2019 Volkswagen Atlas Vs. 2019 Toyota Highlander

Silver 2019 Volkswagen Atlas hauls a camper, while a white 2019 Toyota Highlander lazily drives on its own. Both vehicles are separated by a diagonal line and a "VS" logo.

If the earth is beginning to quake under your feet, that may be a sign that you’re being approached by a full-size SUV. These lumbering behemoths reign as the current kings of the family transporter world, taking families, friends, sports teams, gear, tents, supplies and more where they’ve never gone before.

The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas is a recent creation, having been developed by VW for the 2018 model year, but it’s already asserted a place for itself amongst the heads of the pack. The Toyota Highlander has been around for significantly longer; does it still have what it takes to stay relevant, or is it doomed to perish under the heel of the almighty Atlas? Let’s look at what its 2019 model brings to the table and find out.

View Our New Volkswagen Atlas Inventory

2019 Volkswagen Atlas

Vs.

2019 Toyota Highlander
$30,895 Starting MSRP $31,680
Up to 22 city / 26 highway Fuel Economy Up to 21 city / 27 highway
5,000 pounds Max Towing Capacity 5,000 pounds
20.6 cubic feet Cargo Volume (with seats in place) 13.6 to 13.8 cubic feet
96.8 cubic feet Cargo Volume (with seat area) 83.7 cubic feet
Available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto? Not Available

New SUV near Milwaukee, WI

Though the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas takes an initial lead with a lower starting MSRP, things stay pretty neck-and-neck for the next stretch as both vehicles have nearly identical fuel economies, with the 2019 Atlas getting one extra mile-per-gallon in the city and the 2019 Highlander getting one more on the highway. They also have the same maximum tow capacity.

The area where the 2019 VW Atlas really comes out ahead is in terms of cargo volume. The beast gets about one-third more space than the 2019 Toyota Highlander with the seats raised, and nearly a full thirteen cubic feet more with the seats lowered. This amount of space makes a big difference in hauling capability; Volkswagen really went all-the-way in regard to size with the 2019 Atlas, the results of which are seen in its incredible cargo capacity.