2026 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Subaru Outback

The 2025 Subaru Outback presented a rugged yet refined exterior, embodying the crossover trends with its chunky wheel-arch flares and skid plate-like fascias. Its design was clearly intended for off-road adventures, appealing to those who appreciated a vehicle capable of venturing off the beaten path. The Outback's interior was thoughtfully executed, with a restrained use of chrome and glossy black plastic, providing a practical and comfortable environment. The Premier XT trim, which we tested, offered Nappa leather upholstery and ventilated front seats, enhancing the overall luxury feel. The dashboard featured easy-to-read gauges and a small digital display, providing essential information at a glance.

In contrast, the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas exuded an upscale appearance, especially in the Execline trim, which bordered on luxury crossover territory. The Atlas showcased a sculpted silhouette with full-LED lighting and power-adjustable heated side mirrors. The Peak Edition added rugged elements like all-terrain tires and blackout trim pieces, enhancing its adventurous appeal. Inside, the Atlas boasted quilted diamond-pattern leather seats and a 12-inch touchscreen, creating a high-tech ambiance. However, the interface was more about form than function, with some controls proving frustrating to use. Despite this, the Atlas maintained a premium feel, rivaling more expensive competitors in terms of design and appointments.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured a horizontally opposed "Boxer" engine, available in two forms. The standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged 2.4-litre engine in the Wilderness and XT trims delivered 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. Both engines ran on regular unleaded gas and were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Outback's turbocharged engine provided smart acceleration, though it wasn't a performance car. With 22 centimetres of ground clearance and Subaru's X-Mode, the Outback excelled on slippery surfaces, while the Wilderness trim offered even more ground clearance and off-road capabilities. The Outback's smooth and comfortable ride, combined with light steering and powerful brakes, made it a pleasant companion on rough roads.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD in Canada. The Atlas's engine, known for its refinement and efficiency, offered a wide power band, making it feel more capable than its output numbers suggested. However, initial acceleration was not particularly quick, with a 0-100 km/h time of roughly eight seconds. The Atlas settled into a competent rhythm once in motion, with smooth highway merging and minimal downshifting. The Drive Mode Select system offered various driving modes, including Sport, which added throttle response but increased fuel consumption. The Atlas's 4Motion AWD system performed well in rain and light snow, though it wasn't intended for serious off-roading. The Atlas's ride quality was a drawback, with its 21-inch wheels transmitting vibrations and harshness, particularly on imperfect pavement.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's wagon shape offered practicality, with easy entry and exit due to its lower-slung chassis. The lower roof height made loading the roof rack easier, and the low centre of gravity contributed to agile handling. Inside, the Outback provided 923 litres of cargo space with the rear seat up and 2,141 litres with the bench folded. While these measurements were smaller than some crossovers, the flat floor and square shape maximized usability. The Outback's total passenger volume of 3,044 litres was larger than its crossover competition, offering more front headroom and legroom. Buyers were advised to test drive different trims, as the driving experience varied between models. The turbocharged engine option increased towing capacity to 1,588 kilograms.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in accommodating passengers and cargo. The Execline trim featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, with supportive seating for long drives. The driver's seat offered 10-way power adjustment, while the passenger's seat varied by trim level. Outward visibility was excellent, aided by large side mirrors and a clear rear view. The second row, with captain's chairs, provided easy access to the third row, even with a child seat installed. The third-row seats offered decent leg support, and sliding the second row forward created enough legroom for taller passengers. Cargo capacity was a strong point, with 583 litres behind the third row, 1,572 litres with the third row folded, and a total of 2,735 litres. The Atlas's cargo space was competitive, trailing only the largest vehicles in the segment.

The 2025 Subaru Outback's technology package was a mixed bag. The 11.6-inch touchscreen was bright and featured large icons, but the Starlink infotainment system was slow to respond, especially at startup. The TomTom-based navigation system required patience, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included. The Harman Kardon 12-speaker audio system performed well, but frequent Starlink disturbances limited audio to the rear speakers. The dashboard featured a mix of buttons and knobs, appealing to those less comfortable with excessive technology. However, common tasks required using the touchscreen, and the inclusion of a CD player and USB-A port catered to older technology.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen running VW's MIB3 operating system, a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging. The Highline trim added a Harman Kardon audio system and a surround-view camera system, while the Execline included a head-up display. Despite impressive specs, the MIB3 system was frustrating to use, with numerous presses and menu dives required. The touch-sensitive slider controls for HVAC and volume were invisible at night, complicating use. The voice control system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto preferable. The Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound, and the Digital Cockpit Pro offered configurable views, though paired with the native navigation system.

The 2025 Subaru Outback featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, using cameras to enable adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency steering. While effective, the system exhibited more side-to-side movement than desired. Touring and higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which worked as intended. The DriverFocus system occasionally issued false notifications, but it was preferable to a non-functional system. The 2024 Outback earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with the 2025 model expected to perform similarly.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The 2025 Atlas was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, though 2026 ratings were unavailable. Volkswagen's IQ.Drive suite of driver assistance features was standard across all trims, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Emergency Assist was also included, bringing the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The systems performed reliably over varied driving conditions, with adaptive cruise control proving effective in highway traffic. The Execline added Park Assist, though it was unnecessary given the Atlas's maneuverability.