2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Honda Passport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the 2013 Volkswagen CrossBlue concept. New lighting elements were introduced, including light-up VW logos similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover. The front logo illuminated in white, while the rear shone red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, part of the new LED headlights, gave the Atlas a fresh "face" with American swagger. At the rear, taillights blended into a full-width light bar housing the illuminated logo. New wheel designs were standard across all trims, with sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches. The Atlas Peak Edition added an outdoorsy flavour with black wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique styling elements.

Inside, the Atlas featured a revised centre cabin with a freestanding infotainment touchscreen and a reduced shifter, creating more functional space. The interior aimed for an upscale feel with improved fake wood trim and new weaved plastic trim. Leatherette seats were standard, with leather upholstery available on higher trims. The Execline model showcased diamond stitching, though some materials felt more suited to a base model.

The 2024 Honda Passport retained much of its previous design, despite Honda's updated design language seen in other models. The Passport featured a more upright grille and squared-off corners from its 2022 tweaks. It offered three trims in Canada: Sport, TrailSport, and Black Edition, all with AWD and identical touchscreens. The TrailSport trim, tested here, was the most rugged, equipped with all-terrain tires and standard roof rails and LED fog lights in Canada. However, its rugged appearance was more aesthetic, lacking metal skid plates and recovery points.

Inside, the Passport maintained old-school physical controls and an 8-inch touchscreen. The TrailSport trim featured black leather upholstery with orange stitching and a "TrailSport" emblem. The interior was simple, with resilient plastics integrated with softer materials. The Passport's utilitarian design included large air vents, simple controls, and ample storage space.

For 2024, the Volkswagen Atlas reduced its powertrain options to a single 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, part of VW's EA888 series, was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. The Atlas accelerated to 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds, thanks to the additional torque over the previous VR6 engine. While the driving experience focused on comfort, the engine was noisier than expected. The Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, but the 4Motion AWD system was primarily pavement-oriented, lacking low range and underbody protection. The Atlas maintained a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms.

The 2024 Honda Passport featured a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Passport offered smooth acceleration. The engine's peak torque required higher RPMs, affecting fuel economy, rated at 12.5 L/100 km in the city. The TrailSport trim had wider tracks, 18-inch wheels, and off-road-tuned suspension. All Passports included Honda's iVTM4 AWD system with multiple traction settings. Despite some road noise at highway speeds, the Passport's steering was precise. Towing capacity matched the Atlas at 2,268 kilograms.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, including heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power liftgate. Seating for seven was standard, with a second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide. Optional captain's chairs reduced capacity to six. The Atlas provided competitive headroom and legroom, with the best third-row legroom in its class. Cargo space varied from 583 litres with all seats up to 2,735 litres with seats folded, offering more space than most rivals.

The 2024 Honda Passport excelled in cargo capacity, with 1,430 litres behind the rear seats and 2,854 litres with seats folded. The rear seats folded flush with the trunk floor, facilitating easy loading. The Passport comfortably seated five adults, with ample cupholders and a redesigned centre console for more storage. Despite tighter rear-seat legroom compared to some rivals, the Passport offered a spacious and practical interior.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas featured a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as standard, along with wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Six USB-C ports were standard, with up to eight available. A head-up display was standard on Execline trims. The Harman Kardon audio system replaced the previous Fender system, offering a 12-speaker setup on higher trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though haptic touchpads for controls lacked feedback.

The 2024 Honda Passport came with an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a wireless charging pad. The screen offered sharp resolution but felt small for the cabin size. Navigation directions were pushed to the driver's display, which could be distracting in city driving. The TrailSport's seven-speaker audio system was underwhelming compared to competitors' offerings.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests. The IIHS rated the 2023 model "Good" in most tests, except "Marginal" in the updated moderate overlap front test. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Honda Passport included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control as standard. Despite these features, the Passport received an "Acceptable" rating from the IIHS in the passenger-side small overlap crash test and "Marginal" in the updated side-impact tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall but four stars in frontal and rollover tests.