2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 showcased a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its SUV bulk, creating a balance between ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior embraced an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalist design that included a rotary gear selector and infotainment controller. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts in the Sport Prestige trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor updates from the previous year, offering a simplified lineup with more standard features. The Atlas boasted a big and boxy design, with R-Line design elements on the SEL Premium trim, including 21-inch wheels that filled out its exaggerated fenders. While the interior design was simple yet premium, the use of low-cost materials detracted from its overall quality. The Atlas provided a spacious and comfortable cabin, accommodating seven passengers with ease, even in the third row. It featured numerous storage areas, although many were unlined, leading to unwanted noise. Cargo space was exceptional, with up to 96.8 cubic feet available when the second and third rows were folded down.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The GV70 included features like a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. However, while the powertrain could deliver impressive performance, the chassis felt heavy and lacked the sharpness of some competitors. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving, and the ride was firm, even in Comfort mode.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with front-wheel drive (FWD) or 4Motion AWD. The turbo-four's towing capacity was limited to 2,000 pounds, but it offered better fuel economy than the available 3.6-liter V6 engine. The V6, producing 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, was standard on higher trims and optional on others. While the V6 could tow up to 5,000 pounds, its acceleration was leisurely, and the drivetrain lacked refinement. The Atlas featured various driving modes and an Active Control system for AWD models, but its ride quality was busy, and road noise was noticeable. The Atlas excelled in interior space and maneuverability, with advanced parking assist technology.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 provided mid-pack interior space for its segment, offering adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded. The daring interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, it included a covered storage cubby with USB ports and rear-seat climate controls. The front seats in the Sport Prestige trim were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space, comfortably seating seven passengers, even in the third row. The step-in height was low, making entry and exit easy. The Atlas featured numerous storage areas, though many were unlined, leading to noise. Cargo space was exceptional, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. The Atlas offered a range of features, including tri-zone climate control, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof on higher trims.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a comprehensive tech package, including a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The infotainment system featured a tile-based layout and a glass rotary controller with pinch-and-zoom functionality. Higher trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also featured a digital-key system, a fingerprint scanner for starting the car, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation and other features for three years.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas came with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display on lower trims and a 10.25-inch display on higher trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with last-generation infotainment, while higher trims featured the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The Atlas offered various subscription plans for additional features, but the user experience was hindered by slow loading times and a cumbersome interface. The navigation system was hit-and-miss, and voice recognition required a subscription for natural language processing.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came standard with a range of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist with automated lane centering and adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. However, crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered an impressive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist with forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and the full collection of IQ Drive safety features, including Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Atlas also featured brighter LED headlights and an adaptive front lighting system. However, the Lane Assist technology had issues with old construction markings, and crash-test ratings were decent but not class-leading.