2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Buick Envista

The 2024 Buick Envista, while sharing its platform with the Chevy Trax, took a distinct styling path. Its sloping roofline gave it a "crossover coupe" appearance, reminiscent of more upscale models like the BMW X2, X4, and X6. Although a more traditional roofline might have improved rear visibility, the design was deemed acceptable. The Envista's front-end styling, inspired by the Buick Wildcat EV concept, featured a split lighting design with thin daytime running lights above and real headlights in vertical elements flanking the grille. This sleek design was a first for Buick, setting the Envista apart from models like the Envision and Encore GX, which received similar styling as part of mid-cycle refreshes. The ST grade was marked by black exterior trim and 18-inch wheels, while the top Avenir trim boasted bright exterior trim and standard 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Envista's cabin, though similar to the Trax, offered a smoother, more streamlined look with softer materials, albeit with a somewhat artificial feel. Despite its entry-level status, the Envista's interior was a step up from the Trax, featuring a flat-bottom steering wheel and an eight-way power driver's seat standard across all trims in Canada.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in four trims in Canada, offered a blend of rugged and sporty aesthetics. The Atlas Peak Edition appeared ready for off-roading, while the Execline trim, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, exuded a sporty vibe with polished aluminum detailing, front and rear light bars, and 21-inch wheels. The Atlas's design was muscular and upscale, with Mountain Lake Blue effectively concealing dirt. Inside, the Atlas continued its premium feel with diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm environment. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, though the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying to use, especially in colder conditions. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Atlas's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2024 Buick Envista featured a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. This powertrain, shared with the Trax, offered a refined driving experience, delivering power smoothly. Unlike its predecessor, the Buick Encore, the Envista did not offer an all-wheel-drive option, distinguishing it from the Encore GX. The Envista's suspension setup included a torsion-beam rear suspension for base models and a Buick-exclusive Watts Link rear suspension for models with 19-inch wheels, enhancing ride quality. The front suspension was a MacPherson strut setup with Buick-specific bushings and damper tuning, ensuring a quiet ride. During testing on weathered Michigan roads, the Envista's Watts Link-equipped ST model handled bumps well but felt unsettled on less-than-perfect straightaways. Despite this, the Envista accelerated with urgency and offered a quieter, more comfortable ride than the Trax, aligning with Buick's brand image.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, previously offering a choice between a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.6-litre V6, now featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion AWD system, promised better fuel economy than the retired V6. Despite initial skepticism about the engine's capability in the large SUV, it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving tasks. The Atlas's engine offered a generous torque curve between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm, with Sport mode enhancing the driving experience. However, the Atlas's ride quality was less impressive, with the suspension feeling brittle over smaller road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Despite these issues, the Atlas's handling was predictable, with the brakes resisting rumble and fade under duress, making it a reliable choice for mountain roads.

The 2024 Buick Envista, 36 centimetres longer than the outgoing Buick Encore, offered improved interior space thanks to a 14.5-centimetre wheelbase stretch. Rear-seat legroom increased by 7.6 cm, and shoulder room grew by about 5 cm in both rows, creating a more spacious feel. However, the coupe-like design resulted in slightly reduced headroom, particularly for second-row passengers. The seats were comfortable, and features like a power moonroof and power liftgate were available on higher trims. Despite its car-like design, the Envista offered good outward visibility and maneuverability. Cargo space was limited, with 586 litres available with the rear seats in place and 1,189 litres with the seats folded, less than the old Encore and the Chevy Trax.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a comfortable third-row seat and a cavernous cargo area. The Execline model's front seats were heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing comfort and support. Outward visibility was excellent, aided by large side mirrors and a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample leg-, foot-, and headroom. Access to the third-row seat was outstanding, with generous clearance and adequate leg support. Storage space was commendable across all rows, with practical compartments and cupholders. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,571 litres with the third row folded and 2,735 litres with the second row down, slightly less than some competitors but with more appealing third-row seating.

The 2024 Buick Envista came equipped with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and Wi-Fi connectivity. The user interface was similar to the Trax, with easy-to-use controls and retained buttons and knobs for climate and audio volume. However, the centre stack's tilt towards the driver made controls a bit of a reach for passengers. While the Envista lacked some optional tech features like a head-up display, it offered an impressive amount of features for its price range.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW Group's third-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) operating system, accessible through a 12-inch touchscreen display. While the Atlas lacked traditional stereo and climate controls, it offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enhancing the user experience. However, the Atlas's native digital voice assistant was unreliable, making the MIB3 system less user-friendly. The Harman Kardon audio system was a highlight, but the MIB3's glitches and lack of intuitive controls detracted from the overall experience. Pairing a smartphone and using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended for a more satisfying experience.

The 2024 Buick Envista's crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were unavailable at the time of publication. Standard driver assist tech included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. In Canada, adaptive cruise control, lane-change alert, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist were also standard, typical for a vehicle in this price range.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured standard driver assistance under the IQ.Drive umbrella, including Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a rear cross-traffic alert system were also standard. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick." The IQ.Drive systems were accurate and trustworthy, with occasional false warnings but no major issues.