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| 310 | Horsepower (hp) | 235-276 |
| 97.4 | Cargo Space (cu.ft.) | 96.8 |
| 26 | Highway Fuel Economy (mpg) | 25 |
If you're shopping for a three-row SUV from a reputable brand that offers tons of safety and convenience features, you could be looking at the 2023 Buick Enclave vs 2023 VW Atlas. Buick and Volkswagen are both reliable and trusted brands, and these models are popular options in the segment. With seating for seven, they're excellent family vehicles that have room for the whole crew. Plus, they both offer a generous amount of cargo space for the times you need to load up with groceries, sports gear, travel bags, and more. Thanks to their comprehensive driver-assist features, each one will help you stay in command of the road, always knowing what's happening around your vehicle.
Shopping for a vehicle is always a big decision. This is especially true when choosing an SUV because these are traditionally everyday vehicles for drivers. These aren't your occasional weekend rides like a coupe or convertible. Your SUV is for carpooling, soccer practice pickup, running errands around town, and so much more. It's a vehicle you want to get right. Having the best features to make day-to-day living easier and safer makes all the difference. If you can't decide between the 2023 Buick Enclave vs 2023 VW Atlas, here's a closer look at the important features of each one to help you make your decision.
When you're commanding as much mass as comes with a three-row SUV, power matters. You don't want to deal with delays when accelerating or going uphill. The Enclave and the Atlas both offer V6 engines, although Buick makes the V6 standard while VW offers a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder as its base engine. Further, the Enclave's V6 is more powerful, offering 310 hp compared to the 276 hp of the Atlas. So you might experience a bit more lag in the Atlas when driving uphill or when going from a total stop to reaching highway speeds.
Both of these vehicles can tow up to 5,000 lbs. While they are people haulers, they can also be used to pull a small camper, trailer, boat, ATV, or other equipment that helps you enjoy weekends with the family. However, you need the V6 to unlock this ability in the Atlas, so be prepared to pay more. Again, you are going to get more oomph out of the Buick, so when you utilize the towing abilities of these vehicles, the Buick will keep pace better.
When driving large vehicles like SUVs, especially when towing, you want a transmission that will minimize power loss. With that in mind, the Buick Enclave has a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the Volkswagen Atlas has an eight-speed. That extra gear helps the Enclave operate more efficiently with less power loss. Finally, not that you would put this to the test, the Enclave has a much higher top speed than the Atlas––it can go 130 mph compared to the Atlas' 115 mph. It's just another testament to the Enclave's power.
When talking about hefty vehicles like three-row SUVs, fuel economy always comes up. This is particularly true because SUVs tend to get such heavy use. Not only are they used for daily activities and errands around town, but they are popular road trip vehicles that can cover a lot of ground. Despite being more powerful, the Enclave is also going to give you a little more bang for your buck as far as gas goes. It is rated for up to 26 MPG on the highway, while the Atlas maxes out at 25 MPG on the highway with its base 2.0L engine and 24 MPG on the highway with its V6. It's not a major difference, but on road trips, you'll be pulling over for gas a bit more in the Atlas compared to the Enclave.
You know how much time you and your family spend in your three-row SUV. Having a cabin that's decked out with features to keep everyone comfortable and content is important. Each of these vehicles does have spacious, attractive, and comfortable seats. However, the Enclave is considered more stylish, with even its base trim featuring a more upscale look and materials. In fact, the Enclave is the only one of these two options to offer perforated leather seating across the lineup. It is clearly the more sophisticated choice for those who are looking for a luxury feel.
As for comfort, the Enclave is a little taller than the Atlas and has slightly more passenger volume. If you have tall passengers, they're going to be more content in the Enclave. With more total passenger volume, everyone will have a bit more room to stretch out in the Enclave on long drives. Speaking of long drives, when you need to max out the vehicle's cargo space with suitcases, backpacks, coolers, and more, you'll be able to put more in the Enclave, which has 97.4 cu.ft. of cargo space compared to the 96.8 cu.ft. found in the Atlas.
The infotainment screens are nearly head-to-head on these two SUVs. However, the 2023 Enclave offers an eight-inch screen standard across its lineup, whereas the 2023 Atlas only provides that once you opt for higher trims. You'll only get a 6.5-inch infotainment screen on the base Atlas. Being able to charge electronic devices is also critical on those long road trips, and passengers will fight over USB ports less in the Enclave because it comes with two USB ports for each of the three rows. Meanwhile, the Atlas only comes standard with two USB ports up front.
If you love to enjoy music, audiobooks, podcasts, and other media on your trips, note that the Enclave has a 10-speaker Bose sound system available across the lineup. While the Atlas offers a 12-speaker Fender stereo system, it is only found in the top trim. Meanwhile, when you don't want to hear anything at all, only the Enclave has QuietTuning technology to make for a whisper-quiet cabin. The Atlas does not have any such technology, so you might hear unwanted road noise a bit more.
The Enclave also has something that many people have come to consider a regular part of their day: built-in Amazon Alexa. You can use this feature to control smart home devices, place Amazon orders, and do everything you do with your Alexa at home. This is a big perk for busy parents who are often out and about. It's also worth noting that a generous 10 devices can connect to the Enclave's WiFi hotspot, and two phones can be simultaneously paired with the infotainment system.
Let's talk about safety features. These are the features that look out for you in a number of scenarios. First, there are the driver-assist features. The Enclave and Atlas are pretty comparable here. Each has automatic emergency braking and collision alerts, lane keep assist, intelligent high beam systems, parking assist, and a slew of other standard and available systems to act as your second set of eyes and ears. You can't go wrong with the driver-assist features in either of these SUVs.
However, while the hope is that you never get in a crash, the fact is that the 2023 Enclave offers the cream of the crop in emergency assistance. Only the Enclave offers three years of OnStar and Connected Services, which includes access to the OnStar Guardian app, automatic crash response, emergency services, crisis assistance, roadside assistance, and stolen vehicle assistance. The Atlas does have a similar set of services, but OnStar is considered the best of its kind.
Now, where the Enclave does shine is in its warranties. While both of these vehicles have factory warranty coverage, the Enclave's is far more generous than that of the Atlas. The Enclave offers a powertrain warranty that lasts for five years or 60,000 miles, while the Atlas only has coverage that lasts for four years or 50,000 miles. You'll get an extra year or 10,000 miles of support with the Enclave. Considering how much work the powertrain does on a three-row SUV, having that added coverage could mean tremendous savings in the long run.
At Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth, we are proud to offer the spacious and reliable Buick Enclave and many other popular Buick models. We carry tons of new and used vehicles from Buick. Plus, we have a large selection of used cars from top names like Chevy, Honda, Ford, and more.
We have nearly every body style available here, so drivers with a variety of needs can find what they are looking for. From DIYers and contractors needing a hard-working truck to professionals needing a stylish sedan to families needing an SUV, we have what you require in stock. Our friendly and knowledgeable sales team can help you pick out the ideal model for your needs.
We also offer a full finance department that will gladly show you lease and loan options to fit your budget. They'll make sure you understand every package and drive off on a payment plan that you're happy with. Visit us today and check out an enormous selection of new and used vehicles from all the names you love!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.