Volkswagen Atlas vs Subaru Ascent

The 2024 Subaru Ascent had a design that was not universally praised. Subaru's designers had a history of creating appealing vehicles, only to alter them unfavourably during refreshes. This was evident in the latest Ascent, which had acquired some visually unappealing features, such as tusks and a spear-like grille design. Despite these changes, the Ascent lineup in Canada remained unchanged, offering trims from Convenience to Premier, with prices ranging from $44,674 to $57,674. The Premier trim, which was tested, included features like premium Nappa leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and a surround-view camera, making it the most equipped version of the Ascent. The interior materials were of good quality, but the design felt modular and lacked sophistication.

In contrast, the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas was offered in four trim levels in Canada: Comfortline, Peak Edition, Highline, and Execline. The Atlas Peak Edition had an off-road appearance, while the Execline was sportier with the most standard equipment. The Atlas Execline, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, was at the top of the price range, aligning with its competitors. The Atlas had a chiseled, muscular, and upscale appearance, with polished aluminum detailing, light bars, and 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Atlas continued its premium feel with diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood, creating a warm and inviting environment. However, the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and stereo volume were not user-friendly, especially when wearing gloves.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was powered by a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 277 pound-feet of torque between 2,000 and 4,800 rpm. It featured a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a standard all-wheel-drive system with active torque vectoring. The Ascent could tow up to 2,270 kilograms, making it versatile for various driving conditions. It excelled in urban environments, rural roads, and off-road trails, handling speed humps and rutted terrain with ease. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its weight and suspension tuning. Fuel economy was a downside, with ratings of 12.3 L/100 km in the city and 11.0 L/100 km combined, but real-world tests showed higher consumption.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured a new turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, replacing the previous V6. It delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW's 4Motion AWD system. Initially, the engine seemed underpowered for the Atlas's size, but it proved refined and satisfying for daily driving. The Atlas returned 15.2 L/100 km in city conditions and 12.3 L/100 km overall during testing. However, the ride quality was disappointing, with a brittle suspension and excessive body motions at highway speeds. Despite these issues, the Atlas handled predictably on mountain roads, with responsive brakes and steering.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent prioritized function over form, with features like a dashboard shelf, large cupholders, and backpack pegs. The Premier trim offered comfortable front seats with premium Nappa leather, though the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster. The rear doors opened wide, making it easy to load children and cargo. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable, but legroom was slightly limited. The third-row seat was suitable for short trips, with air conditioning vents and storage space. Cargo space was generous, with up to 458 litres behind the third row and 2,140 litres with all seats folded.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The Execline model featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, though the leather felt stiff. Visibility was excellent, aided by a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample legroom and a panoramic sunroof overhead. Access to the third-row seat was outstanding, with generous clearance and adequate leg support. Storage space was commendable, with practical compartments throughout the cabin. The Atlas offered 583 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,735 litres with all seats folded.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was equipped with the Starlink infotainment system, featuring an 11.6-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Higher trims included a navigation system and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. While the features worked well, the display washed out in direct sunlight, and the native voice-recognition system was subpar. Fortunately, physical buttons and knobs controlled essential functions, and Cabin Connect projected the driver's voice through the speakers.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used VW's MIB3 operating system with a 12-inch touchscreen display. It lacked traditional controls, relying on touch-sensitive buttons and a touch-and-slide volume control. The native voice assistant was unreliable, making it challenging to use the system effectively. However, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a better experience, offering navigation and music streaming. The Atlas Execline's Harman Kardon audio system was impressive, but the MIB3 system had user-experience glitches, such as incorrect song titles and confusing navigation screens.

The 2024 Subaru Ascent was synonymous with safety, featuring a high-strength steel platform and the EyeSight collection of safety features. It received five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The EyeSight package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the lane-centring assist technology was problematic, causing steering issues and driver frustration.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas came with IQ.Drive, offering features like Front Assist, Side Assist, Lane Assist, and Travel Assist. It also included adaptive cruise control and a rear cross-traffic alert system. 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 refined, with occasional false warnings but no major issues.