2023 Volkswagen Atlas vs. 2023 Ford Explorer
Sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) remain the car of choice in the United States and comprise one of every two car sales on average. Two models that you may hear a lot about are the Volkswagen Atlas and the Ford Explorer. While the 2023 models for each aren’t expected to reach dealerships until later in the fall, based on our experience with last year’s Atlas and Explorer, here’s what you can expect regarding their driving experiences.
Interior Seat Adjustments and Cargo Space
You can expect to ride in comfort and style in your new Atlas. The engineers have integrated flexibility into the design so that you can optimize the seat position to suit your ideal shifter height and pedal spacing. They also fit easy-to-use, ergonomically designed controls. The interior produces an upscale feel through contrast stitching and ambient lighting. Volkswagen uses premium materials for the seats, including leatherette seating surfaces. The driver seat has 10 adjustment options, and the passenger seat has eight.
The Explorer is known for cloth seating materials with an eight-way adjustable driver’s seat. The second row consists of captain’s chairs, while the third row offers a unique 50/50 split for the ideal configuration of passengers and cargo.
The 2023 Atlas offers 172.9 cubic feet of cargo space, while the 2023 Explorer offers only 153.9 cubic feet.
Exterior Appearance, Lighting and Dimensions
Images via VW.com and Ford.com
Your Atlas will make a loud statement, whether you drive it to work or a family outing. The headlights include full-LED lighting with low and high beams and daytime running lights and taillights. In some trims, Volkswagen includes more powerful 900-lumen LED headlights as part of an adaptive front-lighting system. Roof rails come standard across the line.
The Ford Explorer offers automatic high-beam technology, automatic LED low-beam headlamps, and tail lamps. You’ll set a serious tone with the Explorer’s black grille and a chrome lift gate. To help with loading and unloading, the Explorer comes with a black molded rear bumper step pad.
Both vehicles have similar exterior dimensions; the 2023 Atlas is slightly longer, while the Explorer is a little taller. The 2023 Atlas is 200.7 inches long and 70.1 inches tall, and the 2023 Ford Explorer is 198.8 inches long and 70.2 inches tall.
Passenger Seating, Headroom and Leg Space
Passengers will be comfortable due to the ample space in the Atlas in both the front and rear. The three rows in the Atlas accommodate seven passengers comfortably across 154 cu ft of total passenger space. Headroom in the first three rows is 41.3, 40.4, and 38.3 in., respectively, from front to back. The second row provides a bench seat configuration with a 60/40 split and the unique ability to tilt and fold the seats, allowing passengers to climb in and out easily.
Like the Atlas, the Explorer provides 41 in of headroom for both the front seat and second rows and approximately 39 in for third-row passengers. The total passenger volume is 153 cu ft. The Explorer comfortably seats either six or seven people.
Display and Infotainment Technology
If you look hard enough, you could convince yourself that you’re in an airplane. The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, which comes standard on the Atlas, offers a fully digital dashboard of car instruments so that you can see the status of the vehicle systems at a glance. The cockpit in the SE and SE/W Technology models consists of 8.0-in diagonal displays. The screen jumps up to a 10.25-in screen with multiple views in the SEL models and above.
All models of the Atlas feature the innovative Volkswagen MIB touchscreen infotainment system, which features a capacitive-touch sensor to easily select the features that you need to access. The system also offers wireless charging for all compatible devices. You can operate and access your cell phone apps through Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or MirrorLink.
The Explorer offers a sizable 10.1-in diagonal touchscreen to access information about the car and use apps on your smartphone. Ford+Alexa is integrated into the Explorer, so you can make use of the Amazon-based digital assistant.
Braking, Crash Response and Avoidance Safety
You can drive your Volkswagen Atlas with peace of mind, as it includes some of the latest safety features available. One of the headline safety features is the Volkswagen Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which applies the brakes automatically to reduce the chance of a post-crash collision. Another safety defense is the Intelligent Crash Response System, which terminates the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on hazard lights if the car senses a crash. A similar set of features warns of impending collisions from the vehicle’s front, rear, and side.
The Explorer also offers a range of electronic safety features. One unique feature that everyone can relate to is the vehicle’s rear-parking sensors. The sensors emit audible beeps the closer you get to other vehicles as you’re backing out, which warns you in enough time to avoid a collision.
Miles per Gallon
The Volkswagen Atlas offers several options to achieve your fuel economy goals. According to EPA estimates, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Atlas achieves 21 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. These ratings are slightly lower for the all-wheel-drive system, at 20 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The Atlas in the V6 configuration will require more visits to the pump, with combined ratings of 19 or 20 mpg.
Explorer drivers have a range of fuel economy options, ranging from 19 mpg combined at the lower entry-level end of the line and stretching to 27 mpg combined in the hybrid Ford Explorer model.
Powertrain and Horsepower
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas offers two engine options. You can select either a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine or the more powerful 3.6-liter VR-6, both of which come with multi-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter engine leverages direct fuel injection by putting out 235 hp at 5,000 rpm with 258 lb-ft of torque when the engine revs to 1,600 rpm with premium fuel. In comparison, the 3.6-liter VR-6 is also a direct-injection engine and delivers 276 hp at 6,200 rpm with 266 lb-ft of torque.
The Explorer offers drivers the choice of a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 300 hp or a 3.0-liter V-6 engine with an output of 400 hp. The Explorer comes with rear-wheel drive as standard, and all-wheel drive is an available option. In 2022, Ford offered the Explorer with a hybrid engine. One highlight of the Explorer is its terrain management system, which offers a variety of driving modes, depending on what kind of surface you’re traversing.
Shop for your next car at Volkswagen of Marion. We’ve been serving southern Illinois since 1976. We are a full-service dealership offering the latest new Volkswagen models and a wide selection of used and pre-owned cars from other major manufacturers. Call us or contact us online to take one of our cars for a test drive.