Comparison of 2024 Toyota Venza and 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Looking for a midsize two-row SUV with a touch of style to complement the everyday practicality you need? The two SUVs we'll be comparing, the 2024 Toyota Venza and the VW Atlas Cross Sport, perfectly suit your driving needs and budget. There may be a match.

The starting price is similar, and the exterior gives it a visual prestige not found in its more conservatively dressed competitors. We like the Venza's sleek, well-shaped design, which gives this hybrid-powered SUV a classy feel.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is based on the standard three-row Atlas, but abandons the third row in favor of a sloping rear roofline. It's more chiseled than the Venza, but no less attractive.

Explore highlights of the Toyota Venza and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport to see what's underneath the sheet metal.

2024 Toyota Venza

Pricing for the 2024 Toyota Venza starts at $36,465, including factory-to-dealer shipping. He comes in four trims: LE, XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited, all equipped with a 219-horsepower gas-electric hybrid four-cylinder and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive is standard. Note that this is the last year of the Venza before it is replaced by a new model.

As a mainstream SUV, the Toyota Venza has many of the convenience items that people love in new cars. This includes an easy-to-use infotainment screen operated by an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, keyless entry, and wireless device charging.

Toyota Venza Highlights

Best fuel efficiency in its class: Even considering it's a hybrid, the Toyota Venza has impressive mileage. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 40 mpg city and 37 mpg highway, for a combined average of 39 mpg, far exceeding the economy of other midsize five-passenger SUVs.

Luxurious cabin: The Venza's interior is easily on par with many cars from Lexus, Toyota's luxury car division. The materials are of high quality and the overall quality suggests this SUV will stand up to many years of use.

Cordless operation: With Toyota Venza, you can enjoy a cordless life. As we noted, the standard price includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless device charging.

Nightshade edition: In keeping with its fashion-forward angle, the Nightshade Edition comes equipped with 19-inch gloss black alloy wheels, a black front grille and side mirrors, and (you guessed it) black roof rails. Stargaze roof is optional. This panoramic roof changes from transparent to opaque at the touch of a button. Yeah, it's really cool.

Check out this week's best buy prices or see Venza models near you.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

For the 2024 model year, the Atlas Cross Sport gets a mid-cycle refresh. The front grille has been updated, the infotainment system has been rebooted and many new standard features have been added.

A 269-horsepower turbo four-cylinder replaces the previous model's base four-cylinder and optional V6. Front-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional. It's not available as a hybrid, so it's less efficient than the Toyota Venza.

Prices start at $38,410, and standard features include a 12-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless smartphone connectivity, Amazon Alexa, wireless device charging, and voice commands.

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport highlights

Turbo 4 cylinder: The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport's 269-horsepower turbo four-cylinder engine is a great alternative to the previous two powertrain choices. It has about the same horsepower as the previous V6, but with significantly better economy.

Added standard features: This mid-cycle update means the entry-level Atlas Cross Sport now includes heated and ventilated front seats, wireless device charging, a digital gauge cluster, and three-zone climate control.

Cargo space: You might think the Atlas Cross Sport's tapered tail comes at the expense of spacious cargo space. it's not. This VW's rear hatch measures 40.3 cubic feet. That's good for a midsize SUV and better than the Toyota Venza, which has a smaller cargo area.

Digital gauge cluster: Another addition to the 2024 model is a customizable 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster called Digital Cockpit Pro. It was first used in high-end luxury cars. Audi, this sophisticated system is now standard on the Atlas Cross Sport.

Check out this week's best buy prices or see Atlas Cross Sport models near you.

Similarity

The Toyota Venza and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport blur the line between mainstream and luxury SUVs. It has the design and interior quality befitting a luxury brand SUV. And they each have an ace. The Venza boasts excellent fuel economy, while the Atlas Cross Sport boasts a cavernous cargo area.

conclusion

On paper (or screen) and behind the wheel, the Toyota Venza and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are extremely evenly matched. Even the base trim level is comfortable and well equipped. The Venza is the economy king here, and we appreciate its Lexus-lite interior.

To its credit, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has improved cargo-carrying capacity, and the new turbo four-cylinder is powerful and efficient. For us, what ultimately worked in Venza's favor was Toyota's stronger reliability.