In the market for a new family vehicle and don’t know where to start? The 2020 Transit Connect Passenger Wagon and Toyota Sienna both have enticing features, so which is right for you? We’ve done some of the legwork for you by putting together some information on how these competitors stack up.
Price
The lower price of the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon definitely has an advantage with a starting price of $27,020. The Sienna sits about $4,500 higher, at $31,640.
Space
Both vehicles have the ability to seat up to seven people, making either choice a convenient family vehicle. However, the Transit Connect out-measures the Sienna in terms of interior passenger and cargo room. With 2.7 cubic feet more passenger space than the Sienna, the Transit Connect provides 5’9” more front headroom, 1’8” more front legroom, 6” more rear headroom, and 3’6” more third row headroom than the Sienna.
The limited amount of passenger space in the Sienna allows it to provide 26.8 more cubic feet of total cargo space when utilizing all the passenger seating creating a maximum of 150 cubic feet. On the other hand, if you plan to use most or all the rear passenger seats the majority of the time, the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon smashes the Sienna when it comes to cargo volume behind the rear seat. With 77.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat in the Connect, the Sienna’s 39.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat comes up quite short.
Fuel Efficiency
In terms of fuel efficiency, the Transit Connect is the clear winner. The Sienna gets up to 19 mpg City / 27 mpg Highway, whereas the Transit Connect gets up to 24 mpg City / 29 mpg Highway and comes with Auto Start-Stop Technology. The Transit Connect also comes with an EcoMode which isn’t offered in the Sienna.
Mechanical
While the Transit Connect excels in fuel efficiency, the Sienna takes the lead for power and towing capability. The Transit Connect has a 2.0L engine and is paired with an 8-speed SelectShift® Automatic Transmission. This configuration can produce up to 162 horsepower and 144 lb. ft. torque.
The Sienna is equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine with a Direct Shift 8-speed automatic Transmission. It produces up to 296 horsepower and 263 lb. ft. torque.
The Transit Connect only comes in Front-Wheel Drive compared to the Sienna which offered a Front Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive options. The Transit Connect can only tow up to 2,000 lbs. when properly equipped, whereas the Sienna can tow up to 3,500 lbs.
Safety Technology
The safety features that the Transit Connect provides are very similar to that offered in the Sienna. The biggest difference is found when you compare which features come standard on each and which require an upgraded trim.
Both vehicles come standard with a Rear-View Camera, Hill Start Assist, advanced stabilization technology, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking.
The Sienna also comes standard with a Lane-Keeping System, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Auto High-Beam Headlamps, whereas those are upgrades on the base trim in the Transit Connect.
On the other hand, the Transit Connect comes standard with Rain-Sensing Front Wipers, and a Reverse Sensing System, which are only available for upgrade on the higher trims in the Sienna’s lineup. The Transit Connect also comes standard with Curve Control and Side-Wind Stabilization, neither of which are offered on the Sienna.
The Connect has available BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Trailer Sway Control, Enhanced Active Park Assist, and Forward and Reverse Sensing Systems. The Sienna has available Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, as well as Forward and Reverse Sensing Systems, however they are only available on the uppermost trims.
Another benefit of the Transit Connect is that it comes with a full-sized spare tire, versus the Sienna which comes with your standard short-term use spare.
Comfort / Convenience
These family vehicles come out pretty evenly matched in the comfort and convenience sector. Both the Transit Connect and Sienna come with features such as Remote Keyless-Entry, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, and 3 12-volt power points. They both share the ability to upgrade to a Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel, and Leather-Trimmed Seating. Both vehicles also have Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility.
The Sienna’s strong points include its standard Three-Zone Automatic Climate Control versus the Dual-Zone Front Auto Temperature Control the Transit Connect Comes with. Although the Connect has up to two smart-charging USB ports, the Sienna takes the win with up to an astounding five available USB ports. The Sienna also has an available 7” touchscreen whereas the Connect’s largest available touchscreen display is 6.5”. Both vehicles have available navigation systems and offer moonroof options. The Connect’s available Panoramic Fixed-Glass Vista Roof® is an enjoyable upgrade. However, if you want something a little smaller, the Sienna has both a dual moonroof option as well as it’s normal moonroof option.
Just as the Sienna has its better attributes, so does the Transit Connect. The available QuickClear™ Electric Windshield Defroster with Heated Washer Jets, along with a standard 110V power converter, and available wireless charging capabilities are just a few of the features that aren’t offered in the Sienna. The MyKey® feature which is offered in the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon is another example of a unique feature not offered by the Sienna. With this feature you have the ability to personalize two keys with a number of limitations. Things like limiting top speed, limiting radio volume, and muting the audio system until the safety belt has been connected, will provide better supervision from a distance of new teen drivers.
Conclusion
There is no “winner” in this competition because both vehicles highlight different needs better than the other. It comes down to which features will fit your needs better. The Sienna comes at a higher pricepoint, gets less than ideal fuel efficiency, and requires the use of the passenger area to achieve optimal cargo space. However, it does have a greater power output and towing capacity along with some additional device charging options and a more appealing exterior design. On the other hand, The Transit Connect Passenger Wagon, gets much better gas mileage, provides a more diverse variety of device charging resources, and has an impressive amount of cargo space behind the rear seats, all with a reduced price tag. Both vehicles made Car and Driver’s “Best New Minivans and Vans of 2020” list, however the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon outranked the Sienna by a few slots, with the Sienna ending at the bottom of the list. The choice is yours, however, we think that as soon as you take the Transit Connect Passenger Wagon for a test drive, there will be no going back!