2025 Toyota Sienna vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a modernized aesthetic with its updated lighting elements, mirroring the styling of its three-row counterpart. The front and rear lighting enhancements included illuminated Volkswagen logos, a feature inspired by the all-electric ID.4. The front light bar seamlessly connected the daytime running lights, complementing the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a contemporary appearance. The rear of the Cross Sport, with its reshaped taillights and lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, distinguishing it from other midsize crossovers. Despite being 13 centimetres shorter and sitting lower than the standard Atlas, the Cross Sport maintained a distinctive presence.

Inside, the Cross Sport adopted the same interior revisions as the standard Atlas, featuring a raised centre console and a new electronic shifter. The central touchscreen was repositioned for better accessibility, and the interior trim carried over from the three-row models, offering a range of upholstery options from leatherette to quilted leather. While the simulated wood and carbon-fibre-facsimile trim remained plastic, the overall cabin design aimed to enhance functionality and style. The Cross Sport also introduced new wheel designs across its trim levels, with options ranging from 18-inch to 21-inch wheels, although it did not include the rugged Peak Edition package available for the three-row Atlas.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, while maintaining its minivan roots, attempted to infuse style into its design with features like a trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines. The rear fenders wrapped into a rear end that mirrored the front's cinched-in-the-middle look, and narrow taillights added a touch of sophistication. Despite these efforts, the Sienna retained its minivan identity, prioritizing practicality over aesthetics. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs, adding a subtle flair to the overall look.

Our test vehicle, the top-tier Sienna Limited with the Platinum package, featured the new Magnetic Grey paint colour. The Sienna's interior received updates for 2025, including a new woodgrain finish, although opinions on its appeal varied. While the interior was deemed an improvement, the Sienna's focus remained on functionality, offering seating for up to eight passengers and a range of trims from LE to XSE. The pricing spanned from $51,219 to $73,753, reflecting the various options and features available.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by 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 VR6 engine era for VW, as the new turbo-four delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, offering more torque but slightly less horsepower than the previous VR6. The peak torque arrived earlier, enhancing the vehicle's responsiveness. Although VW anticipated quicker acceleration from zero to 100 km/h compared to the 2023 model, specific figures were not provided. The engine, while powerful, was noted for its less-than-pleasing sound, and the Cross Sport's driving experience was described as unremarkable, with subpar ride quality potentially attributed to the 21-inch wheels. The towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms, aligning with typical midsize crossover capabilities.

In contrast, the 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The standard front-wheel drive could be upgraded to an all-wheel-drive system with an additional rear-mounted electric motor. The hybrid system produced a net horsepower of 245, which, while modest, was complemented by the immediate torque from the electric assist motors. This setup prevented the Sienna from feeling sluggish, especially in city driving. The hybrid powertrain prioritized fuel efficiency, with an official rating of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving for the FWD model. However, during testing, the Sienna averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was predictable but not particularly engaging, and the brakes showed signs of strain during demanding driving conditions. The XSE trim offered a sport-tuned suspension for a slightly more dynamic experience, but overall, the Sienna prioritized comfort and quietness over sporty performance.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered a range of standard features, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, and a heated steering wheel. Ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats were standard on higher trims. While front headroom was competitive, the Cross Sport's roofline compromised rear-seat headroom, though legroom remained adequate. The cargo space was generous, with 1,141 litres available with the rear seats up and 2,197 litres with them folded, providing ample storage for a midsize crossover. The cabin design emphasized functionality, with a well-organized centre console and practical storage solutions.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, offering power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats in the Limited with Platinum package. However, the seat cushions were noted for their firmness during long drives. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular among passengers, and the third-row seat accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna's sliding side doors and hands-free power liftgate facilitated easy access and loading. Storage was abundant, though finding secure spots for large water bottles proved challenging. The Sienna provided 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,129 litres with the third row stowed. The maximum cargo capacity of 2,860 litres was less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats, but Toyota's research suggested most owners rarely removed them.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The user experience was generally positive, though the haptic touchpads for controls were less intuitive than traditional buttons. Six USB-C ports were standard, and the Execline trim featured a head-up display and a Harman Kardon premium audio system, enhancing the overall tech offering.

In the 2025 Toyota Sienna, higher-spec models boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered various connected services, with a digital assistant that responded well to voice commands. The infotainment system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the JBL premium audio system, while powerful, required adjustments for optimal sound quality. The four-zone climate control and digital rearview camera added convenience and functionality to the Sienna's tech suite.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with strong performance in side-impact crash testing. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering a range of advanced driving assistance systems. While not the latest version, TSS 2.0 provided effective safety features, including forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna also introduced a rear-seat reminder system, alerting drivers to potential movement in the cabin. The NHTSA awarded the Sienna a five-star overall rating, though it received lower scores in frontal crash tests, highlighting areas for improvement in safety performance.