Nissan Rogue vs. Volkswagen Atlas: Compact Crossover vs. Midsize SUV Comparison

What To Know

  • The Rogue gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.
  • The Atlas gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.
  • The Rogue’s EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway are both better than the Atlas’s 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

The Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas are two of the most popular compact SUVs on the market. Both vehicles offer a spacious interior, plenty of features, and a comfortable ride. However, there are some key differences between the two SUVs that may make one a better choice for you than the other.

In this blog post, we will compare the Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas in terms of their performance, fuel efficiency, interior, features, safety, and price. We will also provide our recommendation for which SUV is the better choice overall.

Performance

The Nissan Rogue is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The Volkswagen Atlas is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

Both SUVs are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Rogue gets an EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 25 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive. The Atlas gets an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.

In terms of performance, the Volkswagen Atlas has a clear advantage over the Nissan Rogue. The Atlas’s turbocharged engine provides more power and torque, which makes it quicker off the line and more responsive at highway speeds. The Atlas also has a higher towing capacity than the Rogue, at 5,000 lbs. vs. 1,500 lbs.

Fuel Efficiency

As we mentioned above, the Nissan Rogue gets better gas mileage than the Volkswagen Atlas. The Rogue’s EPA-estimated 27 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway are both better than the Atlas’s 21 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

If fuel efficiency is a top priority for you, then the Nissan Rogue is the better choice. However, it’s important to note that the Atlas’s larger engine provides more power and torque, which may be worth the trade-off in fuel economy for some drivers.

Interior

The Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas both have spacious interiors with plenty of room for passengers and cargo. The Rogue has a total of 70.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down, while the Atlas has a total of 97.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.

Both SUVs offer a variety of interior features, including heated seats, a sunroof, and a navigation system. However, the Atlas offers a few more premium features than the Rogue, such as ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof.

In terms of interior space and features, the Volkswagen Atlas has a slight edge over the Nissan Rogue. However, the Rogue’s interior is still very spacious and comfortable, and it offers a good range of features.

Features

The Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas both come with a long list of standard features, including:

  • Air conditioning
  • Bluetooth
  • Cruise control
  • Power windows and locks
  • Remote keyless entry
  • Rearview camera

The Atlas offers a few more standard features than the Rogue, such as:

  • Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Lane departure warning

Both SUVs also offer a variety of optional features, such as:

  • Navigation system
  • Sunroof
  • Heated seats
  • Ventilated seats
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Panoramic sunroof

In terms of features, the Volkswagen Atlas has a slight edge over the Nissan Rogue. However, the Rogue still offers a good range of features, and it’s likely that most drivers will be happy with the standard features that come with the base model.

Safety

The Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas have both received good safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The Rogue received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, and it was named a Top Safety Pick++ by the IIHS. The Atlas also received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but it was not named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

Both SUVs come with a variety of standard safety features, including:

  • Anti-lock brakes
  • Traction control
  • Stability control
  • Airbags

The Atlas offers a few more standard safety features than the Rogue, such as:

  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Lane departure warning

Both SUVs also offer a variety of optional safety features, such as:

  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Lane keep assist
  • Automatic emergency braking

In terms of safety, the Volkswagen Atlas has a slight edge over the Nissan Rogue. However, the Rogue still offers a good range of safety features, and it’s likely that most drivers will be happy with the standard safety features that come with the base model.

Price

The Nissan Rogue has a starting price of $26,090, while the Volkswagen Atlas has a starting price of $32,565. Both SUVs offer a variety of trim levels, with the top-of-the-line Rogue SL Platinum starting at $35,990 and the top-of-the-line Atlas SEL Premium R-Line starting at $48,995.

In terms of price, the Nissan Rogue is the more affordable option. However, the Atlas offers a few more features and a more powerful engine, which may be worth the extra cost for some drivers.

Which SUV is Right for You?

The Nissan Rogue and Volkswagen Atlas are both excellent compact SUVs. The Rogue is the more affordable option, and it offers good fuel economy and a spacious interior. The Atlas offers a more powerful engine, a few more features, and a slightly higher safety rating.

Ultimately, the best SUV for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for an affordable SUV with good fuel economy, then the Nissan Rogue is a great choice. If you’re looking for an SUV with a more powerful engine, more features, and a higher safety rating, then the Volkswagen Atlas is a great choice.

Frequently Discussed Topics

Q: Which SUV has more cargo space?

A: The Volkswagen Atlas has more cargo space than the Nissan Rogue, with 97.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down compared to 70.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down in the Rogue.

Q: Which SUV has a more powerful engine?

A: The Volkswagen Atlas has a more powerful engine than the Nissan Rogue, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque compared to a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque in the Rogue.

Q: Which SUV is safer?

A: The Volkswagen Atlas has a slightly higher safety rating than the Nissan Rogue, with a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS compared to a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS in the Rogue.