2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby 90 and the visually heavy 130. Despite its unconventional looks, the Defender's appeal lay in its robust design and the extensive customization options offered by Land Rover. In Canada, the base price ranged from $79,050 for the 90 model to $160,720 for the 130 V8, with the OCTA variant priced at $198,460. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 X, featured black exterior elements, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology, priced at just over $130,000 with additional options.

The Defender 130 X test model, dressed in Gondwana Stone paint, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its murky brown colour clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, prioritizing quality materials and a purposeful design over traditional luxury. The cabin's rugged charm was appreciated, though the 22-inch wheels were recommended for a more cohesive look.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, available in four trim levels in Canada, offered a design that balanced off-road capability with sporty aesthetics. The Peak Edition appeared ready for off-roading, while the Execline trim, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, showcased a chiseled, upscale appearance. Base prices ranged from $50,995 to $60,995, with the Execline model sitting at the top of this range. The Atlas's polished aluminum detailing, light bars, and 21-inch wheels contributed to its impressive look, while the Mountain Lake Blue colour effectively concealed dirt.

Inside, the Atlas Execline featured diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm and inviting 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. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Atlas's interior design and technology aimed to provide a comfortable and modern driving experience.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's test vehicle was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, one of four powertrain options available. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system, delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, providing robust and smooth acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission, with Sport and manual shift modes, connected to a standard all-wheel-drive system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X, with this drivetrain, claimed a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.6 seconds and a maximum tow rating of 3,720 kilograms.

The Defender X came standard with an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, including Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. The Off-Road Pack added an electronic active differential and wade-sensing technology, while the Advanced Off-Road Pack included a Configurable setting for the Terrain Response drive modes and All-Terrain Progress Control. The Defender's off-road capability was impressive, though the test vehicle's 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its on-road agility. The Defender 130's ground clearance, approach, breakover, and departure angles were notable, though the 110 model offered better departure angles.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, refreshed for the previous model year, featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous V6 option. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion AWD system. Despite initial concerns about the engine's capability, it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving tasks, with a generous torque curve between 1,600 and 4,500 rpm.

The Atlas's engine, while modest in acceleration and efficiency, was complemented by a Sport mode that enhanced the driving experience. However, the ride quality was less impressive, with the suspension feeling brittle over smaller road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. The Atlas's handling was predictable on mountain roads, with the tires being the weakest link. The brakes performed well under duress, and the steering, though light, was adequate for most driving conditions.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered spacious seating across three rows, though entry and exit required effort without the air suspension's automatic lowering feature. The front seats provided 12-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, with excellent forward visibility. The Defender's square side mirrors seemed undersized, but the Clearsight digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system compensated for the poor rearward visibility. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open and airy feel of the cabin.

The Defender 130's second-row captain's chairs, heated and ventilated, added comfort, while the third-row seat was heated, roomy, and supportive. The side-hinged cargo door, though heavy and awkward, featured a large storage bin. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 433 litres, but folding the seats expanded the capacity to 2,520 litres.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, with a focus on passenger comfort and cargo space. The Execline model's front seats were heated, ventilated, and massaging, though the leather felt slightly stiff. Visibility was excellent, aided by large side mirrors and a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat comfortably accommodated three adults, with ample legroom and a proper backrest angle. A panoramic sunroof added to the cabin's spacious feel.

Access to the third-row seat was outstanding, with generous clearance and adequate leg support. Storage space was commendable across all three rows, with practical compartments and cupholders. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,735 litres with the second-row seats folded. While competitors like the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse offered slightly more cargo space, the Atlas's third-row seating was more appealing.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and connected services. Previously criticized for its slow response and convoluted interface, Pivi Pro impressed this time with its accuracy and intuitive user experience. The system excelled in voice command accuracy, though it struggled with specific music requests. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system, head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system enhanced the driving experience.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW Group's MIB3 operating system, accessible through a 12-inch touchscreen. While lacking traditional controls, the system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Atlas's native digital voice assistant was unreliable, making smartphone integration essential for a satisfying experience. The MIB3 system suffered from user-experience glitches, with confusing navigation and radio display issues. Despite these drawbacks, the Atlas Execline's Harman Kardon audio system delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist operated transparently, though the system occasionally struggled to maintain a safe following distance in heavy traffic. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at the time of writing.

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. The Atlas also offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a rear cross-traffic alert system. Volkswagen Canada provided an eight-year subscription to Car-Net Safe & Secure services, including automatic crash notification and SOS emergency assistance. The Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick."