2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat nondescript from the side, with a few updates from the previous model year, such as a more slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, the rear bumper, the headlights, and the grille. Higher trims like the Limited and Platinum featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, as well as new 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim boasted a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes added 2.4 inches to the vehicle's length. The Atlas had a more extroverted look compared to its conservative predecessor, although the fake chrome exhaust tips were a bit cheesy. The R-Line trim package added sportier bumpers and side skirts. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with a logical layout of controls and a standard seven-seat configuration. However, the material quality in the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim that were unconvincing.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration and a smooth, quiet ride. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, although it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a floaty ride. However, this made for a comfortable and isolating driving experience, especially on long road trips. The AWD models on the Limited and Platinum trims featured torque vectoring and selectable driving modes, including off-road settings. Fuel economy was impressive for a large vehicle, with the FWD model rated at 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine rated at 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional 4Motion AWD. The 4Motion system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas had an Active Control feature with different drive modes, but these did not improve on-road handling. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg combined with AWD, while the VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight passengers, or seven with the second-row captain's chairs available on the Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander featured three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet for the rear, and a large panoramic moonroof on the Platinum trim. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Highlander also had eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard seven-seat configuration with a three-seat 60/40 split-folding second-row bench and a two-seat 50/50 split-folding third-row bench. The Atlas had 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. While the third-row legroom was better than most competitors, the second-row legroom was the worst in its class. The second-row bench seat was also uncomfortable, with thin, flat cushions. The Atlas had up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders. The controls were logically laid out and within easy reach of the driver, but forward visibility was less than optimal.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured an infotainment system that felt outdated, with low-resolution maps and screens, and a convoluted process for using onboard apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Platinum trims could not fully display maps or vehicle options, making it no more useful than the standard 8-inch screen. However, the Highlander came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. It also had a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and the optional JBL audio system was decent. The Highlander also offered SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels featured Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit, a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW's new MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, which would add multi-phone pairing, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system was decent, with an option to center the sound in a specific row. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims. The Atlas also had a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot that could support up to four devices.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander also had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Highlander a 2020 Top Safety Pick, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet rated it.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top ratings in all IIHS crash tests, except for a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 model, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. The Atlas came standard with automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more advanced driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.