Compare the2023 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2022 Kia Telluride

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Telluride 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Atlas offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Telluride doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Telluride doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Atlas and the Telluride 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, lane departure warning systems 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 Kia Telluride:

	Atlas	Telluride
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	164/998 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	378
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	131 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	351/369 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Kia Telluride:

	Atlas	Telluride
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	93 lbs.
Hip Force	345 lbs.	440 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	47 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	279	450
Spine Acceleration	51 G’s	52 G’s

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

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 much safer than the Telluride:

	Atlas	Telluride
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	42	99
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis Force	1205 lbs.	1472 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	163	300
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Atlas its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 122 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Telluride is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Telluride’s (7/100,000 vs. 5/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Telluride.

Reliability

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

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder 4Motion gets better fuel mileage than the Telluride 4x4 (20 city/24 hwy vs. 19 city/24 hwy).

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Atlas’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas’ standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Telluride are solid, not vented.

The Atlas stops shorter than the Telluride:

	Atlas	Telluride
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Telluride (265/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Telluride S/SX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The Telluride’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

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 Telluride doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Telluride (117.3 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Telluride SX 4x4 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Telluride SX 4x4 (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Atlas has .4 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more third row headroom, 2.3 inches more third row legroom and 1.4 inches more third row hip room than the Telluride.

The front step up height for the Atlas is 1.5 inches lower than the Telluride (18” vs. 19.5”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Telluride’s (18” vs. 19.3”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Atlas	Telluride
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	46 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.8 cubic feet	87 cubic feet

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

	Atlas	Telluride
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	20.4”/49.8”/83.8”
Max Width	61.6”	54.4”
Min Width	45”	43.5”
Height	37.5”	34.5”

Ergonomics

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 Telluride can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Telluride’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Telluride doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Atlas’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Telluride’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Telluride doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Atlas SEL Premium’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Telluride doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Atlas with a number “5” insurance rate while the Telluride is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the Telluride because it costs $163 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Atlas than the Telluride, including $22 less for front brake pads, $122 less for a fuel pump and $42 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Kia Telluride by 25% during the 2021 model year.

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