2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

In terms of design, the 2023 Toyota Sienna was not the typical minivan most remember. Toyota invested significant effort to make the Sienna appear more dynamic and stylish, clearly attempting to shed its minivan image. The front-end resembled a Japanese bullet train, with significant touches like 18-inch wheels on most trims and 20-inch wheels on the front-wheel-drive (FWD) versions of the XSE and Platinum trims. A variety of trim levels was available, from the base LE to the top-tier Platinum, including a 25th Anniversary Special Edition, which introduced more streamlined and luxurious options.

On the inside, the Sienna exuded a sense of quality. The Platinum trim showcased high-quality brown leather upholstery and wood-grain accents that added a touch of sophistication. The Sienna offered seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on whether consumers chose captain's chairs or a middle bench seat. Practical features like power-sliding doors and a power liftgate in the XLE trim made family logistics easier, particularly for those with multiple children.

By contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas presented a bolder and more Americanized exterior. VW introduced new lighting elements, such as light-up VW logos and a front light bar connecting to new LED headlights, giving the Atlas a unique "face" that downplayed its European heritage. The revamped rear features a full-width light bar housing the illuminated badge, adding a distinct look. Importantly, every trim got new wheel designs, from 18-inch alloys on the base model to 21-inch wheels on the SEL Premium R-Line. The new Atlas Peak Edition added an adventurous slant, featuring black 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, silver body cladding, and exclusive colors like Avocado Green and Pure Gray.

Inside, the Atlas benefited from a revised look concentrated around the center console. A new, free-standing infotainment touchscreen and smaller toggle shifter opened up more storage space, making the interior both functional and stylistic. Despite a mix of upscale touches like faux wood grain and options for genuine leather upholstery with contrast stitching, there were some discrepancies in material quality, particularly on the center console.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna came equipped solely with a hybrid powertrain. This consisted of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine coupled with electric motors, delivering a combined 245 horsepower. Though this setup aimed for fuel efficiency, it lacked the punch found in some competitors. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) was functional but tended to be noisy under heavy acceleration. While it lacked strong acceleration and a smooth powerband, the Sienna impressed with its nimble chassis and light steering, especially beneficial for urban driving.

In 2024, the Volkswagen Atlas saw a reduction in powertrain options, moving exclusively to a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This change improved performance slightly, providing quicker acceleration compared to the outgoing VR6. VW claimed that front-wheel-drive models could achieve 0 to 60 mph in eight seconds, slightly slower than the 8.3 seconds for all-wheel-drive variants. Despite the performance boost, the ride quality remained similar to previous versions—adequate but not exceptional.

Both the Sienna and Atlas offered drive modes to tailor the driving experience, though neither excelled in delivering a thrilling ride. The Sienna featured modes like EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport, but EV mode was hard to engage, and Sport mode didn't significantly enhance the driving experience. The Atlas also focused on comfort, with an emphasis on highway and light off-road capability in Peak Edition trims.

In terms of interior space and storage solutions, the 2023 Toyota Sienna showcased many clever storage solutions. There were cubbies, nooks, and bins galore—a long shelf spanning the dashboard, a large bin in the center console, and sufficient cupholders for a full carload of passengers. The Sienna’s generous cargo space benefited from a deep floor, offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row and expanding to 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded. Maximum cargo space reached 101 cubic feet, though it fell short of some competitors due to non-removable second-row seats.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas featured standard seven-seat capacity with a bench second row that could split-fold, recline, and slide fore and aft. Even with all seats in place, the Atlas offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet (third row folded) and a maximum of 96.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. Although it fell slightly short in total cargo space compared to the Sienna, the Atlas excelled in providing competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows.

Toyota’s 2023 Sienna came equipped with older infotainment technology that, while functional, felt outdated. It included standard features like SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and seven USB ports along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though these required a wired connection. The 9-inch touchscreen was adequate, though the interface posed some operational quirks, like navigating through menus to access features like Android Auto.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas upped its technological game, making a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster standard. It also added wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. With up to eight USB-C ports available, including a dash cam port on higher trims, the Atlas clearly catered to tech-savvy families. The 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system offered premium sound for higher trims, and the intuitive infotainment system included user-friendly maps and graphics.

The 2023 Toyota Sienna excelled in safety, offering an impressive suite of standard driver assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. This robust package helped the Sienna secure a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the 2022 model.

Similarly, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas also ranked highly in safety, earning a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and mostly positive scores from the IIHS for the 2023 model. The Atlas came standard with VW’s IQ.Drive package, which included essential features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added park assist and a surround-view camera system, further enhancing its safety credentials.