2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate, leaving our crew less than thrilled. Despite the uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler's design, rooted in a World War II military vehicle, remained fundamentally appealing. The interior, though not luxurious, featured a classy grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Wrangler's emphasis was clearly on function over form, designed to get dirty and handle rugged terrains.

In contrast, the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Execline impressed with its chiseled, muscular, and upscale appearance. The Mountain Lake Blue exterior with Shetland Beige leather interior added to its premium look. The Atlas's interior was warm and inviting, featuring diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, although the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were less satisfying to use.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering marginally better fuel efficiency with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable of handling various terrains. However, its ride was rough, and the steering felt disconnected, contributing to a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Despite initial concerns about its capability in an eight-passenger SUV, the engine proved refined and satisfying for daily driving tasks. The Atlas returned 15.2 litres per 100 kilometres in urban conditions and 12.3 L/100 km overall during testing. However, the ride quality was disappointing, with the suspension feeling brittle over road surface anomalies. The handling was predictable, and the brakes performed well, but the excess body motions at highway speeds were undesirable.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, and the Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was suitable for any climate. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but storage space was limited. The cargo area offered 897 litres of space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded, but accessing it was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design.

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, with excellent outward visibility. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, and access to the third-row seat was outstanding. The Atlas provided 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,735 litres with the second-row seats folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The system was easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and other upgrades, while the Safety Group option pack included rear parking sensors.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW Group's MIB3 operating system with a 12-inch touchscreen display. The lack of traditional controls and a reliable native digital voice assistant made the system less user-friendly. However, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a better experience. The Atlas Execline's Harman Kardon audio system was impressive, but the MIB3 system's glitches and lack of intuitive user experience were drawbacks.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard equipment, a significant safety upgrade. Optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) were available, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, crash tests were incomplete, with a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured standard IQ.Drive driver assistance systems, including Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. 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, enhancing the Atlas's safety credentials.