2024 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

In 2024, both the Volkswagen Atlas and the Nissan Rogue underwent significant styling changes to maintain their appeal in a competitive SUV market.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas received a fresh styling update accentuating its American-inspired design over its European roots. The most noticeable upgrade featured illuminated VW logos on both the front and rear, with the front logo glowing white and the rear logo shining red. This addition mirrored updates seen in the VW ID.4 electric crossover. The front was further enhanced with a new light bar connecting to the daytime running lights, integrated into new LED headlights reminiscent of the Ford Expedition. This revamped front end created a rugged appearance, emphasizing American swagger over European flair. At the back, the taillights merged into a comprehensive light bar housing the illuminated logo, adding a contemporary touch.

Every trim level of the 2024 Atlas featured new wheel designs. The base SE model sported 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels. The SEL Premium R-Line came with 21-inch wheels and sportier styling elements. A new addition, the Peak Edition, brought an outdoorsy aesthetic with black 18-inch wheels fitted with all-terrain tires, exclusive front fascia, silver body cladding, blacked-out exterior trim, and two distinct colors: Avocado Green and Pure Gray. This edition added standard features like a panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting on the SE with Technology model.

Inside, the Atlas saw considerable updates focused on enhancing functionality and luxury. The infotainment touchscreen now stood free of the dashboard, and a smaller shifter freed up space, allowing the console to arch upward, creating more storage space beneath. However, some found the contrast between the minimalist interior and the rugged exterior a bit jarring. Volkswagen attempted an upscale feel with improved fake wood grain and a weaved plastic trim simulating carbon fiber. Leatherette seats came standard, with leather upholstery and contrast stitching on higher trims. Despite some cheaper-looking areas, the overall aesthetic remained premium.

Conversely, the 2024 Nissan Rogue also received visual tweaks without altering its core trim levels: S, SV, SL, and Platinum. The front fascia showcased a new, larger grille seamlessly blending with the stack headlights and daytime running lights. The rear fascia saw slight modifications, particularly the taillight elements. Satin-finish exterior badging, new 18-inch wheels for the Rogue SV, and new 19-inch wheels for the Platinum grade rounded out the changes. The Platinum grade also introduced more black exterior trim and an optional black roof.

Internally, the dashboard was reconfigured to fit a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, providing the Rogue with a more luxurious feel. Rogue SV models upgraded almost all interior materials, including seat and door panel trims, enhancing the cabin's overall ambiance. The Platinum model, boasting leather seats with new Chestnut brown color and quilted stitching, stood out for its premium feel, avoiding the rubbery texture found in some competitors. This elevated interior helped position the Rogue Platinum as a high-end compact crossover.

Performance-wise, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas streamlined its engine offerings, eliminating the VR6 in favor of a single 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. This engine, part of VW's EA888 series, delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, making it more powerful than the previous VR6 and earlier versions of the turbo-four engines. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Atlas offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options.

With a quicker acceleration rate, the Atlas aimed for more efficiency, with FWD models achieving 0-60 mph in eight seconds and AWD models in 8.3 seconds. However, both variants of the Atlas prioritized comfort and efficiency over sporty performance. Despite its strong pull at highway speeds, the engine produced more noise than expected. Ride quality maintained a steady status quo, neither improving nor worsening from previous models, despite the 21-inch wheels. While the Peak Edition featured all-terrain tires and an Offroad driving mode, its 4Motion AWD system was primarily designed for on-road use, offering a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds — down from rivals like the Nissan Pathfinder’s 6,000 pounds.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Rogue showcased a unique 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine boasting Variable Compression (VC) Turbo technology. This innovation allowed the engine to adjust its compression ratio for optimized power or fuel efficiency depending on driving conditions. Despite having one less cylinder, the Rogue’s engine punched above its weight, delivering 201 horsepower and 225 pound-feet of torque, outperforming several rivals' standard engines.

Unfortunately, the Rogue's standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) did not enhance driving pleasure. The CVT struggled to efficiently transfer the engine’s thrust to the wheels, detracting from the overall driving experience. The suspension, particularly in the tested Platinum model, felt firmer than preferred for daily driving, compromising ride comfort without significantly benefiting handling. While quiet, the engine's droning exhaust note was less than desirable.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas prioritized both standard features and space efficiency. The base SE trim level included a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, and the SEL trim provided leather upholstery and heated second-row seats. The Atlas offered seating for seven with a three-seat second-row bench that could 60/40 split-fold, recline, slide fore and aft, and accommodate three child seats. Higher trims allowed for second-row captain's chairs, reducing seating to six.

Headroom and legroom in the Atlas were competitive across all three rows. It outperformed rivals like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride in overall passenger space, particularly in third-row legroom. Cargo space in the Atlas was also generous, providing 20.6 cubic feet with all seats upright, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 96.6 cubic feet with both rear rows down, making it one of the segment's most spacious options.

Meanwhile, the 2024 Nissan Rogue offered almost identical passenger space as its rivals, such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Subaru Forester, and Toyota RAV4. Its main distinction lay in legroom, with the Forester offering more up front and the Tucson in the second row. The Rogue’s cargo capacity, with a maximum of 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 74.1 cubic feet with seats folded, fell short compared to the CR-V and Tucson but exceeded the Forester.

Nissan included practical features like the optional Divide-N-Hide system, allowing for configurable cargo storage, and a dedicated grocery bag space in the trunk. Higher trims offered a power liftgate and a motion-activated liftgate. The center console provided a pass-through space and a floor-level storage tray, although the latter was somewhat inconvenient to access.

In terms of technology, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas made significant strides. All models came standard with a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, complemented by wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard six USB-C ports, with up to eight available, included a unique dash cam port. Higher trims featured a Harman Kardon 12-speaker system, upgrading the standard six-speaker setup.

The upgraded infotainment system, with map view in the digital instrument cluster, provided a user-friendly experience with sharp, readable graphics. Despite the high-tech vibe, VW’s reliance on haptic touchpads for basic controls made them less intuitive compared to traditional buttons.

Regarding technology, the 2024 Nissan Rogue made significant advancements with its infotainment system. Lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims like the SL and Platinum offered a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Amazon Alexa, and Google built-in apps.

Nissan's integration of Google built-in was a standout feature, offering seamless connectivity for Google Maps, Assistant, and the Google Play app store, albeit limited to five years of complimentary service. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup was user-friendly, although slow boot-ups were a minor drawback. Ample charging options included standard USB-C ports, additional rear charge-only ports on SV and higher trims, and a wireless charging pad on SL and Platinum trims.

Nissan expanded the trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, enhancing features like remote locking, engine start/stop, vehicle health reports, and emergency calling.

Safety-wise, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS gave the structurally similar 2023 Atlas its highest "Good" scores in most crash tests, except for a "Marginal" rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive suite became standard for 2024, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered more advanced features like predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system. Additionally, automatic post-collision braking, a crash response system, and emergency assist were standard.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received commendable safety scores. The IIHS rated it "Good" in almost all crash tests, with an "Acceptable" in the updated side-impact test, and a "Good" headlight rating. The NHTSA similarly gave it a five-star overall rating, with five stars for side crash tests and four stars for frontal and rollover evaluations.

Standard driver aids in the Rogue included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist, Nissan's advanced driver assistance system. ProPilot Assist, available on SV and higher trims, added lane centering and dynamic navigation-based speed adjustments on SL and Platinum trims.