlander Hybrid Key Details
Here are the basics about the Toyota Grand Highlander:
- MPG: Up to an EPA-estimated 34 MPG Combined Rating (37 Highway, 34 City)
- Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs.
- Cargo space behind the 3rd row: 20.6 cu. ft.
- Multimedia system: 12.3-in. multimedia touchscreen
- Ground clearance: 8”
- Starting MSRP: $45,380
Toyota Sienna Hybrid Key Details
Here are the important facts about the Toyota Sienna:
- MPG: Up to an EPA-estimated 36 MPG Combined Rating (36 Highway, 36 City)
- Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs.
- Cargo space behind the 3rd row: 33.5 cu. Ft.
- Multimedia system: 9-in. touchscreen; higher trims feature a 12.3″ dispslay
- Ground Clearance: 6.37”
- Starting MSRP: $39,185
Toyota Sienna or Grand Highlander – Which Hybrid Wins at Home?
There is a difference between road-tripping and daily life, and when I’m thinking about something to buy, I want something that serves me daily, something I enjoy driving, and something I feel safe in.
For daily use, I think we could live with the Grand Highlander Hybrid. It wouldn’t be often that the grandparents would be with us, and for short drives to town and back, the boys could handle being a little close. Plus, we wouldn’t need luggage space for seven around town. The Grand Highlander won me over with its handling, updated multimedia system, and bolder exterior design. I felt like I could get everyone where they needed to go without settling for the family van, and I really liked the way it looked.
Which is Better for the Long Haul?
But if travel were something we did often or if I had babies in rear-facing seats, we’d have to choose the Sienna Hybrid for its ease of loading, added cargo space behind the 3rd row, and comfort for the 3rd-row passengers.
And when it comes to minivans, the Sienna really does have some advantages in the option of all wheel drive and standard hybrid fuel economy, which is significantly improved over the all-gas model. And for 2025 Toyota added new features including a cool box an d vacuum to the Sienna, giving it even more lure for families. And, it has good pep on the road. This is one I never mind driving because there is nothing sluggish about it!
