Porsche Cayenne vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a modernized aesthetic with its updated lighting elements, both at the front and rear. The illuminated Volkswagen logos, inspired by the all-electric ID.4, added a contemporary touch, with the front logo lighting up in white and the rear in red. The front of the Cross Sport featured a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, complemented by new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more modern appearance. The rear of the vehicle, with its reshaped taillights blending into a rear light bar, was particularly distinctive. The Cross Sport's silhouette, with its lower roofline, resembled the "crossover coupes" of German luxury brands, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. The vehicle was 13 centimetres shorter than the standard Atlas and sat lower, enhancing its sporty look.

The interior of the Cross Sport received similar updates to the standard Atlas, with a central touchscreen now standing upright and a raised centre console providing additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas models, offering standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on the Highline, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the top Execline trim level. The highest-level option featured blue seat inserts, adding a touch of elegance. However, despite attempts to improve the simulated wood and carbon-fibre-facsimile trim, the materials remained predominantly plastic.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a choice between a standard SUV with a squared-off rear end and a sporty Cayenne Coupe. The GTS trim level, which was the focus of this review, featured high gloss black trim and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes to cool the V8 engine. Tinted headlights and red brake calipers added to its sporty appearance, while 21-inch wheels in anthracite gray completed the look. The Cayenne Coupe boasted an adaptive rear spoiler, enhancing its sporty profile. Inside, the Cayenne allowed for extensive customization, from the colour of the interior to the trim and even the seat belts. While the options could become costly, they ensured a unique and personalized vehicle.

The Cayenne's cabin was well-designed, with mechanical controls for essential features like HVAC and volume, despite the abundance of screens. The shifter toggle mounted on the dashboard freed up space for storage, although the sliding centre console could be a minor inconvenience. Overall, the Cayenne's interior was thoughtfully laid out, offering a blend of luxury and functionality.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive in Canada. This marked the end of the 3.6-litre VR6 engine era for VW. The new turbo-four engine delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, slightly less horsepower but more torque than the previous VR6 engine. Peak torque arrived earlier at 1,550 rpm compared to 3,600 rpm for the VR6. Although specific acceleration numbers were not provided, VW expected the 2024 Cross Sport to be quicker from zero to 100 km/h than the 2023 model with the VR6. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), standard for a midsize crossover.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a range of engine options, all capable of impressive performance. The base 3.0-litre V6 produced 348 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque, while the Cayenne S featured a V8 with 468 hp. The Turbo GT, available only as a coupe, delivered a staggering 650 hp. Plug-in hybrid options offered up to 729 hp for those seeking peak performance. The GTS trim, with its twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, produced 493 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque. The eight-speed transmission efficiently distributed power to all four wheels, allowing the GTS to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with the Sport Chrono package. The GTS struck a balance between sporty and comfortable, with precise steering and agile handling, thanks to components borrowed from the Turbo GT. The Cayenne's active suspension and Pirelli P Zero tires contributed to its athletic performance, while the optional carbon ceramic brakes provided ample stopping power.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with more standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a tow hitch, and a heated steering wheel. Ventilated front seats and heated second-row seats were standard on the Highline trim. While front headroom was competitive, the Cross Sport's roofline reduced rear-seat headroom, making it feel more cramped. However, legroom was more competitive, and the Cross Sport offered 1,141 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 2,197 litres when folded.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered a la carte customization, with the base model featuring eight-way power-adjustable seats, two-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The GTS trim added a GT Sport steering wheel and Race-Tex headliner, with options for Race-Tex or leather upholstery. The Cayenne accommodated five passengers, with ample headroom in the second row, even in the coupe body style. The Cayenne's towing capacity was impressive, with the base V6 engine capable of towing 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds). Cargo space was slightly smaller than competitors, with 772 litres behind the second row in the standard Cayenne, expanding to 1,708 litres when folded. The coupe version offered 576 and 1,486 litres, respectively.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, but the haptic touchpads for controls lacked physical feedback. Six USB-C ports were standard, and the Execline trim included a head-up display and a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne boasted a curved 12.6-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch touchscreen display with the Porsche Communication Management system. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Spotify, Apple Music, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were included. An optional 10.9-inch passenger screen allowed for navigation and media control. The Cayenne featured a head-up display, night-vision assist, and four high-speed USB-C charging ports, along with a cooled wireless charging area.

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. Standard driver assistance features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Porsche Cayenne offered standard parking sensors, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-departure warning were optional. Porsche's InnoDrive adaptive cruise control system was not tested. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had rated the 2025 Cayenne for safety.