Packed with space and sturdiness, the Volkswagen Atlas is as good an SUV can be. It happens to be one of the largest medium-sized crossovers with three rows of capacious seats. Its interiors aren’t the most stylish but it makes up for its vanilla design with a host of attractive features.
It sports two powerful engines and is available in either front-wheel or all-wheel driving system. The latest model of the Atlas also has a pretty advanced driving assistance feature which makes way for seamless handling.
Although the Volkswagen Atlas is a very popular choice for an SUV, the market for such vehicles is less than monopolistic.
There are several companies that manufacture SUVs that are as desirable and powerful as the Atlas. Read on to learn about some of the cars that are similar to the Volkswagen Atlas and offer stiff competition to it.
Cars Similar to Volkswagen Atlas
1. Honda Pilot
Honda Pilot happens to be a vehicle that lies more towards the premium end of the spectrum of SUVs. It is a supremely powerful car with a robust V6 engine, an all-wheel driving system, and a towing capacity of up to 2,268kg. Its cabin is very roomy and it comes loaded with multiple advanced features. The Pilot also offers a prompt driving assistance feature.
In its latest 2022-update, the Honda Pilot has included quite a few new features like an 8” touchscreen infotainment system compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a set of full LED lights.
The Pilot Special Edition model offers the best value for money as it brings most of the top-notch features along with it at a price that isn’t exceptionally exorbitant.
It has a hands-free power tailgate, a set of 20” wheels, rails on its roof, a sunroof, seats with leather finish, a second-row sunshade, and wireless charging. By paying $2000 more, one can opt for the all-wheel driving system, and one should do so as it increases the towing capacity of the car to 2,268kg from 1,361kg.
2. Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade offers its buyers a premium experience. The interiors of its higher-end models have a clear similarity with the Genesis cars thereby, giving them a luxury feel. It comes with a smooth 3.8-litre V6 engine with an automatic eight-speed transmission and both front and all-wheel drive are available.
The Palisade is also packed with a series of advanced infotainment features and a state-of-the-art driving assistance system. It follows the regular three-row seating arrangement of an SUV and can accommodate 8 adults with ease.
Its spacious interiors are a great addition in the name of practicality. All in all, the Hyundai Palisade is a solid SUV with a well-rounded set of features and performs very smoothly.
The Hyundai Palisade comes equipped with a progressive set of safety features that include a blind-spot collision avoidance system as well as a cross-traffic collision avoidance system. Both these features help the driver side-step both major and minor accidents that might be caused due to lack of focus.
The side mirrors of all the vehicles of the Palisade series come with an automatic turn signal feature. The Hyundai Palisade SEL model, which is a mid-range model of the series, offers a Premium package. The availability of this package in the said model makes it the most economically viable vehicle of the series for someone who is looking for maximum features while making the most value for their money.
Opting for the all-wheel-drive in this model would cost a buyer $1700 extra, but this can be easily avoided by someone who is a resident of a relatively warm location. The Palisade SEL and the Premium package cost around $43,000 and offer the best of the features that an SUV can.
These include a pre-installed navigation system on its dashboard, a large 10.3″ touchscreen infotainment system, semi-autonomous driving mode, Nappa leather seats, and seat heating for the first and second rows of seats, and a Kardon/Harmon audio system with 12 speakers. This model can also tow up to 2268kgs of weight.
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3. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Among the many SUVs Jeep manufactures, the Grand Cherokee is one the best. The best part about this series of SUVs is that its models are affordable for a large group of individuals. From the budget-friendly Laredo to the luxurious Summit, there is a model available for everyone.
The smooth V6 engine is available in all the models and there is an option to avail of the more powerful 360-hp V8 engine as well. The thrill-seekers must go for the Trailhawk model which comes equipped with a two-speed transfer case, a hill-descent control feature, an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, an air suspension system that provides extra ground clearance and a set of Kevlar tires.
The interiors of the Grand Cherokee are designed with two rows of seats that can easily accommodate 4 adults and the dashboard has a modern touchscreen infotainment system with a host of connectivity features. If someone is looking for a more spacious three-row seating arrangement, they must go for the Grand Cherokee L.
The latest update of the series has introduced a new Laredo X model that comes with an 8.4″ infotainment system, in-dash navigation, remote start, a liftgate that is power operated, a heated steering wheel, and front-seat heating.
The Grand Cherokee Limited, a mid-range model of the series, can now be customized with a Sun and Sound package with a nine-speaker stereo system and a wide sunroof. The Limited X model also has a glossy black exterior theme that gives it a supremely stylish look.
4. Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride stands out from the three-row crossover SUV crowd by offering a unique blend of luxury, spaciousness, and value for money. It has a very attractive exterior and very sophisticatedly styled interiors that are bound to give more expensive luxury SUVs a run for their money.
All of the models from this series come with an elaborate safety system, a top-notch infotainment system, and an array of luxurious features like rear-seat ventilation and more. Although this vehicle falls a bit short on the fuel-efficiency front with a 291-hp V6 engine, it offers a pretty smooth drive, and its all-wheel driving system makes it a high-performer on rugged and difficult roads. Its hauling capacity is around 2268kg.
