2021 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

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 its length, giving it a more extroverted look compared to the 2020 model. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking bumpers and side skirts. Despite these updates, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform, which was also used by other VW models like the Jetta and Golf. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with a standard seven-seat configuration and available second-row captain’s chairs. 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.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, was shorter and closer to the ground than the Toyota RAV4 but shared the same wheelbase. Critics noted that the Venza looked more like a Lexus, especially with its grille and elongated profile. The Venza was available in three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited, and came in seven paint colors. Standard equipment included LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior featured premium appointments, including a leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The Venza Limited trim added a digital rearview mirror, illuminated footwells, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The overall design was elegant and more refined compared to the RAV4.

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 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. However, the driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas had an average towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the VR6 engine and 2,000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy was also unimpressive, with the four-cylinder engine rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and the VR6 engine at 19 mpg combined with FWD.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was not rapid, and the engine noise was noticeable during acceleration. However, the Venza excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. The Venza's handling was confident, and it drove like a typical Toyota, with nothing out of the ordinary.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler with three rows of seats. It offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The Atlas provided more third-row legroom than most competitors but had the worst second-row legroom in its class. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable with thin, flat cushions. The Atlas featured a tall driving position, but forward visibility was less than optimal. It had up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, and higher trim levels offered low-speed automatic braking and active park assist.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, known for its practicality, featured a unique interior design with premium appointments. The center stack had piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls, and the deep center console included resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, and a wireless charging pad. The Venza's seats were comfortable for both front and rear passengers, and the overall passenger volume was nearly the same as the RAV4. The Venza offered 55.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second-row seats folded, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily driving needs. The cargo space was easy to arrange with quick-flip releases on the rear seatbacks.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive the new MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, which included multi-phone pairing capability and improved voice recognition. The base six-speaker audio system was decent, and a 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims. A built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was also new for 2021.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, while the Limited trim had a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune infotainment system was standard, along with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Venza also had a Wi-Fi hotspot with a free trial period. The Limited trim included a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system with a subwoofer and amplifier. Toyota connected services, such as Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, were standard. Dynamic navigation was available on models with the larger infotainment screen.

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 gave the 2020 model a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and traffic-jam assist. Later in the model year, the Atlas was set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist on higher trims.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Additional features included a pre-collision warning system, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on higher trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.