2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It offered a comfortable and well-built interior, making it an excellent choice for road trips.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in four trim levels in Canada, offered a blend of off-road and sporty aesthetics. The Atlas Peak Edition had an off-roading look, while the Execline trim, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, was the most equipped and sportiest. The Atlas boasted a chiseled, muscular appearance with polished aluminum detailing and sizable 21-inch wheels. Inside, it featured diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm and inviting environment. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, although the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying to use. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Atlas maintained an upscale appearance and offered a comfortable ride.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. At the top of the range, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max powertrain produced 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though it was less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart. The brakes were solid, and the 2.4-litre turbocharged engine provided adequate power. Toyota offered three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous V6. With 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, it offered refined performance, especially when surfing the engine's torque curve between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The Atlas's eight-speed automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD system contributed to its performance. While the engine's modest acceleration and efficiency were noted, the ride quality was a concern, with the suspension feeling brittle over road imperfections. The Atlas's handling was predictable, with Sport mode enhancing the driving experience. However, excessive body motions at highway speeds affected ride comfort. Despite these drawbacks, the Atlas's brakes performed well, and the handling was reliable on mountain roads.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander stood out with its spacious interior, measuring over 5 metres in length and offering a 2,950 mm wheelbase. It provided more cargo capacity than its rivals, with a total of 2,761 litres. Even with all seats in place, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander was comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it suitable for adults in the third row.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a comfortable third-row seat and a cavernous cargo area. The Execline model featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, though the leather felt slightly stiff. Outward visibility was excellent, aided by a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample legroom and headroom. Access to the third-row seat was outstanding, and the bench seat provided adequate leg support. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, with a maximum capacity of 2,735 litres when the second-row was folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant, available via a connected-services subscription, responded to voice commands for tasks like adjusting temperature and changing radio stations. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The 11-speaker JBL stereo, standard on Limited and Platinum trims, provided a balanced audio experience. While Toyota's tech offering had improved, careful consideration of subscription options was recommended.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured VW Group's third-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) operating system, accessible through a 12-inch touchscreen display. While the system offered Car-Net connected service plans, it lacked traditional stereo and climate controls, relying on touch-sensitive buttons. The absence of a reliable native digital voice assistant was a drawback, with the system struggling with certain commands. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a more satisfying experience, offering navigation and music streaming. The Atlas Execline's Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality, compensating for the MIB3's user-experience glitches.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested or rated by safety organizations, but it came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard. This suite included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, and blind-spot monitoring. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured IQ.Drive, a suite of standard driver assistance features, including Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and rear cross-traffic alert were also included. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick." The IQ.Drive systems were accurate and trustworthy, with occasional false warnings but no major issues.