Volkswagen Atlas vs Hyundai Kona

The 2025 Atlas is Volkswagen’s midsize, three-row crossover SUV. It debuted for the 2018 model year, designed specifically for Americans and manufactured in VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant. Over the years, it has received numerous updates to keep it fresh and technologically competitive, most recently for 2024, when styling, powertrain, and tech upgrades were introduced. The 2025 Atlas adds standard automatic high-beam headlights and wireless charging in addition to two new color choices.

Verdict: This family-sized SUV has more interior space than most rivals, making the 2025 VW Atlas a great choice if passenger and cargo room are high on your list of requirements. However, unimpressive fuel economy, dissatisfying ride quality, and a sometimes-infuriating infotainment interface could have you mapping out alternatives to an Atlas.

That there are no major changes beyond a couple of new trim levels for the 2025 Hyundai Kona is neither a surprise nor a bad thing. Not a surprise because this second-generation model only made its debut one year ago, making it too soon to expect any major updates. And not a bad thing because, frankly, this second-generation Kona was already a great subcompact SUV.

Time does not stand still, however, particularly when it comes to crossovers, so it’s time to find out how the Kona performs one year on, and whether it continues to deliver value in an increasingly busy part of the market.