2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Dodge Durango

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the 2013 Volkswagen CrossBlue concept. New lighting elements, including light-up VW logos similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover, were added. The front logo shone white, while the rear logo glowed red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, part of the new LED headlights, gave the Atlas a fresh "face" with American swagger. At the rear, the taillights blended into a full-width light bar housing the illuminated logo. All trim levels received new wheel designs, with the SEL Premium R-Line featuring 21-inch wheels and sportier styling. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering an outdoorsy flavor with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique colors like Avocado Green and Pure Gray.

Inside, the Atlas received a revised look, focusing on the center of the cabin. The infotainment touchscreen was now freestanding, and the shifter was reduced to a tiny toggle, creating more space. The interior aimed for an upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and new weaved plastic trim simulating carbon fiber. Leatherette seats were standard, with leather upholstery available on SEL models. The SEL Premium R-Line featured diamond stitching, but some materials felt more suited to a base model. Overall, the interior was functional but contrasted with the truck-like exterior.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range of models from the base GT with a V6 engine to the high-performance SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8. The SRT Hellcat Premium with the Silver Bullet special edition package featured upgrades like a satin black hood and dark badges, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued look with dark red premium Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The interior felt solidly constructed, but some plastic surfaces were less impressive for the price.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas streamlined its powertrain options to a single 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, part of VW's EA888 series, was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. The Atlas was quicker than the previous six-cylinder model, with FWD models reaching 60 mph in eight seconds and AWD models in 8.3 seconds. Despite improvements, the Atlas remained a family hauler focused on comfort rather than performance. The Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, but the 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for pavement. The Atlas had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated for 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified lineup with three engine options: a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, and a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat's engine delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and towing up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango SRT Hellcat had poor fuel economy, rated at 12/17/13 mpg. The SUV featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, providing a performance-oriented driving experience. The Durango excelled in handling and braking, feeling track-ready despite its size.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while leather upholstery and heated second-row seats were standard on the SEL. The Atlas accommodated seven passengers with a three-seat second-row bench, which could be replaced by captain's chairs. The interior provided competitive headroom and legroom, with the third row offering the best legroom in its class. Cargo space ranged from 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place to 96.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a roomy and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat Premium featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs provided good leg support, and the third row offered ample space for adults. The Durango had 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions added convenience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas included more standard tech features, such as a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless phone charging, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six USB-C ports were standard, with up to eight available. A head-up display was standard on SEL and higher trims, and the premium audio system was upgraded to a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though haptic touchpads for controls were less intuitive.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. The system included SiriusXM 360L, Dodge Connect, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Hellcat came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect system was easy to use, though voice recognition required specificity. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash testing. The IIHS rated the 2023 model "Good" in most tests, except for a "Marginal" rating in the updated moderate overlap front test. The Atlas included standard driver-assist features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included park assist and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Dodge Durango had a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS had concerns about the Durango's small overlap frontal-impact test performance. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring, with upgrades available for adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The safety features worked as expected, though lane-departure warnings were subtle.