2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from the brand's historically boxy designs, presenting a more refined and modern aesthetic. The front end was solid yet understated, with an assertive grille and the distinctive "Thor’s Hammer" headlights adding a contemporary touch. The XC90's dimensions remained somewhat rectilinear, but it no longer resembled the utilitarian shapes of past Volvos. The Ultimate trim featured 21-inch wheels that added a touch of drama, while the Platinum Grey paint offered a subtle richness. Inside, the XC90 exuded elegance with its two-tone leather steering wheel, metal speaker covers, crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist interior design was complemented by wood deco inlays, creating a serene and sophisticated cabin environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that introduced new lighting elements, including light-up VW logos and a front light bar. These changes gave the Atlas a more Americanized appearance, moving away from its European roots. The Atlas offered new wheel designs across its trim levels, with the Peak Edition adding an outdoorsy flair. Inside, the Atlas featured a revised centre console with a freestanding infotainment touchscreen and a minimalist shifter, creating additional storage space. The interior aimed for an upscale feel with improved trim options and available leather upholstery. However, some materials, particularly in the Execline trim, appeared less premium than expected.

For 2023, the Volvo XC90 introduced the B6 engine, a mild-hybrid powertrain that replaced the older T5 and T6 engines. This new setup delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, slightly less than the previous T6 but with improved fuel efficiency and smoother operation. The mild-hybrid system used a 13-volt starter generator to handle functions like climate control and ignition, enhancing the driving experience with imperceptible auto stop-start technology. The XC90 offered a composed driving experience, with minimal body roll and quick acceleration, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked extensive off-road capabilities, the XC90's simplicity in driving dynamics appealed to those seeking a straightforward SUV experience.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas streamlined its powertrain options, offering only a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, providing a quicker acceleration than the previous VR6 model. The Atlas maintained its focus on comfort and practicality, with the engine delivering smooth performance but generating more noise than expected. The ride quality remained consistent with the pre-refresh model, and the Atlas's 4Motion AWD system prioritized pavement driving. The Atlas offered a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, comparable to most rivals, though it lacked the off-road capabilities of some competitors.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 offered a serene and pleasant front-seat experience, though its Scandinavian minimalism led to limited storage space for smaller items. The lack of a dedicated phone space and a small centre console bin were notable drawbacks. The second row provided reasonable comfort and space, but accessing the third row was challenging, especially with the standard seven-passenger seating configuration. The XC90 offered 356 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 1,183 litres with the third row folded and 1,856 litres with all rear seats down. While the XC90 drove like a smaller vehicle, its cargo capacity fell short compared to some competitors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas introduced more standard features, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power liftgate. The Atlas offered seating for seven with a versatile second-row bench that could accommodate three child seats and slide forward with them in place. Optional captain's chairs reduced seating capacity to six. The Atlas provided competitive headroom and legroom across all rows, with the third row offering the best legroom in its class. Cargo space ranged from 583 litres with all seats in place to 2,735 litres with the second and third rows folded, surpassing most rivals except the Chevy Traverse.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch vertically positioned touchscreen infotainment display running on Google OS, the first of its kind as a standard system. It integrated Google Maps, Spotify, and Google Assistant, offering natural-language recognition for a seamless user experience. However, the reliance on the touchscreen for many functions, including seat adjustments, could be frustrating. Keyless entry was standard, with an optional head-up display.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas boasted a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, along with wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Atlas offered up to eight USB-C ports and a head-up display on the Execline trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with sharp graphics and a map view in the digital cluster. However, the reliance on haptic touchpads for controls like audio volume and headlights made them less intuitive to use.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, earning a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Volvo's Pilot Assist technology provided additional support for maintaining distance and lane position.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with strong side crash test results. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2024 model, but the 2023 version received high scores in most crash tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system.