2025 Porsche Cayenne vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This design choice was inspired by the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was characterized by a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more Americanized appearance. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed specifically for the U.S. market. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and sat slightly lower, enhancing its sporty appeal.

The interior of the Cross Sport received updates similar to the standard Atlas, with a central touchscreen now standing upright and a raised center console providing additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas models, featuring standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on SEL and higher models, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the top SEL Premium R-Line trim. Despite efforts to improve the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim, the materials remained predominantly plastic. The Cross Sport also introduced new wheel designs for 2024, with options ranging from 18-inch alloy wheels on the base SE to 21-inch wheels on the SEL Premium R-Line, which also included sportier styling elements.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a choice between a standard SUV with a squared-off rear end and a sporty Cayenne Coupe. The GTS trim level, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim and bronze exhaust tips, along with a unique front fascia with larger air intakes and tinted headlights. The GTS rode on 21-inch wheels with red brake calipers and, if chosen as a Coupe, included an adaptive rear spoiler. The interior of the Cayenne was highly customizable, with options for color, trim, and even seat belts. While the base model offered standard eight-way power-adjustable seats, additional features like seat cooling and massage functions were available at an extra cost. The GTS trim came with a GT Sport steering wheel and a Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather for the rest of the interior.

The Cayenne's cabin was equipped with numerous screens, including a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running the Porsche Communication Management system. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control, as well as video streaming. The Cayenne's interior was well-organized, with quick response times to touch inputs and voice control options. The vehicle also featured a head-up display, although it appeared dim when viewed through polarized sunglasses. The Cayenne's cargo space was slightly smaller than some competitors, with 27.3 cubic feet behind the second row in the standard model and 20.9 cubic feet in the Coupe version. The Cayenne could tow over 7,700 pounds, comparable to a mid-size pickup truck, and offered a variety of optional features for further customization.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine replaced the previous 3.6-liter VR6 engine, marking the end of an era for VW. The new turbo-four offered slightly less horsepower but more torque than the VR6, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. While VW claimed improved performance with the new engine, specific numbers were not provided. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

Despite its "Sport" moniker, the Cross Sport was not particularly engaging to drive. The ride quality was not impressive, possibly due to the test car's 21-inch wheels. The engine's noise-to-power ratio was also a concern, as it was quite vocal about its efforts. The Cross Sport's performance was adequate for most buyers, but those seeking a more exciting driving experience might look elsewhere.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engine options, starting with a base 3.0-liter V6 producing 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque. For those seeking more power, the Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 horsepower, while the Turbo GT, available only as a coupe, boasted 650 horsepower. Plug-in hybrid options were also available, with up to 729 horsepower. The GTS trim, tested here, delivered 493 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque from a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8. The Cayenne GTS could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 171 mph.

The Cayenne GTS struck a balance between sporty performance and comfort. Its steering was precise, with components borrowed from the Turbo GT, and the vehicle sat 10 millimeters lower than the previous model. The GTS featured Pirelli P Zero tires, stiffer roll bars, and an active suspension system, contributing to its agile handling. The optional carbon ceramic brakes provided ample stopping power, although they required some adjustment. In Sport and Sport Plus modes, the Cayenne GTS delivered an exhilarating driving experience, while Normal mode offered a more relaxed ride for daily commuting.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were now ventilated as well as heated. The SE with Technology trim added a standard power liftgate and tow hitch, while heated second-row seats and leather upholstery became standard on the SEL trim. The Cross Sport's roofline impacted rear-seat headroom, but legroom was competitive with rivals. The vehicle offered 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 77.6 cubic feet when folded.

The Cross Sport's cabin was functional, with a new center console providing ample storage space. The door pockets could hold multiple drink bottles without rattling, and the storage area beneath the console was easily accessible.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a wide range of customization options, but standard features were limited. The base model included eight-way power-adjustable seats, two-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel. As buyers moved up the trim line, they could choose from various interior materials and features, such as Race-Tex or leather upholstery. The Cayenne could accommodate five passengers, with the second row providing ample headroom even in the coupe body style.

The Cayenne's cargo space was smaller than some competitors, with 27.3 cubic feet behind the second row in the standard model and 20.9 cubic feet in the Coupe version. The Cayenne could tow over 7,700 pounds and offered a variety of optional features for further customization.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the haptic touchpads used in place of conventional buttons were less intuitive. The Cross Sport offered up to six USB-C ports, with a USB-C dash cam port available on higher trims. The SEL trim included a head-up display, and the optional premium audio system was now from Harman Kardon.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne featured a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display running the Porsche Communication Management system. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The Cayenne's screens were well-organized and responsive, with voice control options available. The vehicle also featured a head-up display and night-vision assist, although the latter was not expected to be a game-changer.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released ratings for the 2024 model at the time of publication. The Cross Sport came standard with the IQ.Drive package, which included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added features like predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's advanced adaptive cruise control system, InnoDrive, was not tested during the review. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety.