2025 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was designed to project a sportier image within the Range Rover family. Its tall stance was complemented by a shorter wheelbase and a chopped top, giving it an athletic appearance. Large front air intakes and faux vents on the hood and fenders added to its sporty look, although from certain angles, it appeared a bit too tall and narrow, lacking the wide, planted look of some luxury SUVs. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with the Dynamic SE offering a Stealth appearance package. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. Inside, the SV Edition 2 boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up inserts, and illuminated paddle shifters, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic with a touchscreen, stubby shifter, and engine start button. The interior felt enclosed and cockpit-like, with high-quality materials, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was a bit excessive.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas was available in five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, Peak Edition, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. The Atlas Peak Edition had an off-road appearance, while the SEL Premium R-Line was the sportiest with the most standard equipment. The Atlas Cross Sport, a five-passenger version, offered a more rakish design. Base prices ranged from $38,200 to $53,205, excluding the destination charge. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line, tested in Mountain Lake Blue with a Shetland Beige leather interior, featured VW’s 4Motion AWD system. Its polished aluminum detailing, light bars, and 21-inch wheels gave it a chiseled, upscale look. Inside, diamond-stitched leather, metallic accents, and artificial wood created a warm environment. The digital instrumentation and large infotainment touchscreen promised a high-tech experience, though the touch-sensitive controls for temperature and volume were less satisfying to use.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Dynamic SE had the same engine but with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain rated at 454 hp and 487 lb-ft. The Autobiography trim offered the plug-in hybrid with 543 hp and 590 lb-ft, or a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft. The SV Edition Two used the same V8 but with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and had a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport excelled in handling with its sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring. It also featured the Terrain Response system for off-roading, with Autobiography models offering a two-speed transfer case.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas replaced its previous engine options with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered FWD or 4Motion AWD. Despite initial skepticism, the engine proved refined and satisfying for daily driving, with a generous torque curve between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm. The Atlas returned 15.5 mpg in urban driving and 19.2 mpg overall during testing, with EPA ratings of 18 mpg city and 21 mpg combined. However, the ride quality was less impressive, with a brittle suspension over road imperfections and excessive body motions at highway speeds. The handling was predictable, with the Bridgestone Alenza all-season tires being the weakest link. The brakes performed well, and Sport mode improved engine and transmission responsiveness.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a midsize two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants found similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, though the Acura MDX and Audi Q7 offered more legroom. The sloping roof didn't significantly impact rear-seat headroom, with only the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class offering slightly more. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The maximum towing capacity was 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, with plug-in hybrids rated at 6,614 pounds.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in form and function, offering a comfortable third-row seat and a cavernous cargo area. The SEL Premium R-Line model featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, with excellent outward visibility and a surround-view camera system. The second-row bench seat accommodated three adults comfortably, with ample leg-, foot-, and headroom. The third-row seat provided adequate leg support and easy access. Storage space was commendable, with practical compartments throughout the cabin. The Atlas offered 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.6 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The minimalist design had functional shortfalls, with most controls embedded in the touchscreen. The Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive, with natural-language voice recognition. The SV Edition 2 test car had "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for music-based vibrations, though the feature felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas used the VW Group's MIB3 operating system with a 12-inch touchscreen display. It lacked traditional controls, relying on touch-sensing buttons and a touch-and-slide volume control. The native digital voice assistant was an extra-cost option and performed inconsistently. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided a better experience, with the Harman Kardon audio system delivering excellent sound quality. The MIB3 system had user-experience glitches, with confusing navigation and display issues.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport included standard driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver attention monitor. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though the parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas featured IQ.Drive standard driver-assistance features, including Front Assist, Active Side Assist, Lane Assist, Emergency Assist, and Travel Assist. It also had adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and a rear cross-traffic alert system. The Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was a 2024 IIHS "Top Safety Pick," though 2025 ratings were not available.