2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Toyota Sienna

The 2020 Toyota Sienna, in its third generation, had been around since 2011 and received a refresh in 2018. Despite these updates, the 2020 model still felt somewhat dated, with occasional upscale touches. The hollow "thud" of the front doors was a minor detail that highlighted its age, as did the instrument panel, which seemed to be from Toyota's 2010 parts bin. However, this simplicity made the controls user-friendly. The Sienna offered various trims, including CE, LE, SE, and XLE, each with distinct features. The base CE was well-equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay. The LE trim added family-friendly features like sliding dual power side doors and heated front seats. The SE trim stood out with a power liftgate and leather upholstery, while the XLE added luxury touches like a power moonroof and woodgrain accents. The XLE Limited, which we drove, featured premium leather seats, a JBL audio system, and HID headlights. For those wanting a stylish minivan, the Nightshade Edition offered dark accents and 19-inch wheels.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh, featuring new front and rear bumpers, LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes gave the Atlas a more extroverted look compared to the conservative 2020 model. The R-Line trim added sportier bumpers and side skirts. Despite these cosmetic changes, the Atlas retained its MQB platform, shared with other VW models. The Trendline and Comfortline trims had 18-inch wheels, while Highline and Execline models came with 20-inch wheels, with the R-Line package offering 21-inch wheels. The Atlas's interior was minimalist, with logically laid-out controls. It offered a standard seven-seat configuration, with second-row captain’s chairs available on higher trims. While the design was functional, the material quality was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and faux wood and metal trim. The Atlas provided a decent driving experience, but its ride quality was poor, and handling was truck-like, partly due to the 20-inch wheels on our test car.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 296 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a Sport mode for livelier throttle and shift response, and a manual mode for its 1,587-kilogram towing capacity. The Sienna's powertrain was front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trims except the base CE. AWD versions were limited to a 7-passenger configuration, a trade-off many buyers accepted for the added traction. The Sienna's fuel efficiency was best with front-wheel drive, achieving 12.6 L/100 km in the city, 9.1 on the highway, and 11.0 combined. AWD models returned 13.4 L/100 km city, 9.6 highway, and 11.7 combined. The Sienna handled surprisingly well for a minivan, with a low centre of gravity and broad base, though its steering was twitchy at higher speeds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre VR6 with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion AWD. The 4Motion system defaulted to front-wheel drive under low load to save fuel. The base 2.0-litre engine provided adequate acceleration, but the driving experience was underwhelming, with rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas's handling was truck-like, and its suspension tuning missed the mark. AWD included an Active Control feature with different drive modes, but these didn't improve on-road handling. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 2,267 kilograms, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 900 kilograms. Fuel efficiency for the four-cylinder was 10.9 L/100 km combined, while VR6 models returned 12.9 L/100 km combined.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna excelled in cargo space, offering 4,247 litres, surpassing competitors like the Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey. However, accessing this space required removing the second-row seats, which was easier with captain’s chairs than a bench. The third-row seats folded seamlessly into the floor, but getting into the backseat was challenging due to the awkward folding of the second-row seat cushion. Toyota offered mobility access features, such as the Auto Access Seat, making it easier for those needing mobility conversions.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas provided 2,741 litres of cargo space behind the front seats and 583 litres with all seats up, about average for its segment. It offered more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst among its peers. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin cushions. Folding and raising the seats was straightforward, and third-row access was easy thanks to a sliding second-row bench. The Atlas's controls were logically laid out, with up to five USB ports and a wireless charging pad. It offered 17 cupholders, though forward visibility was less than optimal.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna's base CE trim featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, a long-awaited addition. It also included Bluetooth connectivity and five USB ports. Higher trims offered an 8-inch screen, navigation, and a JBL 10-speaker audio system. The Limited trim had Driver Easy Speak, an intercom system that broadcasted the driver's voice to the rear speakers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured an 8-inch screen with satellite radio. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit was available on higher trims, replacing analog gauges with a 10.3-inch digital display. The Atlas was set to receive the MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, offering multi-phone pairing and improved voice recognition. The base audio system was decent, with a 12-speaker Fender system available on the Execline trim.

The 2020 Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) suite, including lane-departure alert, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, and dynamic cruise control. It earned five stars in NHTSA crash tests and a top rating of Good in many IIHS tests. Its driver-assistance features received a Superior rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in IIHS crash tests, with a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The 2020 model received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. All Atlas trims had standard 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.