Toyota Highlander vs Volkswagen Atlas

If you have a family and need a spacious, three-row vehicle to haul around the kids and all their gear, the choices can seem overwhelming. This includes SUVs and minivans. There are also a lot of gimmicks, like built-in vacuums and intercom systems—as if yelling back to the third row isn’t the least bit satisfying. The 2022 Toyota Highlander might be guilty of offering some of these gimmicks, but where it really shines is by covering the basics. This three-row midsize SUV offers tons of versatility, a stout V6 engine, and it comes standard with safety features buyers are looking for.

There is a wide range of trims, features, and prices that make up the Highlander lineup. Depending on your needs and budget, there might be an ideal setup for your family. Read on to learn more about the Highlander and where it stacks up in an all-important family-hauling vehicle segment.

Launched for the 2018 model year, the Volkswagen Atlas is engineered specifically for the United States market. It's a three-row midsize crossover SUV, big for a VW, but targeting a popular market segment that already includes the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Highlander. To keep up in such a competitive segment, the Atlas gets a major refresh for the 2024 model year.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is essentially the same vehicle as before, but it gets key updates like different styling and more standard features. It also loses its six-cylinder engine option, but the remaining turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets more horsepower and torque.

The 2024 Atlas lineup includes SE, SE with Technology, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line trim levels, plus a new-for-2024 Peak Edition treatment available on the SE with Technology and SEL trim levels. For this review, we tested an Atlas SEL Premium R-Line, representing the top of the range.