Compare the2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2022 Jeep Cherokee

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Cherokee 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.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Cherokee only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Cherokee 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 lane departure warning systems.

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

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 Cross Sport is safer than the Jeep Cherokee:

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

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

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

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

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 Atlas Cross Sport’s reliability 11 points higher than the Cherokee.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (276 vs. 271) and 27 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 239) than the Cherokee’s standard 3.2 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is faster than the Jeep Cherokee V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas Cross Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder 4Motion gets better fuel mileage than the Cherokee Trailhawk 3.2 DOHC V6 4x4 (20 city/24 hwy vs. 18 city/24 hwy).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Cherokee (18.6 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Atlas Cross Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Cherokee:

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

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the Cherokee:

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the Cherokee (245/60R18 vs. 225/60R17). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Cherokee (265/45R21 vs. 245/65R17).

The Atlas Cross Sport SE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee Latitude LUX 4x4’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Cherokee Limited’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cherokee Latitude LUX. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Cherokee Limited.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 10.8 inches longer than on the Cherokee (117.3 inches vs. 106.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 3.8 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Cherokee.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion handles at .81 G’s, while the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4 (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 8.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Cherokee (112.1 vs. 103.5).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .6 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom, 8.1 inches more rear hip room and 5.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cherokee.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cherokee with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cherokee with its rear seat folded (77.8 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Jeep Cherokee is limited to 4500 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a higher standard payload capacity than the Cherokee (1091 vs. 1000 lbs.).

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 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 Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas Cross Sport 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 Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Cherokee 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 Cross Sport’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Cherokee’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas Cross Sport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Cherokee doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Atlas Cross Sport SEL is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Cherokee’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Cherokee isn't recommended.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Jeep Cherokee by 6% during the 2021 model year.