In its latest 2022-update, Kia has introduced, for the first time, its new logo on the restyled front grille, the steering wheel, and the rear liftgate. The infotainment system of the new vehicle has also seen changes as it now comes in a larger dimension of 10.3”.
5. Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent comes with an all-wheel-drive and a spacious three-row seating arrangement that can readily accommodate 8 adults. This makes this series of vehicles perfect for customers with big families.
All the Subaru Ascent models come equipped with various driving assistance features such as automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
Although, its four-cylinder engine with gearless transmission makes the vehicle noisy and a bit slow at highway speeds. Nonetheless, the Subaru Ascent offers a comfortable driving experience and its second row of seats are very configurable.
In its latest 2022-update, the Ascent has seen a new introduction to its series in the form of the Subaru Ascent Onyx. This vehicle includes a striking all-black exterior and 20″ wheels.
It is also equipped with a rear automated emergency braking system, push start facility, passive entry, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free power liftgate. The other notable features of the Onyx edition happen to be a wide sunroof, retractable cargo cover, and onboard navigation.
6. Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Sequoia struggles a bit in the market to maintain its customer base because of some of its outdated features. It owes a lot to its advanced safety features and its capacious third row of seats for maintaining its relevance in the market.The Sequoia has a pretty powerful 381-hp V8 engine and a towing capacity of 3175kg, but not the best fuel efficiency.
The Sequoia series is pretty high priced and its top model is marked at just under $70,000. This often poses a drawback as customers who are willing to pay that much are also more likely to shift to better companies.
In order to make the most value of one’s money, it is advisable that one goes for the base model- Toyota Sequoia SR5. It is equipped with a very advanced driving assistance system, a modern infotainment system, and standard spacious seats in the second and third rows.
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7. Chevrolet Tahoe
As aversatile SUV, the Chevrolet Tahoe has a seating arrangement like that of a minivan’s, but its towing capacity is enormous. It is Chevrolet’s second most spacious three-row SUV and comes with three options for engines- a 355-hp V8, a 420-hp V8, or a six-cylinder diesel with an incredible 460 pound-feet torque.
The various models of the series are tailor-made for different road conditions. The Z71 is ideal for difficult terrains while the High Country is for a more luxurious drive.
The latest 2022-update of the Tahoe has seen quite a few updates. A 6.2-litre 420-hp V8 engine is available in the Z71, RST, and Premier models.
Barring the lowest LS model, all the other models come with a customizable digital gauge with dimensions of 12.3”. The infotainment systems of the models that are above the LT now come installed with Google voice assistant, app store, and maps.
The driving assistance system has also been upgraded and it now comes with features like lane-keeping assistance, automatic high beams, front and rear parking sensors, and much more. One of the most striking new features happens to be the thirteen different camera views that are enabled.
8. Nissan Armada
The Nissan Armada might not be the most famous SUV on the market, but it brings with it some classy luxuriousness. It has an amazing suspension system and provides a supremely seamless driving experience.
Its cabin is both comfortable and roomy and has a very sophisticated feel. The top model of this series, the Armada Platinum, offers the finest interiors among the rest of the vehicles from the series and is easily comparable to that of luxury SUVs.
Each of the models has a top-level infotainment system as well. The Armada sports a supremely robust 400-hp V8 engine with a silky smooth automatic transmission.
Not a lot has been noticed in the name of updates in the latest 2022-version of the Nissan Armada. One of the few notable updates happens to the one-touch power-folding third-row seat, but it is only available in the top model of the series, the Armada Platinum.
The SL model offers the smartest package with a 13-speaker Bose surround sound system, leather seats, a power-controlled liftgate, a wide sunroof, remote start, and 20” wheels.
9. Chevrolet Suburban
The Suburban happens to be Chevrolet’s largest three-row SUV and is well-known for its extremely spacious interiors. It comes with a six-cylinder 420-hp V8 engine which is as robust as engines get and provides very high torque. Even though it has such a beastly powertrain, it is an exceptionally subtle drive.
The top tier models of this series do not provide the best value for money as they do not have a lot of premium and luxury features. The mid-range vehicles of the Suburban series are the smartest buys as they bring the benefits of multiple advanced features at a relatively reasonable rate.
The latest 2022-version of the Chevrolet Suburban has seen some updates. All the vehicles of this series now come with a 12.3” customizable digital gauge and a newly improved infotainment system that is enabled with Google voice assistant, app store, and maps.
The driving assistance features of the new Suburban include lane-keeping assistance, front and back parking sensors, and automatic high beams. The external camera system of the car has seen a significant update as well since it now provides thirteen different camera views.
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Conclusion
SUVs bring together the thrills of high-performance and the practicality of capacity and sturdiness. They are also the ideal rides for large families and are perfect for travel enthusiasts who like to go on long road trips.
The Volkswagen Atlas is one such SUV that has a big name in the market. If you are someone who is willing to buy an SUV, the Atlas might be one of your primary choices.
But conducting thorough research on other such vehicles is always recommended as there are numerous SUVs available that give the Atlas a stiff competition. The details and specs of a few such cars have been mentioned in this article, and it will surely help you widen your range of choices and lead you to make the ideal purchase decision.
