Compare the2023 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2022 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Atlas has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Atlas and the Highlander 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems 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 Highlander:

	Atlas	Highlander
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	38.2%
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	328
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	179 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

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 Highlander:

	Atlas	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	79 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	279	366

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Atlas is 1.3% to 3.3% less likely to roll over than the Highlander.

Warranty

The Atlas comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Highlander’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 Highlander’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

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

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas V6 is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Atlas	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.8 MPH	90.7 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas stops shorter than the Highlander:

	Atlas	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas has larger standard tires than the Highlander (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (265/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Atlas’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander L/LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The Highlander’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the Highlander (117.3 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Highlander Platinum AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 12.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (153.7 vs. 141.3).

The Atlas has .1 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear hip room, 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.2 inches more third row headroom and 6 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander.

The front step up height for the Atlas is 1 inches lower than the Highlander (18” vs. 19”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the Highlander’s (18” vs. 19.2”).

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the Highlander.

	Atlas	Highlander
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.8 cubic feet	84.3 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Atlas easier. The Atlas’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the Highlander’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the Highlander’s in almost every dimension:

	Atlas	Highlander
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	17.8”/48”/80.7”
Max Width	61.6”	50”
Min Width	45”	45.8”
Height	37.5”	31”

Servicing Ease

The Atlas uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander 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.

Ergonomics

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 Highlander’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 Highlander doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Atlas SEL Premium’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 Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Atlas with a number “5” insurance rate while the Highlander is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because typical repairs cost much less on the Atlas than the Highlander, including $109 less for a fuel pump and $373 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Atlas and the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.