2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, highlighted by leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The interior boasted a massive 14-inch infotainment system and a luxurious cream white-over-black color scheme. However, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. Off-road enthusiasts could opt for the TRD Pro or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received styling updates similar to its three-row sibling, featuring new lighting elements and illuminated VW logos. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed for the U.S. market, offering a more Americanized look. Its rear design, with a lower roofline, resembled "crossover coupes" from German luxury brands. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and sat lower. New wheel designs adorned all trim levels, with options ranging from 18 to 21 inches. The interior revisions included a raised center console and a new electronic shifter, providing additional storage space. The Cross Sport offered standard leatherette upholstery, with higher trims featuring leather and quilted leather options. Despite attempts to improve interior materials, some elements remained plastic.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity rose to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency improved, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg for 4WD and 22 mpg for RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. The adaptive rear air suspension adjusted ride and handling based on the selected mode. However, the Sequoia's steering was slow, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque arriving at 1,550 rpm. This engine replaced the previous 3.6-liter VR6, offering slightly less horsepower but more torque. The Cross Sport's towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE, which was rated at 2,000 pounds. While the new engine provided adequate power, its noise-to-power ratio was concerning. The Cross Sport's ride quality was not particularly impressive, partly due to the test car's 21-inch wheels. Despite its "Sport" name, the Cross Sport was not an engaging vehicle to drive.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone climate control system. The panoramic glass sunroof, available from the Platinum trim, reduced second-row headroom. Second-row captain's chairs provided comfort but lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row space. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was compromised, with only 11.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 22.3 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 49 cubic feet, while folding the second-row seats provided 86.9 cubic feet. The Sequoia's hybrid powertrain impacted overall utility, reducing cargo space compared to its predecessor.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport gained more standard equipment, including heated side mirrors, two-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The SE with Technology trim added a power liftgate and tow hitch, while the SEL featured heated second-row seats and leather upholstery. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, but legroom remained competitive. Cargo space measured 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 77.6 cubic feet with them folded. The cabin offered functional storage solutions, including a new center console with ample space and well-designed door pockets.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with connected services offering user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant. However, the system experienced occasional glitches, such as issues with Bluetooth pairing. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, but it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. A surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror were standard on higher trims. The Sequoia's parking sensors and automatic rear braking system effectively prevented accidents.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system featured intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics but was hindered by haptic touchpads instead of physical buttons. The Cross Sport offered up to six USB-C ports, with a USB-C dash cam port on higher trims. The SEL trim included a head-up display, and the optional premium audio system was upgraded to Harman Kardon.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia included a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features as standard, bundled into Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5). This package offered forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While the Sequoia had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, the Tundra, on which it was based, received high ratings from IIHS.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. IIHS had not released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received "Good" scores in most tests. The Cross Sport featured the IQ.Drive package as standard, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system.