2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first introduced in the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was enhanced with a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, giving it a modern appearance. The rear of the vehicle, with its reshaped taillights blending into a rear light bar, was particularly distinctive. The Cross Sport's lower roofline and shorter length compared to the standard Atlas gave it a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes. New wheel designs were introduced across all trim levels, with options ranging from 18-inch to 21-inch wheels, although the rugged Peak Edition package was not available for the Cross Sport.

Inside, the Cross Sport received the same interior updates as the standard Atlas. The central touchscreen was repositioned to stand upright, and the centre console was raised, creating a small storage nook below. This was made possible by a new electronic shifter. Interior trim options carried over from the three-row Atlas, with standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on the Highline, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the Execline trim. Despite attempts to improve the simulated wood and carbon-fibre-facsimile trim, these elements remained plastic. The highest-level option in the test car featured blue seat inserts, adding a touch of style to the cabin.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and both vehicles exhibited similar design cues, such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The Sequoia's appearance was notably influenced by its exterior colour, with the top-trim Capstone model featuring more chrome brightwork. The Celestial Silver colour option gave it a somewhat dated look, reminiscent of a "cop car." Inside, the Sequoia's resemblance to the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles was evident, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical dials and buttons for volume and climate control. The shifter and steering wheel were also similar to those in Toyota's truck lineup. The Capstone trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, while SofTex leatherette seating surfaces were standard on the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim. Leather was standard on the Platinum trim. The Sequoia offered power-adjustable front seats across the lineup, enhancing seating customization. Every 2024 Sequoia came with a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, with an upgraded panoramic version available on higher trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive in Canada. This marked the end of the era for VW's 3.6-litre VR6 engine, as the new turbo-four offered improved performance. It delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, with peak torque arriving at 1,550 rpm. While the new engine provided more torque than the VR6, it had slightly less horsepower. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), which was standard for a midsize crossover. However, the driving experience was less engaging, with the engine's noise-to-power ratio being a concern. The ride quality was also not particularly impressive, possibly due to the test car's 21-inch wheels.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered in a hybrid format, featuring Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This system combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, resulting in a power output of 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This represented a significant increase over the previous V8-powered version. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with four-wheel drive. In Canada, the Sequoia came with standard 4WD, featuring a part-time system with a selector for 4Hi, 4Lo, and 2WD. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, and the on-road handling was adequate for its class. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model offered adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control and hill-descent control. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms (9,121 pounds), with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a tow hitch, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were ventilated and heated as standard, while heated second-row seats and leather upholstery were standard on the Highline trim. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, making it feel more cramped compared to other vehicles of its size. However, legroom was competitive, and the Cross Sport offered decent first-row legroom. Cargo space was not significantly impacted by the styling, with 1,141 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 2,197 litres with the rear seats folded. The cabin was functional, with ample storage space in the centre console and door pockets.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim featured automatic power-deploying running boards, making it easier for shorter individuals to enter the vehicle. Inside, the Sequoia offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. Behind the second row, there were 1,387 litres of cargo space, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres, depending on the position of the third-row seats. The second-row seats did not slide fore and aft but were easy to move for access to the back row. Folding the third-row seats did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. Headroom was reduced by approximately 7.5 centimetres, affecting rear-seat comfort. Legroom varied across rows, with the Sequoia offering competitive front-row legroom but falling behind rivals like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, providing wide but flat seating.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging as standard. The infotainment setup was user-friendly, with intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics. However, the haptic touchpads used in place of conventional buttons posed challenges, as they lacked physical feedback. Six USB-C ports were standard, and the Execline trim featured a head-up display and a premium Harman Kardon audio system with 12 speakers.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone trim was equipped with a range of tech features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sequoia SR5 had an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured a 14-inch centre touchscreen. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashy design. The driver information display was a full-colour 12.3-inch unit with clear graphics. The Panoramic View monitor was standard on higher trims, aiding in parking and maneuvering. The Capstone trim also included a 10-inch colour head-up display and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released ratings for the 2024 model at the time of publication. Standard driver assistance features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard across all trims. This included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist, available on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, but the mechanically similar Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.