2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs. 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Serving as a good balance between compact and full-size SUVs, the midsize SUV offers a spacious interior for you, your passengers, and your cargo. The Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Grand Highlander dominate the midsize SUV market, providing optimal fuel efficiency, maneuverability, and space. Previous models of the Volkswagen Atlas featured a beautiful panoramic sunroof and a digital cockpit for an ultraconvenient driver setup. The Toyota Highlander had cool features on previous models, such as a rearview camera washer to maintain a clear view.
Brace yourself for a noteworthy rundown of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Grand Highlander’s exciting features. See how these new third-row SUVs measure up to each other to determine which suits your lifestyle and driving needs better. Depending on what you like, either of these vehicles is an attractive option, yet one will come out on top.
Exterior Styling
Regarding exterior styling, do you prefer your SUV to be bold and stand out? Or would you rather it blends into its surroundings? If you love bright colors, you’ll love the available paint options for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas. Choose from striking metallics such as Aurora Red or Silver Mist, depending on the trim level. If you prefer muted tones, you may delight in the Coastal Cream or Storm Cloud colors for the 2024 Toyota Highlander.
Both SUVs feature impressive light-emitting diode headlights and taillights with an available hands-free power rear liftgate for added convenience when loading groceries or camping gear. The rooftop of the Toyota Highlander is smooth but doesn’t offer a solution if you need extra storage. Luckily, the Volkswagen Atlas has two sleek black roof rails that pair well with optional base carrier bars and a cargo box carrier. The Highlander has an aggressive front fascia with a large grille, whereas the Atlas offers softer yet sporty features complimenting its smaller grille.
Interior Specs
The 2024 model years of the Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Highlander present large windows throughout and panoramic sunroofs that let in lots of natural light, making both interiors feel spacious. These vehicles offer third-row seating for a maximum capacity of seven people. Both midsize SUVs provide 41.7 inches of legroom in the front, with legroom in the third row virtually the same at about 33.5 inches. However, the Grand Highlander offers a couple more inches of legroom in the rear than the Atlas.
Still, in terms of comfort, the Volkswagen Atlas interior takes the crown. The second-row seats are adjustable, with slightly more headroom than the Grand Highlander. Average-height passengers will feel cozy in the third row with ample headroom and adjustable legroom if you move the second-row seats forward. Rear ventilation is available in the center console for the Atlas versus the available climate control vents in the headliner of the Grand Highlander.
Technology Features
The technology features of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Grand Highlander will keep you connected with the latest impressive connectivity. You’ll get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto with either SUV as well as available in-car Wi-Fi. If you enjoy manual knobs and dials, stick to the Grand Highlander, which keeps these functions with its infotainment system. But if you’re ready for a fully realized digital system, go for the Atlas’ modern media display and 12-inch touch screen. Nothing beats the new Volkswagen Atlas’ Digital Cockpit Pro, an innovative and intuitive instrument display with state-of-the-art features and available map navigation.
Fuel Economy
If you’re looking to use your SUV as a daily driver, commuting to work or school in and out of the city and highways, you’ll want to ensure it gets good gas mileage. The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander might be the optimal choice because it gets slightly more miles, achieving 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The miles per gallon of the Volkswagen Atlas have room for improvement, with only 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Cargo and Towing Capacity
These midsize SUVs have close similarities and slight differences in cargo and towing capacities. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Grand Highlander have fold-down second- and third-row seats, providing plenty of room. However, the Grand Highlander offers a bit more space, with 97.5 cubic feet compared to the Atlas’ 96.6 cubic feet of cargo volume.
The <a href=”https://www.vwofmarion.com/new-vehicles/atlas/”>new Volkswagen Atlas and Toyota Grand Highlander offer powerful gasoline engines that put out 269 horsepower and 265 horsepower, respectively. Choose either of these SUVs to haul a trailer or a towable RV easily with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, if torque matters to you regarding engine performance, the Grand Highlander delivers 310 lb-ft compared to the Atlas’ 273 lb-ft.
Safety Ratings and Features
Whether you’re driving alone or have your family along for the ride, everyone’s safety inside the vehicle is paramount. Both SUVs offer reliable safety features such as a rearview camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and electronically controlled braking. The 2024 Grand Highlander comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of intuitive driver-assistance, lane-keeping assist, and pre-collision systems. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offers similar protections with the safety-enhancing IQ.Drive driver-assistance technologies.
However, if you want an SUV with an official safety seal of approval, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is the right choice. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the new Volkswagen Atlas a <a href=”https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2024/VOLKSWAGEN/ATLAS/SUV/AWD” target=”_blank”>five-star overall safety rating, ensuring you and your passengers are well protected in a collision. Plus, Volkswagen fits the Atlas with a safety cage that absorbs crash energy and pushes it away from the people inside the vehicle. Unfortunately, no NHTSA safety ratings exist for any Toyota Grand Highlander model year.
Test-Drive the Volkswagen Atlas at Volkswagen of Marion
If you prioritize safety, storage capacity, and bold, sleek interior and exterior styling, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is the perfect midsize SUV for you. Come to Volkswagen of Marion, located at 4403 W. DeYoung St. in Marion, Illinois. Our expert sales team looks forward to meeting you and setting you up with a test drive. Browse our online inventory of new SUVs and wagons for an idea of our stock.
Images via VW.com and Toyota.com