Brad Marley
· 8 min read
When it comes to SUVs, the Volkswagen Atlas is one that you see on the street and immediately forget since there’s nothing really special about it. If you’re looking for something a bit more compelling, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer are a few competitors to consider.
When you think of Volkswagen, you think of new-age design and European styling. But this SUV has taken a step back in terms of interior and exterior looks, which is opening the door to other SUVs to overtake it.
Depending on what you really want in an SUV, the Volkswagen Atlas might be just for you. If not, there are plenty of others to choose from.
Jerry
, the trustworthy super app that saves drivers time and money on car insurance to make your car loan
payments more manageable, has rounded up a list of the eight top SUVs to consider instead of a Volkswagen Atlas.While we're at it, we'll show you how to save on Volkswagen Atlas insurance costs—or whichever vehicle you choose.
1. Honda Pilot
Starting price: $39,375
Selling points: Fuel efficient V6, tons of cargo space
Weak spot: Minivan-ish, touchscreen not user-friendly
The Honda Pilot has always had a great reputation among SUVs—and this one is no different. With a fuel efficient V-6 at your disposal, you’re going to be speedy and sporty with plenty of power. But be forewarned, a lack of body control can make it feel like you’re not attached to the ground at times.
Depending on your trim level, you can tow up to 5,000 pounds while you’re behind the wheel of the Pilot. And when you’re hauling your boat or camper to the next campsite, you can rest easy knowing you have quite a bit of safety technology embedded in the vehicle to watch over you.
MORE: How long is a Honda CR-V?
2. Hyundai Palisade
Starting price: $34,895
Selling points: Intuitive dashboard controls, tons of standard features
Weak spot: Loud on the highway, front end styling is questionable
When Hyundai set out to build the Palisade, they wanted to build something that would be a step above competitors in the space—and they got pretty darn close. In fact, you would be mistaken for thinking it’s one of the more luxurious SUVs around when you inspect some of the upper trim levels.
A smooth-running 3.8-liter V-6 is going to rev your engines, and you can also add all-wheel drive to this baby if you’re feeling frisky. Just like the Honda Pilot, the Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds with the right configuration, meaning you can take whatever you want with you on family trips while riding in style. Of all the SUVs on this list, the Palisade is one of the fanciest you can buy for a reasonable amount of money.
MORE: Does Hyundai have a self-driving car?
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers3. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Starting price: $40,120
Selling points: Rugged styling, posh cabin on higher end models
Weak spot: All-wheel drive not standard, V-8 guzzles gas
The Grand Cherokee is the most rugged option on this list as it’s built to tackle off-road terrain with ease—hence the higher price tag. If you’re buying a Jeep, chances are you aren’t going to consider anything else since Jeep fans are notoriously loyal to the brand.
A trio of powertrains are offered here, including a V-6 and V-8 option and a new plug-in hybrid. Rear-wheel drive is the standard when you make a purchase, but you can easily add all-wheel drive to get the off-road capability you want. If you also want to escalate to some higher trim levels, you’re going to have to shell out more cash.
The Grand Cherokee will tow up to 6,200 pounds, putting it on the higher end as far as that capability goes. But with a higher price tag than most other vehicles on this list, you’ll need to decide if spending more to tow more is worth it. That’s a question for you to answer.
4. Kia Telluride
Starting price: $34,725
Selling points: Great value, styling, and space
Weak spot: Drives stiff, V-6 tends to devour gas
The Kia Telluride is the leader in the clubhouse when it comes to mid-size SUVs—and it’s not going to break the bank, so you can rest easy knowing your pocketbook will like you.
Like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it’s a rugged-looking machine with a wealth of infotainment and safety options and a well-appointed interior that makes you feel like a king. It will tow up to 5,000 pounds, but for a vehicle this capable, you might want more. The two knocks against the Telluride are a stiff ride that might be a bit jarring depending on the terrain and a less-than-great fuel economy.
5. Subaru Ascent
Starting price: $33,970
Selling points: All-wheel drive standard, lots of safety tech
Weak spot: Loud engine, third row seating not ideal for adults
The Subaru Ascent is great for growing families with plenty of safety technology and driver assists. But it isn’t a fast vehicle, so that might earn it a strike.
