Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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

Safety

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When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas has standard Rear Traffic Alert with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Atlas and the Highlander Hybrid 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 Highlander Hybrid:

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
	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 Hybrid:

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
	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 Hybrid.

Warranty

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

Reliability

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

Engine

The Atlas’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (269 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.3 MPH	85.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Atlas and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Atlas has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Atlas has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (18.6 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas stops shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	123 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

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 Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid (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 Hybrid.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 12.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander Hybrid (154 vs. 141.8).

The Atlas has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.2 inches more third row headroom and 5.7 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander Hybrid.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.6 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 Hybrid’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

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

	Atlas	Highlander Hybrid
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”

The Atlas has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Towing

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

Servicing Ease

The Atlas uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander Hybrid 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’ 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. Smart Key System standard on the Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

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 Highlander Hybrid Limited/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. Only the Highlander Hybrid XLE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

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 Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $675 less than the Highlander Hybrid over a five-year period.