2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that enhanced its original design, dating back to the 2013 Volkswagen CrossBlue concept. This update included new lighting elements, most notably the light-up VW logos, similar to those on the ID.4 electric crossover. The front logo illuminated in white, while the rear logo shone red. A front light bar connected to the daytime running lights, which were part of the new LED headlights reminiscent of those on a Ford Expedition. These subtle changes gave the Atlas a new "face," emphasizing American swagger over European influences. At the rear, the taillights seamlessly blended into a full-width light bar, housing the illuminated logo. The 2024 Atlas also introduced new wheel designs across all trim levels, with the SE base model featuring 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims boasted 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. The Atlas Peak Edition joined the lineup, offering an outdoorsy flavor with black 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and unique styling elements.

Inside, the Atlas received a revised look, focusing on the center of the cabin. The infotainment touchscreen was now freestanding, and the shifter was reduced to a tiny toggle, creating more space and allowing for an arched console with storage underneath. While this made the interior more functional, the contrast between the minimalist interior and the truck-like exterior was somewhat jarring. Volkswagen aimed to make the interior feel more upscale, with improved fake wood trim and a new weaved plastic trim simulating carbon fiber. Leatherette seats were standard, with leather upholstery and contrast stitching available on SEL models. The SEL Premium R-Line featured diamond stitching, combining silver stitching with black upholstery for a stylish look. However, some stitching areas, like the center console, appeared cheaper, and the overall material quality seemed more fitting for a base model than a top-tier one.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined an old-school, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, visually connecting it to other Land Rover models. However, the interior felt more durable and adventure-ready, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offered in various trims, including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, embracing a throwback approach. Standard features on the S trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a heated, power-adjustable steering wheel. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and distinctive styling touches, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera and partial Windsor leather upholstery. The V8 trim, with 22-inch wheels, combined leather and microsuede upholstery and included a center console refrigerator. The Carpathian Edition stood out with its all-dark exterior and interior accents, while the Outbound trim offered added cargo space by removing the third row.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas saw a reduction in powertrain options, leaving only a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, compared to the previous VR6's 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The engine, an iteration of VW's EA888, was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The additional torque over the VR6, peaking at 1,550 rpm, made the 2024 Atlas quicker than the six-cylinder 2023 model, with FWD models achieving zero to 60 mph in an estimated eight seconds and AWD models in 8.3 seconds. Despite these improvements, the Atlas remained a family hauler, prioritizing comfort and frugality over performance. The four-cylinder engine provided smooth acceleration to highway speeds but was noisier than expected. Ride quality remained consistent with the pre-refresh Atlas, and the Peak Edition added all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, though the 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for pavement. The maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE, which was rated for 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, the P500 and P525, produced 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive (4WD). The six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains allowed the Defender to tow up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like the adaptive air suspension system, Terrain Response 2 system, electronic differential, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, though there was a slight lurch off the line and during deceleration, likely due to off-road-optimized gearing. Overall, the on-road ride was pleasant, with minimal body roll.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas offered more standard features, with the base SE trim now including a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, while leather upholstery and heated second-row seats became standard on the SEL trim. The Atlas provided seating for seven, with a three-seat second-row bench that could split-fold, recline, and slide, accommodating three child seats side by side. Second-row captain's chairs were available on SE with Technology and higher trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The third-row bench was standard, offering competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows. Cargo space varied, with 96.6 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, 55.5 cubic feet with only the third row stowed, and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place. The Atlas boasted more cargo space than most rivals, except the Chevy Traverse.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. The multifunctional climate control dials required an additional button press to switch between temperature and fan speed adjustments. Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110's two-row version provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet with the first row folded. The two-door Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas featured more standard tech, including a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard, with six USB-C ports available, including a dash cam port on higher trims. A head-up display was standard on SEL and higher trims, and the premium audio system switched from Fender to Harman Kardon, offering a 12-speaker system on higher trims. The upgraded infotainment system was user-friendly, with a map view in the digital instrument cluster, though haptic touchpads for functions like audio volume and headlights lacked feedback.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited the Defender's utilitarian persona. The screen included navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, along with Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup blended refinement and utility, with home buttons on the left and right rails for easy navigation.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn't released ratings for the 2024 model, but the 2023 model received the highest "Good" score in most crash tests. The Atlas included more standard driver-assist features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The SEL Premium R-Line added park assist and a surround-view camera system. Emergency features included automatic post-collision braking and a crash response system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were somewhat touchy, but they could be deactivated. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2024 Defender at the time of writing.