2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2023 Subaru Outback

People love crossover SUVs because they drive like cars but provide the utility of an SUV, and the Subaru Outback was one of the first modern crossovers when it went on sale almost 30 years ago.

Now, the 2023 Subaru Outback gets several updates. The improvements include fresh styling, new infotainment and safety technologies, and the Onyx Edition joins the Canadian line-up, which features blacked-out exterior trim and water-resistant upholstery.

These changes to the 2023 Outback build on the momentum established by the rugged Subaru Outback Wilderness, which debuted last year.

Launched for the 2018 model year, the Volkswagen Atlas is engineered specifically for the North American market. It's a mid-size three-row SUV, big for a VW, but targeting a popular market segment that already includes the Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Honda Pilot, Nissan Pathfinder, Subaru Ascent, and Toyota Highlander. To keep up in such a competitive segment, the Atlas gets a major refresh for the 2024 model year.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is essentially the same vehicle as before, but it gets key updates like different styling and more standard features. It also loses its six-cylinder engine option, but the remaining turbocharged four-cylinder engine gets more horsepower and torque.

In Canada, the 2024 Atlas lineup includes Comfortline, Highline, and Execline, plus a new-for-2024 Peak Edition trim that slots in just above base. For this review, we tested the U.S. equivalent of an Atlas Execline, representing the top of the range.