2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a modernized aesthetic with updated lighting elements, mirroring the styling of its three-row counterpart. The vehicle featured illuminated Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate, a design choice inspired by the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front end boasted a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, complemented by new standard LED headlights, enhancing its contemporary appeal. The rear design, characterized by reshaped taillights blending into a rear light bar, contributed to a distinctive silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes. Despite being 13 centimetres shorter and sitting lower than the standard Atlas, the Cross Sport maintained a unique presence.

Inside, the Cross Sport adopted the same interior revisions as the standard Atlas, with a central touchscreen now standing upright and a raised centre console offering additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row models, featuring standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on the Highline, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the Execline trim. While the cabin's aesthetics were enhanced, the use of plastic materials for simulated wood and carbon-fibre-facsimile trim remained evident.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in three trims—XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy—retained its fifth-generation design introduced in 2024. The SUV's boxy, chunky appearance was accentuated by a long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose, with pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps aligning with Hyundai's design language. The Santa Fe offered vibrant colour options like Terracotta Orange and Atlantis Blue, breaking away from the typical greyscale palette. However, the rear design suffered from mismatched proportions, with pixelated taillights positioned lower than ideal, affecting the overall visual balance.

Each trim of the Santa Fe featured specific wheel designs, ranging from 18 inches on the XRT to 21 inches on the Ultimate Calligraphy. The off-road-focused XRT trim added chrome and black exterior accents, along with black roof rails. Inside, the Santa Fe accommodated seven passengers, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which replaced the second-row bench with captain's chairs. Upholstery options varied from leatherette to Nappa leather, depending on the trim. While the interior fit and finish appeared satisfactory, occasional squeaks and rattles were noted. The inclusion of physical dials for HVAC temperature was appreciated, though the fan speed buttons proved less user-friendly.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive in Canada, this engine marked the end of the VR6 era for VW. The new turbo-four offered slightly less horsepower but more torque than the previous VR6 engine, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm. While VW anticipated quicker acceleration from zero to 100 km/h compared to the 2023 model, specific figures were not provided. Despite the engine's power, the Cross Sport's driving experience was unremarkable, with a lack of excitement and subpar ride quality, potentially due to the 21-inch wheels. The maximum towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms, standard for a midsize crossover.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, producing 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. Equipped with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, the Santa Fe offered a stable driving experience with firm brakes and responsive steering. However, noticeable turbo lag and occasional delays in downshifting were observed. The gear selector, located on a stalk on the steering column, required some adjustment for intuitive operation. The XRT trim, with 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, enhanced off-road capabilities, though the Santa Fe was not designed for rugged terrain. The towing capacity varied by trim, with the XRT capable of towing up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a tow hitch, and a heated steering wheel. Ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats were standard on the Highline trim. While front headroom was competitive, the Cross Sport's roofline compromised rear-seat headroom, though legroom remained adequate. The cargo space was generous, with 1,141 litres available with the rear seats up and 2,197 litres with them folded, surpassing many rivals. The cabin's functionality was enhanced by a redesigned centre console with ample storage and well-designed door pockets.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats featured adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded via a button in the rear cargo area. With the third row folded, the Santa Fe provided 1,148 litres of space, expanding to 2,267 litres with the second row down. Even with all seats occupied, 413 litres of cargo space remained. The widened rear opening facilitated easy loading of bulky items. Towing capacity varied, with most trims capable of towing 1,587 kilograms, while the XRT trim could handle up to 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. While the screens offered intuitive layouts and clear graphics, the haptic touchpads replacing conventional buttons proved less user-friendly. Six USB-C ports were standard, and the Execline trim featured a head-up display and a Harman Kardon premium audio system, an upgrade from the standard six-speaker setup.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe boasted a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size, with navigation available on the Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ensured seamless connectivity. Multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad, capable of accommodating two phones in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, facilitated device charging. The digital key feature allowed smartphone or Apple Watch access, with the option to share the key with trusted individuals. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display, while Bluelink app connectivity provided remote vehicle management and over-the-air updates.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. While IIHS ratings for the 2024 model were unavailable, the structurally similar 2023 model received top "Good" scores in most tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system, while all models featured post-collision braking and an emergency assist feature.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision avoidance assist. Additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Highway Drive Assist feature, while generally smooth, occasionally exhibited abrupt braking in heavy traffic. The top trim included a blind spot avoidance feature and a Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA awarded the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories, with "Acceptable" scores for headlights and LATCH.