Compare the2026 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2026 Toyota Sienna

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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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:

	Atlas	Sienna
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	61%
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	132 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	323/323 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	39%	48%
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	200 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	448/220 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Atlas is much safer than the Sienna:

	Atlas	Sienna
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	292/247 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	292/247 pounds
Leg Forces L/R	270/382 pounds	427/584 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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:

	Atlas	Sienna
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	123 lbs.
Hip Force	345 lbs.	348 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	527 lbs.	542 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	371

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

The Volkswagen Atlas has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Sienna is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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).

Reliability

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.

Engine

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:

	Atlas	Sienna
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.3 MPH	72.7 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Atlas	Sienna
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.9 inches

The Atlas stops much shorter than the Sienna:

	Atlas	Sienna
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	155 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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’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.

Suspension and Handling

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.

Chassis

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 300 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.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more third row headroom than the Sienna.

Cargo Capacity

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.

Towing

The Atlas’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sienna’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

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.

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 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 has standard 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.

The Atlas SEL Premium R Line has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in 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.

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