2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first introduced on the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was adorned with a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, complemented by standard LED headlights, giving it a distinctly Americanized appearance. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed with the U.S. market in mind. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers.

The Cross Sport's interior received updates similar to the standard Atlas, including a new central touchscreen that stood upright and a raised center console with additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas, featuring standard leatherette upholstery and leather seats on higher trims. The top SEL Premium R-Line trim boasted quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern. Despite efforts to enhance the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim, it remained primarily plastic. The Cross Sport also introduced new wheel designs across its trim levels, with options ranging from 18-inch to 21-inch wheels, depending on the model. However, it did not receive the rugged Peak Edition package available for the three-row Atlas.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered during a rental experience in Hawaii, was a black-on-black hardtop model with dark gray wheels. Despite the initial disappointment with the color choice in a tropical climate, the Wrangler's open-air driving experience, with windows down and roof panels removed, made the color less significant. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. The Sport S model featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission, priced at $49,175, including destination charges. The interior, designed for durability, included a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, gray fabric dashboard trim, and metallic accents.

The Wrangler's appeal lay in its nostalgic design, rooted in a World War II military vehicle, and its capability to traverse diverse terrains. Despite its high price, the Wrangler's interior focused on function over form, with limited fancy elements. The vehicle's high ground clearance, four-wheel drive, and narrow width made it well-suited for Hawaiian roads. However, the ride was rough, and the steering felt disconnected, especially on highways. The Wrangler's off-road prowess was evident, though the rental experience did not include off-roading. The vehicle's design and capability made it a popular choice, despite its lack of sophistication compared to modern cars.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. This marked the end of the 3.6-liter VR6 engine era for VW, as the new turbo-four delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel. While it had slightly less horsepower than the VR6, it offered more torque, with peak torque arriving earlier at 1,550 rpm. Volkswagen anticipated quicker acceleration from zero to 60 mph compared to the previous VR6 model. The Cross Sport's towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering more torque but slightly less horsepower than the V6. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. During a rental experience in Hawaii, the four-cylinder Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and off-road capabilities made it well-suited for Hawaiian roads, though its ride was rough, and steering felt disconnected.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were ventilated and heated, while the SE with Technology trim added a power liftgate and tow hitch. The SEL trim featured heated second-row seats and leather upholstery. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, but legroom was competitive. It offered 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 77.6 cubic feet when folded. The cabin was functional, with ample storage space in the center console and door pockets.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim featured comfortable front seats with cloth upholstery, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. The Wrangler's cargo space was reasonable, with a 31.7 cubic-foot cargo hold that expanded to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, which could be cumbersome in tight spaces.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The infotainment system featured intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics, though the haptic touchpads for controls were less user-friendly. The Cross Sport offered up to six USB-C ports, with a dash cam port on higher trims. The SEL trim included a head-up display, and the SEL Premium R-Line featured a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The Sport S trim included an eight-speaker stereo, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. The Wrangler offered navigation, Jeep Connect services, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine starting. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group package.

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. The 2023 model received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests. The IQ.Drive package, now standard on all models, included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags for front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded a Good rating for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact test, but a Marginal rating for the small overlap frontal-impact test.