Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2024 Toyota Sienna

Both the Atlas and the Sienna have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Atlas comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Sienna’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Sienna’s (7 vs. 5 years).

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Sienna’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Atlas’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 more horsepower (269 vs. 245) than the Sienna’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas is faster than the Toyota Sienna:

For better stopping power the Atlas’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Sienna:

The Atlas stops much shorter than the Sienna:

For better traction, the Atlas has larger standard tires than the Sienna (245/60R18 vs. 235/50R20). The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Sienna (265/45R21 vs. 235/50R20).

The Atlas SE/Peak Edition’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sienna LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Sienna XSE/FWD Platinum’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas SE/Peak Edition has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sienna LE/XLE. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Sienna XSE/FWD Platinum.

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Sienna doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the Toyota Sienna.

The Atlas is 3 inches shorter than the Sienna, making the Atlas easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Atlas is 3.4 inches shorter than the Sienna XSE.

The Atlas has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more third row headroom than the Sienna.

The Sienna’s spare tire is stored in the cargo area, where it diminishes the useable cargo capacity and interferes with loading and unloading. The Atlas’ spare is out of the way under the trunk floor.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Sienna is limited to 3500 pounds. The Atlas offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Atlas uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Sienna uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Atlas’ standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Sienna only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the van. Pushbutton Start is not available on the Sienna XLE/XSE/Woodland/Limited/Platinum.

The Atlas’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Sienna’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Sienna doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Sienna doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Atlas has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Sienna Platinum.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Sienna.

The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Sienna doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $990 less than the Sienna over a five-year period.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Toyota Sienna by 44% during 2023.