With that in mind, you get all-wheel drive standard, which is somewhat unique among the vehicles on this list. A 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder powertrain leads the way. And while it can be loud, you can tow up to 5,000 pounds. Subaru seems to have a built-in fan base when it comes to the brand, so fans might be interested no matter the drawbacks.
MORE: How to replace Subaru taillights
6. Chevrolet Tahoe
Starting price: $53,695
Selling points: Church-quiet interior, lots of towing power
Weak spot: Expensive for the fully loaded trim
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a bit of a step up from the other SUVs on this, but we wanted to include it because it’s a viable option if you want room and lots of towing power. While the design isn’t loved by fans of the brand, the quiet interior and towing power is—so you’ll want to consider it.
The standard engine on the Tahoe is a 355-hp V-8 that can get as rugged as you like while maintaining the feel of a luxury SUV. And if you go up trim levels, the price is going to match your luxurious tastes—for better or worse. If you move up the diesel six-cylinder with 460 pound-feet of torque, get ready to pull, because the towing possibilities are endless at 8,400 pounds. You’re not going to find another SUV on this list that can pull that much.
MORE: What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Silverado?
7. Toyota Sequoia
Starting price: $52,095
Selling points: Reliable V-8
Weak spot: Interior feels cheap, poor fuel economy
We could put the Toyota Sequoia on the same level as the Chevrolet Tahoe and you wouldn’t blink, but it’s going to be a pricier option to the Atlas. With a roomy third row and a lot of standard safety features, the Sequoia barely remains relevant as larger SUVs pull past them and the midsize SUVs start to creep up.
In towing capacity, this thing almost rivals the Tahoe. It can pull up to 7,400 pounds when equipped with the 381-hp V-8 engine. But if you’re planning to tow a large camper off-road, know that the bumps in the road are going to become more pronounced.
Lots of reviewers claim this SUV is in dire need of a makeover. Coupled with the high price tag, you might want to look elsewhere if you want to go big.
8. Ford Explorer
Starting price: $37,005
Selling points: Comfortable ride, lots of room
Weak spot: A third row only fit for kids, high-end is high priced
If you want a Ford to fit a family, the Explorer is the vehicle for you. With three rows and a lot of cargo space, you can fit everything you need (and then some). The base engine—a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower—is fine, but you can upgrade to a 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 if your heart desires.
The one knock against it is that the top packages for this vehicle might not seem as desirable as other SUVs in the space. The towing capacity, however, is right in line with what you would expect. Maxing out at 5,600 pounds of towing power, the Explorer fits right in with some of the other vehicles you might consider.
MORE: How to build a custom Ford Explorer
Volkswagen Atlas vs. the competition
Want to see how the Atlas stacks up to the competition? We’ve laid it out below,
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Volkswagen Atlas | $35,630 | Four-cylinder or V6 | 7 seats | 96.8 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 21/25/23 mpg |
2022 Honda Pilot | $39,375 | V6 | 7 seats | 83.9 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 20/27/23 mpg |
2022 Hyundai Palisade | $34,895 | V6 | 7 to 8 seats | 86 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 19/26/23 mpg |
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee | $40,120 | V6 or V8 | 5 seats | 84.6 cubic ft | 6200 lb | 19/26/23 mpg |
2022 Kia Telluride | $34,725 | V6 | 7 seats | 87 cubic ft | 5000 lb | 20/26/23 mpg |
2022 Subaru Ascent | $33,970 | Four-cylinder | 7 seats | 86.5 cubic ft | 5000 lbs | 21/27/24 mpg |
2022 Chevrolet Tahoe | $53,695 | V8 or six-cylinder | 7 seats | 122.9 cubic ft | 8400 lbs | 21/28/24 mpg |
2022 Toyota Sequoia | $52,095 | V8 | 7 seats | 120.1 cubic ft | 7400 lbs | 13/17/15 mpg |
2022 Ford Explorer | $37,005 | Four-cylinder or V6 or hybrid | 7 seats | 87.8 cubic ft | 5600 lbs | 27/29/28 mpg |
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