2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Toyota Sequoia

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept from 2013. This update included new lighting elements, most notably the light-up VW logos similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover. The front logo illuminated in white, while the rear logo shone red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, which were part of the new LED headlights reminiscent of those on a Ford Expedition. These subtle changes gave the Atlas a new "face," emphasizing American swagger over European influences. At the rear, the taillights seamlessly blended into a full-width light bar housing the illuminated logo. The 2024 Atlas also introduced new wheel designs across all trim levels, with the base Comfortline model featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, the Highline with 20-inch wheels, and the Execline with 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering a more rugged appearance with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique exterior colours like Avocado Green and Pure Grey. Inside, the Atlas received a revised look, with a freestanding infotainment touchscreen and a smaller shifter, creating more functional interior space. Volkswagen aimed to elevate the interior's upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and new weaved plastic trim options. Leatherette seats were standard, while leather upholstery with contrast stitching was available on higher trims. However, some stitching details and material quality seemed more fitting for a base model than the top-tier Execline.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring design cues like hexagonal grilles, strong fender creases, and a muscular stance. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model showcasing more chrome accents in Celestial Silver, giving it a somewhat dated "cop car" look. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra and other Toyota vehicles, with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout and physical controls for volume and climate. The shifter and steering wheel mirrored those of its truck siblings. The centre console featured a shallow compartment with padded armrests, revealing a spacious cubby beneath. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while SofTex leatherette was standard on the base SR5 TRD Offroad trim, and leather was standard on the Platinum trim. All front seats were at least eight-way power-adjustable, allowing for customizable seating positions across the lineup. Every 2024 Sequoia came with a power-tilt and -slide moonroof or an upgraded panoramic version, standard on Platinum and Capstone trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas saw a reduction in powertrain options, leaving only a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine, an iteration of VW's EA888, produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD) in Canada. The Atlas was quicker than its six-cylinder predecessor, taking approximately 8.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Despite the improved performance, the driving experience remained focused on comfort and frugality, with the engine producing more noise than thrust. The ride quality was consistent with previous models, neither improving nor worsening. The Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, but the 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for pavement, lacking low range and underbody protection. The maximum towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), standard in Canada.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively offered in a hybrid format, featuring Toyota's iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, delivering 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid setup improved fuel economy, rated at 11.7 L/100 km combined with four-wheel drive (4WD). In Canada, the Sequoia came with standard 4WD, featuring a part-time system with 4Hi, 4Lo, and two-wheel drive (2WD) options. The 10-speed automatic transmission operated smoothly, providing adequate on-road handling. 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, including the Tow Technology Package and power-extending trailer tow mirrors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a power liftgate. Seating for seven was standard, with a three-seat second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide. It could accommodate three child seats side by side and tilt and slide forward with the seats in place. Second-row captain's chairs were optional on higher trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The third-row bench was 50/50 split-folding. The Atlas provided competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows, with third-row legroom being the best in its class. Cargo space varied from 2,735 litres with the second and third rows folded to 583 litres with all seats in place. The Atlas offered more cargo space than most rivals, except the Chevy Traverse.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone featured automatic power-deploying running boards, making it easier for shorter individuals to enter. 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, and behind the third row, it ranged from 325 to 631 litres, depending on the third-row seat position. The second-row seats did not slide fore and aft but were easy to move for third-row access. The third-row bench seats could be folded at the push of a button, but they did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid powertrain's battery pack. This affected headroom and legroom, with third-row legroom ranging from 713 to 855 mm. Second-row captain's chairs were available on higher trims, offering wide but flat seating with minimal bolstering.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas came with more standard tech features, including a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six USB-C ports were standard, with up to eight available. A head-up display was standard on the Execline trim. The Atlas switched to a Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system on higher trims. The upgraded infotainment system was user-friendly, with a map view in the digital instrument cluster. However, haptic touchpads for functions like audio volume and headlights were less intuitive than traditional buttons.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia Capstone was equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, standard across all trims. The SR5 trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, while other trims had 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 maneuvering. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on the Capstone trim. The 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on the Limited trim and standard on higher trims.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side 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, but the 2023 model received high scores in most crash tests. Standard driver assistance features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system. The Atlas also featured automatic post-collision braking and an emergency assist feature.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite of safety and driver-assistance features as standard. 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, but the similar 2024 Toyota Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS.