Compare the2025 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Atlas has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Atlas and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Atlas has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Atlas comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Grand Cherokee L’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Grand Cherokee L’s (7 vs. 5 years).

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Grand Cherokee L’s 3.6 DOHC V6 engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Atlas has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

The Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 257) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 49.8 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

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 Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Atlas 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 650 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The Atlas is 4.2 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Atlas easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 Grand Cherokee L (.357) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas get better fuel mileage.

The Atlas has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1 inch more third row headroom, 3.4 inches more third row legroom, 2.2 inches more third row hip room and 3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

The front step up height for the Atlas is 2.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L (18” vs. 20.2”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 2.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L’s (18” vs. 20.2”).

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

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 Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

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

The Atlas’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Atlas’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Atlas’ standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Atlas’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Grand Cherokee L’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 Grand Cherokee L.

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 Grand Cherokee L.

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $970 less than the Grand Cherokee L over a five-year period.