KBB Compares Atlas to Toyota Highlander

November 20th, 2024 by

The Marvelous 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, SUV of The Year

At the beginning of its comparison of the Atlas and Highlander, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) makes a point that Bud Brown Volkswagen believes bears repeating. They point out that lifestyle changes often drive purchasing a new vehicle. This is most evident in the purchase of a 3-row SUV. As they state: “If you need more space, an SUV will often do the job. It doesn’t need to climb the side of a mountain or ford a river that’s three feet deep.”  In developing the Atlas, Volkswagen looked closely at the needs of the American family and designed it accordingly.  

The Handsome 2025 Toyota Highlander Turbo Driving In A Friendly Neighborhood

They found that American families needed space, so they made a vehicle with plenty of it and gave it a name that clarified their intention. Having a vehicle that seats seven doesn’t mean it is for a family with four or five kids. While it will accommodate that, it also works great for a family with two kids who like to bring their friends along or can take everyone when the grandparents or aunt and uncle visit. The Atlas accommodates all this with style and grace.

The Average Front Interior Of The 2025 Toyota Highlander Turbo

However, it is not the only 3-row SUV that does this, and KBB sought to compare the Atlas with one of the best-selling 3-row SUVs on the market, the Toyota Highlander. KBB begins by praising the Atlas’ 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine, pointing out that it is much more powerful than the model’s previous 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder engines. Indeed, the engine produces 269 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. By comparison, the Highlander’s 2.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 trails slightly in horsepower (265) but has more torque (310). Still, KBB found the Atlas engine moved the big Atlas around just fine. Both models have an 8-speed automatic and standard front-wheel drive with available AWD. The Highlander’s smaller size does give it an average of two more mpg.

The Side Profile Of A Bright Red, Huge 2024 Atlas Driving On A Road, Near A Sparse Forest

“Size” is a key word because if you purchase a 3-row SUV for its passenger and cargo space, the Atlas is the clear winner. While 1st and 2nd-row dimensions trade advantages of an inch or less, the big difference is for the 3rd row, where the Atlas offers almost six more inches of legroom and two more inches of headroom. This can make a big difference if you expect to have anyone but small kids back there. If the trip involves gear, the Atlas is significantly more accommodating there, with space of 20.6 cubic feet behind the 3rd-row seat vs 16.0 for the Highlander. That expands to 56 vs 48 cubic feet behind the 2nd row and 97 vs 84 cubic feet in full cargo mode. At the same time, the five more inches of wheelbase (117.3) contribute to a smoother highway ride.

The Atlas’ starting MSRP of $39,420 also beats the Highlander entry price of $40,665 by a little over $1,000. The Atlas also has a longer basic warranty of 4 years/50,000 miles. Toyota counters with a longer powertrain warranty (5 years/60,000 miles), but that doesn’t matter if you purchase the Atlas from us because of the Bud Brown Advantage Lifetime Limited Warranty. 

The 2024 Atlas' Superior Front Interior

KBB concluded that the winner rests on your priorities. The Highlander boasts efficiency and high resale value, but the Atlas gives you more of what you want in a 3-row SUV. So, if life tells you it is time for a 3-row SUV, you will undoubtedly want to test drive the Volkswagen Atlas, which we invite you to do at Bud Brown Volkswagen.