2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Toyota Sienna

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas was available in Canada in four trim levels: Comfortline, Peak Edition, Highline, and Execline. The Peak Edition had an off-road-ready appearance, while the Execline was the sportiest with the most standard equipment. A five-passenger version, the Atlas Cross Sport, offered a more rakish design but was otherwise similar to the three-row Atlas. Prices ranged from $50,995 to $60,995, excluding destination charges and fees. The Atlas Execline, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, showcased a polished aluminum detailing, front and rear light bars, and 21-inch wheels, giving it a chiseled, upscale look. Inside, diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood created a warm environment, complemented by digital instrumentation and a large infotainment touchscreen. However, touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying, especially in winter conditions.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, with its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines, maintained a minivan's practicality while attempting a stylish design. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs. Despite its minivan appearance, the Sienna offered seating for up to eight and a practical shape. The top-of-the-line Limited with the Platinum package, in Magnetic Grey, capped a lineup that included LE, XLE, and XSE trims, with prices from $51,219 to $73,753. The interior, updated for 2025, featured a new woodgrain finish, though opinions on its aesthetics varied. The Sienna's interior was considered an improvement, offering practicality and comfort for families.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous engine options. With 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, it offered better fuel economy than the retired V6. The eight-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4Motion AWD system remained standard. Despite initial skepticism, the engine proved refined and satisfying for daily driving, especially in Sport mode. However, the Atlas's ride quality was less impressive, with a brittle suspension over road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Handling was predictable, with the tires being the weakest link, but the brakes performed well under duress.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna came with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a CVT. The FWD was standard, with an AWD option featuring an additional electric motor. The net horsepower was 245, which was modest for an eight-passenger vehicle with a 1,587-kilogram tow rating. However, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing sluggishness. The Sienna excelled in fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 L/100 km combined, though our test showed 8.9 L/100 km. Handling was secure but not engaging, with a smooth ride and excellent impact isolation. The CVT's droning was a downside during hard acceleration.

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 stiff. Visibility was excellent, aided by a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample legroom and a panoramic sunroof. Access to the third-row was outstanding, with generous clearance and adequate leg support. Storage space was commendable, with practical compartments and cupholders. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third-row, expandable to 2,735 litres with the second-row folded.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna prioritized form and function, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. However, the cushions felt hard after extended driving. The Platinum's second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with teenagers. The third-row seat accommodated adults, and loading was easy with sliding side doors. Storage was generous, though finding secure places for large water bottles was challenging. The Sienna offered 949 litres of cargo space behind the third-row, expandable to 2,860 litres with the second-row seats tipped forward. However, it lacked the maximum load space of rivals due to non-removable second-row seats.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW Group’s MIB3 operating system on a 12-inch touchscreen display. While it lacked traditional controls, touch-sensing temperature buttons and a touch-and-slide volume control were available. The system's native digital voice assistant was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preferable for navigation and music streaming. The Harman Kardon audio system was impressive, but the MIB3 system had user-experience glitches, such as incorrect song titles on SiriusXM. The system's predictive nature caused confusion, making smartphone integration a more satisfying option.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the TAM infotainment system. The Limited with Platinum package included a four-zone climate control system, a 10-inch HUD, and a digital rearview mirror. The TAM system offered connected services with varying subscription periods, with the digital assistant proving capable. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available as alternatives. The JBL premium audio system had excessive bass, but the four-zone climate control and digital rearview camera were appreciated. The HUD lacked blind-spot warnings, but the see-through surround-view camera was helpful.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas came with IQ.Drive, featuring 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 standard. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS “Top Safety Pick.” The IQ.Drive systems were accurate and trustworthy, with occasional false warnings but no need to disable features.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna used TSS 2.0, offering forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna added a rear-seat reminder system for 2025. The NHTSA gave the Sienna a five-star overall rating, but it scored lower in frontal crash tests. No minivans earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.