2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path with its sloping roofline, giving it a "crossover coupe" appearance reminiscent of high-end models like the BMW X4 and X6. This design choice, while potentially compromising rear visibility, was deemed acceptable. The Envista featured a new front-end styling inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, with a split lighting design that included thin daytime running lights and vertically positioned headlights. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from models like the Envision and Encore GX. The ST grade boasted black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels, while the top-tier Avenir featured bright trim and standard 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Envista's cabin mirrored the Trax but with smoother lines and softer materials, though some elements felt cheap. Despite this, the interior was a step up from the Trax, offering a flat-bottom steering wheel and power driver's seat options.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas was available in five trim levels, with the Atlas Peak Edition designed for off-roading and the SEL Premium R-Line offering a sporty look with extensive standard equipment. The Atlas Cross Sport variant provided a more rakish design while maintaining similarities with the three-row Atlas. The SEL Premium R-Line, priced at $54,630 with destination charges, featured polished aluminum detailing, front and rear light bars, and 21-inch wheels, giving it a muscular and upscale appearance. Inside, the Atlas offered a premium feel with diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, though the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying to use, especially in colder conditions.

The 2024 Buick Envista was powered by a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This setup, shared with the Trax, delivered a refined performance, offering smooth power delivery akin to a larger engine. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, distinguishing it from the Encore GX. The base models featured a torsion-beam rear suspension, while models with 19-inch wheels had a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension, enhancing ride quality. The Envista's suspension was tuned to minimize road noise, and during testing on Michigan's rough roads, the Watts Link-equipped Envista ST handled bumps well but felt unsettled on imperfect straightaways. Despite this, the Envista provided a more premium feel than the Trax, with quieter acceleration and a comfortable ride.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, following a model refresh, replaced its previous engine options with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was available with front-wheel drive or VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. Despite initial skepticism about the engine's capability in the large Atlas, it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving, especially when utilizing the engine's torque curve and Sport mode. However, fuel economy was a concern, with the Atlas returning 15.5 mpg in urban conditions and 19.2 mpg overall, below its EPA ratings. The ride quality was another drawback, with the suspension feeling brittle over road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Despite these issues, the Atlas handled predictably on mountain roads, with responsive brakes and steering in Sport mode.

The 2024 Buick Envista, measuring 14.2 inches longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, offered increased interior space due to its extended wheelbase. Rear-seat legroom grew by three inches, and shoulder room increased by two inches in both rows, enhancing comfort. However, the coupe-like design resulted in reduced headroom, particularly in the second row. The seats were comfortable for the price point, and the car-like design provided good outward visibility. Cargo space was limited, with 20.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 42 cubic feet with the seats folded, less than the Trax and other entry-level crossovers.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The SEL Premium R-Line model featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, with excellent outward visibility and a surround-view camera system for easy parking. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample legroom and a panoramic sunroof. Access to the third-row seat was outstanding, with sufficient leg support and room for longer trips. Storage space was commendable across all rows, with practical compartments and cupholders. The Atlas provided 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 96.6 cubic feet with the second row down, slightly less than some competitors but with superior third-row seating.

The 2024 Buick Envista came equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface was similar to the Trax, with easy-to-use controls and retained buttons and knobs for climate and audio. However, the center stack's tilt toward the driver made controls less accessible for passengers. Optional tech features were limited, with no head-up display available, but the standard features were impressive for the price range.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas utilized the VW Group's MIB3 operating system on a 12-inch touchscreen display, enhanced by three Car-Net connected service plans. However, the lack of traditional controls and a reliable native digital voice assistant made the system challenging to use. The touch-sensitive controls for temperature and volume were inconvenient, and the voice-recognition system was inconsistent. Despite these issues, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a better user experience, with a conversational digital voice assistant and music streaming. The Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality, but the MIB3 system's glitches and lack of intuitive controls were drawbacks.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard driver-assistance features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist, similar to the Chevy Trax.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured standard driver-assistance features under the IQ.Drive umbrella, including Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick," though updated ratings for 2025 were unavailable. The IQ.Drive systems were accurate and trustworthy, with occasional false warnings but no major issues.