Compare the2025 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Payload and Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer knee airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s optional 360-degree camera offers optional integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Grand Cherokee and the Atlas Cross Sport 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	Grand Cherokee	Atlas Cross Sport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	129	307
Neck Injury Risk	21%	30%
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	412 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	277
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	39%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	129 lbs.
Neck Compression	41 lbs.	117 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	Grand Cherokee	Atlas Cross Sport
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	164	208
Hip Force	527 lbs.	529 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	528 lbs.	594 lbs.

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

Warranty

Jeep’s powertrain warranty covers the Grand Cherokee 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas Cross Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas Cross Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Grand Cherokee’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 4 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 41 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Jeep higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Jeep vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 77 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Jeep higher than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 24 more horsepower (293 vs. 269) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 106 more horsepower (375 vs. 269) and 197 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 273) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

	Grand Cherokee V6	Grand Cherokee 4xe	Atlas Cross Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	6.5 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15 sec	15.9 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

			MPGe
Grand Cherokee
	AWD	4xe Electric Motor	57 city/56 hwy
Atlas Cross Sport
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee 4Xe running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion (23 city/24 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Atlas Cross Sport can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand Cherokee 4xe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas Cross Sport (23 vs. 18.6 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Grand Cherokee higher (6 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (4). This means the Grand Cherokee produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas Cross Sport every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Grand Cherokee	Atlas Cross Sport
Front Rotors	13.9 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.2 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Atlas Cross Sport (275/45R21 vs. 265/45R21).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Atlas Cross Sport; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Grand Cherokee has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Grand Cherokee offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Grand Cherokee’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Grand Cherokee more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (38 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas Cross Sport (8.4 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 4.6 inches higher than on the Atlas Cross Sport (10.9 vs. 6.3 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Grand Cherokee offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Grand Cherokee has .5 inches more front headroom and 1.6 inches more rear headroom than the Atlas Cross Sport.

Payload and Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is limited to 5000 pounds. The Grand Cherokee offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Atlas Cross Sport can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Grand Cherokee has a higher standard payload capacity than the Atlas Cross Sport (1240 vs. 1080 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Atlas Cross Sport (1280 vs. 1080 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Grand Cherokee is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas Cross Sport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Atlas Cross Sport SEL, the Grand Cherokee Overland Luxury Tech/Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe/Limited/Overland/Summit’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Grand Cherokee’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Atlas Cross Sport does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Grand Cherokee has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas Cross Sport only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Grand Cherokee’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas Cross Sport has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Grand Cherokee’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

Recommendations

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport by almost six to one during 2024.

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