Compare the2023 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 Dodge Durango

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
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 Durango 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 Durango 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 Durango doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

The Atlas SEL Premium has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Durango 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 and the Durango 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, 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 is safer than the Dodge Durango:

	Atlas	Durango
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	34%
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	339/364 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	295
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	156 lbs.

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 Durango:

	Atlas	Durango
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	9 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	23 cm	26 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Femur Force R/L	3.1/0 kN	5.3/2.5 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	1%/0%	6%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Tibia index R/L	.46/.5	1.53/.59

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 Dodge Durango:

	Atlas	Durango
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	111 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Atlas is 4.7% to 7.6% less likely to roll over than the Durango.

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 125 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Durango was not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2016.

Warranty

The Atlas comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Durango’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 Durango’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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. Dodge doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Durango.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Durango’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 engines in the Atlas have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Durango.

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’ reliability 11 points higher than the Durango.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas V6 is faster than the Dodge Durango V6:

	Atlas	Durango
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.8 MPH	86.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Atlas
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/25 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
Durango
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Atlas’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Dodge only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Durango V6.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas stops shorter than the Durango:

	Atlas	Durango
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Atlas flat and controlled during cornering. The Durango’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 Durango doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Durango.

The Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Durango GT pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Durango GT 4x4 (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 750 pounds less than the Dodge Durango.

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas amounts to more than styling. The Atlas has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is lower than the Durango (.36). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 12.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Durango (153.7 vs. 141.4).

The Atlas has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, .2 inches more third row legroom, 2.7 inches more third row hip room and 4.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Durango.

The front step up height for the Atlas is 1.7 inches lower than the Durango (18” vs. 19.7”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 1.7 inches lower than the Durango’s (18” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Atlas	Durango
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	43.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.8 cubic feet	85.1 cubic feet

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 Durango’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

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

	Atlas	Durango
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	20”/50”/83”
Max Width	61.6”	49”
Min Width	45”	42.5”
Height	37.5”	36”

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Atlas’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Durango doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The Atlas’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Durango’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 Durango’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Durango’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 Durango 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 Durango’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Durango 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.

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

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

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 Durango 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 Durango is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the Durango because typical repairs cost less on the Atlas than the Durango, including $61 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Dodge Durango isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its August 2017 issue and they ranked the Volkswagen Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion two places higher than the Dodge Durango GT 4x4.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Dodge Durango by 70% during the 2022 model year.

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