Compare the2025 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2025 Audi Q7

Both the Atlas and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Audi Q7:

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Q7:

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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Audi Q7:

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q7.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas’ warranty.

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Q7’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

The Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 8 more horsepower (269 vs. 261) than the Q7 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the Q7:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q7 55 TFSI requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q7 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Q7 Premium Plus pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 650 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas amounts to more than styling. The Atlas has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the Q7 (.36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas get better fuel mileage.

The Atlas has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 4.5 inches more third row legroom and 5.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Atlas easier. The Atlas’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the Q7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in every dimension:

The Atlas has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Q7 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The Atlas’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q7’s (5000 vs. 4409 pounds).

The Q7’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Atlas’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Atlas has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Q7.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q7.

The Atlas offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Atlas is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $2535 to $4860 less than the Q7 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the Q7 because typical repairs cost much less on the Atlas than the Q7, including $77 less for a muffler, $43 less for front brake pads, $313 less for a starter, $252 less for fuel injection, $5 less for a fuel pump, $250 less for front struts and $28 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by over three to one during 2023.