2019 Volkswagen Atlas vs Kia Telluride

June 12 2019,

Buyers who want space without having to turn to a minivan tend to turn to the mid-sized, three-row SUV segment. These are the vehicles that provide the type of versatility buyers need for their families while also being fun to drive and enjoyable on the road. Among the sportiest and most dynamic mid-sized sport utility vehicles out there, we have the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas and the new Kia Telluride.

Kia and Volkswagen have long been considered the most sport-focused automakers in their niche. In other words, buyers who want a vehicle that’s dynamic, sporty, and fun tend to look to Volkswagen with its German-engineered vehicles, and Kia who has always put the emphasis on both value and performance. Most experts will tell you, if you want a performance-oriented three-row utility vehicle, the Atlas and the Telluride are a great place to start. On the other hand, these two models stand out in the versatility and technology departments as well. But which one is the best option for you? Let’s take a closer look at how the 2019 Volkswagen Atlas and the Kia Telluride compare.

A Significant Difference in Price Between the Telluride and the Atlas

The first thing we notice about the Kia Telluride and the Volkswagen is the price difference. Starting at just over $36,000, the Atlas is just about $10,000 less than the new Telluride. Granted, it will have less features at this price range, but it’s still a considerable difference if we just want space in our next vehicle.

Even if we climb up the Atlas’ model lineup into better-equipped versions, the price difference is still considerable. A 2019 Volkswagen Atlas Comfortline, perhaps the best comparison to the base Telluride, starts at just $41,340. That’s still over $5,000 less than the Telluride. The Atlas comes wih standard 18-inch wheels, autonomous braking, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while the Comfortline version adds a remote starter, a power liftgate, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic detection, and a three-zone climate controls.

Opt for the Highline version and you will get Park Distance Control, a panoramic sunroof, heated front and rear seats and navigation for less than $50,000. The second trim in the Telluride lineup starts at over $51,000 while the top-of-the-line model is priced at $55,995. The top trim in the Atlas lineup? The Execline which starts at $53,590 and features technologies you won’t find in the Telluride such as the fully digital Volkswagen Digital Cockpit.

Why does this matter? Because the Atlas also has the advantage when it comes to interior space with over 2,700 liters of max cargo space. The Telluride offers no more than 2,455 liters of max cargo space. The net result? The Atlas is the better option if you want space and value in your next mid-size SUV.