Compare the2022 Toyota SiennaVS 2022 GMC Acadia

The Sienna has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Acadia doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sienna XLE/XSE/Woodland/Limited/Platinum has a standard Parking Support Brake that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sienna’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sienna and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sienna its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 68 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Sienna’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sienna for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Acadia.

The battery on the Sienna is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Sienna’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Acadia’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sienna third among minivans in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Acadia isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 17th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 45 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. GMC is ranked 16th.

The Sienna’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 17 more horsepower (245 vs. 228) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Sienna gets better mileage than the Acadia:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Sienna uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Acadia with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sienna higher (7 out of 10) than the GMC Acadia (5 to 6). This means the Sienna produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Acadia every 15,000 miles.

The Sienna has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Acadia doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Sienna’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

The Sienna stops shorter than the Acadia:

The Sienna FWD XSE/FWD Platinum’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sienna’s wheelbase is 8 inches longer than on the Acadia (120.5 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sienna is 3.2 inches wider in the front and 4 inches wider in the rear than on the Acadia.

The Sienna’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the Sienna more stable handling and braking.

The Sienna has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Acadia can only carry up to 7.

The Sienna has 18.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Acadia (162.5 vs. 143.8).

The Sienna has .1 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 12.9 inches more rear hip room, 4 inches more rear shoulder room, .2 inches more third row headroom, 9 inches more third row legroom, 5.9 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sienna’s middle and third row seats recline. The Acadia’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Sienna’s cargo area provides more volume than the Acadia.

The Sienna has a standard Split & Stow third row seat, which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Acadia doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Sienna. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Sienna’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Sienna uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Sienna’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Sienna the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Acadia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Sienna has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Acadia doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Sienna Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sienna’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Sienna and the GMC Acadia, based on reliability, safety and performance.