Compare the2023 Kia TellurideVS 2023 Volkswagen Atlas

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Telluride and Atlas have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Telluride has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Atlas’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Telluride are reminded to check the back seat when a sensor determines the back seat is occupied. The Atlas doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kia Telluride has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Telluride’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Telluride and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	Telluride	Atlas
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	281	307
Neck Injury Risk	27%	30%
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	32 lbs.	59 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36%	39%
Neck Compression	91 lbs.	117 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Telluride is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	Telluride	Atlas
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	41	57
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	144
Hip Force	449 lbs.	527 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	640 lbs.	800 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Telluride its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Atlas was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

The Telluride comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Atlas’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Telluride 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 21 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Telluride’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Telluride has a standard 800-amp battery. The Atlas’ 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Telluride’s reliability 13 points higher than the Atlas.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Atlas isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 74 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 72 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 14 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 56 more horsepower (291 vs. 235) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the Atlas’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Telluride’s 3.8 DOHC V6 produces 15 more horsepower (291 vs. 276) than the Atlas’ optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Telluride is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas V6:

	Telluride	Atlas
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.2 MPH	81.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Telluride gets better mileage than the Atlas:

			MPG
Telluride
	FWD	3.8 DOHC V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.8 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
Atlas
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Telluride uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Atlas with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Telluride higher (5 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas (3 to 5). This means the Telluride produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Telluride’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Atlas:

	Telluride	Atlas
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	13.2 inches

The Telluride stops much shorter than the Atlas:

	Telluride	Atlas
70 to 0 MPH	162 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Telluride has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Telluride has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Atlas doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Telluride SX 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the Atlas SEL 4Motion pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Telluride SX 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Atlas SEL 4Motion (27.3 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Telluride’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (38.8 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Telluride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas 2.0T (8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Telluride to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Telluride X-Line/X-Pro’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Atlas V6 (8.4 vs. 7.5 inches).

Chassis

The Telluride is 3.8 inches shorter than the Atlas, making the Telluride easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Telluride SX 4x4 is quieter than the Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion:

	Telluride	Atlas
At idle	36 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	74 dB	76 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The Telluride has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Atlas can only carry 7.

The Telluride has .7 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 4.8 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear shoulder room and .4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Atlas.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Telluride’s middle and third row seats recline. The Atlas’ third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Telluride’s cargo area provides more volume than the Atlas.

	Telluride	Atlas
Behind Third Seat	21 cubic feet	20.6 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Telluride’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Payload and Towing

The Telluride’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Telluride uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Atlas doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Telluride has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Atlas (1662 vs. 1113 lbs.).

The Telluride has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Atlas (1664 vs. 1113 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Telluride SX Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Atlas doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Telluride has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Telluride EX/SX has standard front air conditioned seats and the Telluride SX Prestige also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Atlas doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Telluride is less expensive to operate than the Atlas because typical repairs cost much less on the Telluride than the Atlas, including $259 less for a water pump, $217 less for a muffler, $325 less for a starter, $135 less for fuel injection, $203 less for front struts and $437 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Kia Telluride as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Kia Telluride SX 4x4 first. They ranked the Volkswagen Atlas SEL 4Motion ninth.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Telluride second among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Atlas isn’t in the top three.

Motor Trend selected the Telluride as their 2020 Sport Utility of the Year. The Atlas has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Telluride as the 2020 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Atlas has never been chosen.

The Kia Telluride outsold the Volkswagen Atlas by 22% during 2022.

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