2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept of 2013, with new lighting elements. The most striking updates included light-up VW logos, similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover, with the front logo shining white and the rear logo glowing red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, part of the new LED headlights reminiscent of a Ford Expedition, gave the Atlas a new "face" with American swagger. At the rear, the taillights blended into a full-width light bar housing the illuminated logo. All trim levels received new wheel designs, with the SE base model featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims boasted 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering a more rugged look with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique colors like Avocado Green and Pure Gray. Inside, the Atlas featured a revised center cabin with a freestanding infotainment touchscreen and a minimalist shifter, creating more functional space. The interior aimed for an upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and available leather upholstery, though some materials felt more suited to a base model.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while still resembling a minivan, attempted to add style with a trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines. The design included hidden sliding door tracks and swollen rear fenders, creating a family resemblance to the Camry sedan. The Platinum trim level introduced new flower-petal wheel designs. Despite these efforts, the Sienna maintained its minivan identity, prioritizing practicality with seating for up to eight. Our test vehicle, the top-of-the-line Platinum model, featured the new Magnetic Gray paint color and a range of accessories, bringing the MSRP to $58,634. Toyota updated the Sienna's interior for 2025, with the Platinum trim offering a new woodgrain finish. However, a teenage passenger found the material unappealing. Despite this, the interior was considered an improvement over previous models.

For 2024, the Volkswagen Atlas streamlined its powertrain options, eliminating the VR6 engine and leaving only a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, offering more torque than the previous VR6 and turbo-four engines. The engine, part of VW's EA888 family, was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The additional torque made the 2024 Atlas quicker than the 2023 six-cylinder model, with FWD models achieving 0-60 mph in eight seconds and AWD models in 8.3 seconds. Despite these improvements, the Atlas remained a family-oriented vehicle, prioritizing comfort over performance. The ride quality was consistent with previous models, and the Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, though the 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for pavement. The Atlas maintained a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated for 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The standard front-wheel drive (FWD) could be upgraded to all-wheel drive (AWD) with an additional rear-mounted electric motor. The hybrid system delivered a net horsepower of 245, which was modest for a vehicle seating up to eight and towing up to 3,500 pounds. However, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 36 mpg in combined driving for the FWD model. During testing, the Sienna averaged 26.3 mpg. The driving experience was predictable and secure, though not particularly engaging. The Sienna offered a smooth, absorbent ride with excellent impact isolation, akin to a marshmallow on wheels. The XSE trim provided a sportier look and suspension, but expectations for driving enjoyment should be tempered.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats on the base SE trim. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while leather upholstery and heated second-row seats became standard on the SEL trim. The Atlas accommodated seven passengers with a three-seat second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The Atlas provided competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows, with third-row legroom being the best in its class. Cargo space varied from 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place to 96.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, offering more cargo space than most rivals.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna focused on form and function, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats wrapped in perforated leather. However, the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The Platinum trim's second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with teenagers, and the refrigerated compartment on the back of the center console was a hit. The third-row seat accommodated adults, and the sliding side doors facilitated easy loading and unloading. The Sienna offered generous storage space, though finding secure spots for large water bottles was challenging. Cargo capacity measured 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Maximum cargo capacity was 101 cubic feet, less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas came with more standard tech features, including a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with six USB-C ports, expandable to eight. A head-up display was standard on SEL and higher trims, and the premium audio system upgraded to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon setup. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with sharp graphics and a map view in the digital instrument cluster. However, haptic touchpads for controls like audio volume and headlights were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna's higher-spec models featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Platinum trim included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered five connected services plans, with varying complimentary subscription periods. The digital assistant in the Drive Connect plan responded accurately to commands, though some features required active subscriptions. The Sienna Platinum paired the infotainment system with a 12-speaker JBL premium audio system, which produced excessive bass in default settings. The four-zone climate control system and digital rearview camera were appreciated, though the HUD could benefit from blind-spot warnings.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received high scores except for a "Marginal" rating in the updated moderate overlap front test. The Atlas included more standard driver-assist features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The SEL Premium R-Line added park assist and a surround-view camera system. Emergency features included automatic post-collision braking and a crash response system.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.0, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also had automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The TSS 2.0 system was preferred over the newer TSS 3.0 for its less intrusive technology. The Sienna added a rear-seat reminder system for 2025, alerting drivers to movement within the cabin. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it scored four stars in frontal crash tests and three stars for driver protection in a frontal impact, the lowest among minivans.