The 2021 VW Atlas and 2021 Kia Telluride are two giant fashionable household crossover SUVs with a lot of area for households. The previous retains issues easy whereas the latter punches above its value class in prime trims. The Atlas is the automaker’s largest car and obtained a fluff and buff of the smallest order for 2021. The Telluride launched new for 2020 and moved Kia right into a league some by no means noticed coming.

If there’s any confusion about their intentions, they start and finish with their names. The Atlas? Large enough to hold a household with a world of cargo. The Telluride? Plush sufficient to have a look at house in a tony Colorado mountain city.

Which one is best for you and your loved ones? Our TCC Rankings point out a relative landslide for the Kia over the Volkswagen—7.5 versus 5.8—however the the truth is nearer than the numbers recommend.

MORE: Learn our full opinions of the 2021 Kia Telluride and 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

2021 Kia Telluride

2021 Kia Telluride

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

Type and efficiency

Amongst three-row crossover SUVs, the VW Atlas seems to be much less thrilling than math homework—it’s by design. The Atlas began VW down the trail for its present crop of crossovers that features the Tiguan, the Atlas Cross Sport (which is said to the Atlas), and the brand new Taos. VW wanted to adapt its form to varied physique sizes, which isn’t a simple process with wild curves. The clear traces and easy curves of the Atlas are basic VW—and never lots of their designs have aged poorly, although they could put you to sleep quicker than revisiting the quadratic method.

In distinction, the Kia Telluride seems to be nothing like the remainder of the Kia lineup. It’s a big gamble that paid off. A lot in order that Kia couldn’t construct the massive three-row folks mover quick sufficient. The Telluride is said to the Hyundai Palisade however the two look very completely different. The Telluride seems to be more durable, extra angular, with extra masculine traces and a touch of last-generation GMC Yukon within the entrance finish with these upright headlights.

2021 Kia Telluride

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

2021 Kia Telluride

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Inside, the Telluride widens its lead with a pointy inside shod in artificial or actual leather-based. It seems to be prefer it prices way over it does and is crammed with very user-friendly tech.

In stark distinction, the inside of the Atlas is nothing if not utilitarian. The VW has practically as a lot tech inside because the Telluride, however its plainer presentation hardly feels particular or on show.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

2021 Kia Telluride

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Beneath the hoods of the Telluride and Atlas, most buyers will discover V-6 engines that make comparable energy. The Telluride’s 3.8-liter 291-horsepower V-6 is paired to a slick-shifting 8-speed computerized that drives the entrance wheels, or all 4 wheels when optionally geared up. The Atlas’ 3.6-liter V-6 makes an identical 276 hp, pushed by way of an 8-speed computerized to energy the entrance or all 4 wheels. (VW makes obtainable a 235-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4, though we’ve solely had transient drives in these fashions, that are geared principally towards sun-belters that don’t require an all-wheel-drive car.)

Each V-6 engines are tasked with lugging greater than two tons of crossover earlier than gas, passengers, pets, cargo, Cheerios, iPads, snacks, and juice packing containers are aboard. Totally laden each crossovers really feel assured however very heavy.

2020 Volkagen Atlas Cross Sport

Each are rated to tow as much as 5,000 kilos, when correctly geared up, and we’ve solely hooked a trailer as much as the Atlas Cross Sport. It was principally 5,000 kilos price of boat, trailer, gas, and fishing gear. It did what was requested of it, however the odor of burning brakes was everpresent and passing energy was non-existent. The Telluride will be had with a rear air suspension to stage issues out and it would fare barely higher than the Atlas on this state of affairs.

It’s a coinflip for what’s higher behind the wheel. Each steer confidently however lean into corners, and the Atlas and Telluride each preserve tempo with visitors however received’t win any drag races. The Telluride’s all-wheel drive system contains a heart locking differential that may lock the facility cut up 50:50, which is a neat trick and one the Atlas, together with the remainder of the competitors, merely can’t contact.

The EPA says the Atlas returns mixed mileage within the excessive teenagers and the Telluride within the low 20s, which can converse to VW’s comparatively older engine design greater than anything.

2021 Kia Telluride

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

2021 Kia Telluride

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

Consolation, security, and options

The Atlas and Telluride commerce on obtainable area for seven or eight passengers, respectively, with room for cargo.
The Atlas rides on a wheelbase that’s about three inches longer than the Telluride, however each SUVs span about 198 inches from bumper to bumper.

Between the 2, the Telluride makes use of its obtainable inside room higher. The primary two rows are spacious and comfy for lengthy legs, with greater than 40 inches of leg room obtainable within the second row The third row within the Telluride is nice for young children who don’t require automobile seats, though solely two will realistically match again there, even when there are three seatbelts. The second row generally is a bench or captain’s chairs, relying on the configuration. With all three rows in place, the Telluride can maintain as much as 21 cubic ft of cargo—though that area is generally vertical. With the third row stowed, the Kia holds 46 cubic ft of drugs.

The Atlas and Telluride’s inside area is sort of equivalent, however VW affords extra leg room within the third row than Kia (33 inches vs. 31 inches), which we’re undecided will likely be as helpful. The Atlas solely seats two in again, which is extra sensible, with a second-row bench customary or captain’s chairs elective. The cargo capacities are practically equivalent. The Atlas seats six or seven, whereas the Telluride can squeeze in as much as eight passengers.

VW makes material customary within the Atlas, with artificial and actual leather-based obtainable. The Telluride comes customary with artificial upholstery or actual leather-based on the improve listing.

Each crossovers make computerized emergency braking and blind-spot screens customary on all fashions, however Kia goes additional with adaptive cruise management and energetic lane management customary on all trims. VW makes each elective.

The Atlas crashed nicely however didn’t earn any awards. The Kia crashed nicely and was named a High Security Decide by the IIHS, however the award solely applies to the SX version and EX fashions with the elective LED headlights.

The Telluride and Atlas draw nearer in options, though prime trims of the Kia outrun the Atlas.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas with Basecamp bundle

The bottom Atlas S prices a hair underneath $33,000 and contains material upholstery, a 6.5-inch touchscreen for infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, energetic security options, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Choosing all-wheel drive drives the worth as much as about $35,000, but additionally provides weight with out including energy to the already pressured turbo-4.

The bottom Telluride prices about $32,700—with a V-6—and contains artificial leather-based upholstery, energetic security tech, an 8.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and 18-inch wheels. All-wheel drive prices $2,000 extra.

In prime trims, the $43,000 Telluride SX has all the things we may ask for and extra: a ten.3-inch widescreen show, leather-based upholstery, cooled entrance seats, three-zone computerized local weather management, a wi-fi charging pad, six USB ports, an influence tailgate, Harman Kardon audio, 20-inch wheels, a surround-view digital camera system, and a sunroof.

The Atlas SEL with the elective Premium bundle runs about $50,000 and features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, an 8.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment, leather-based upholstery, heated and cooled entrance seats, Fender-branded audio system, 4 USB ports, and a panoramic sunroof.

For our cash the win goes solidly to the Telluride because it gives practically all the things one can get within the Atlas for a similar or much less cash. It’s not solely a strong worth, it’s tempting luxurious patrons into Kia showrooms which is one thing to put in writing house about.

 significantly on the prime finish the place the Telluride could tempt luxurious patrons.