America is cuckoo for crossovers, especially the three-row variety. Making this 2025 Honda Pilot vs. 2025 Volkswagen Atlas comparison of crucial consideration. In a segment brimming with options like the popular Kia Telluride and luxury-adjacent Mazda CX-90, automakers need to bring their A-game. Safe to say, Honda and Volkswagen got the memo.
The latest Honda Pilot comes from the fourth generation, one that began in 2023 and so, for 2025, carries over with limited changes. Really, aside from the addition of a new Black Edition range-topper, the Pilot remains the same. Which is no bad thing. Featuring modern styling, standard Honda Sensing driver aids, and a smooth naturally aspirated V6, the 2025 Honda Pilot is the definition of family friendly.
Over at Volkswagen, the automaker’s largest offering – the Atlas – has been on sale in its first generation since 2018. A comprehensive overhaul for 2024 brought a fresh face, a punchier powertrain, and an impressive array of standard features and technology. New for the 2025 Atlas are standard wireless phone charging, more paint options, and available massaging front seats. The Atlas is a compelling competitor for the Pilot, so let’s take a look at which one does the three-row crossover thing best.
Under the hood of every 2025 Honda Pilot is a 3.5L V6 churning out 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a 10-speed automatic to spin the front wheels. All-wheel drive can be added to lower-spec models for $2,100 or can be found on the TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition trim lines as standard equipment. In base spec, the Pilot is rated for 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. Adding AWD drops the highway and combined figures by 1 mpg and the TrailSport fares slightly worse.
VW puts a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 in every 2025 Atlas. Good for 269 hp and 273 torques, it works with an 8-speed automatic. Like the Pilot, FWD is standard and AWD is a $2,000 option except on Peak Edition models and above where it is included. Fuel economy for the Atlas is nearly identical to the Honda Pilot. The FWD 2025 Atlas earns 20, 26, and 22 mpg in the city, highway, and combined cycles respectively. With AWD, those numbers drop to 18, 25, and 21, while the Peak variant and its beefy rubber come in slightly lower.
If you plan to drag race your Pilot against an Atlas (or vice versa) from Starbucks to Costco, it’ll be a dead heat. It is estimated that the Honda can go from 0-60 in 7.2 seconds with the VW hot on its heels at 7.3 seconds. However, for those planning to do a bit of off-roading in their family wagon, the Pilot TrailSport is where it’s at. Offering a usable 8.3” of ground clearance, all-terrain rubber, off-road tuned suspension, and skid plate coverage, it’s capable of basic trail work.
Volkswagen pitches the Atlas Peak Edition as a similar adventure-ready crossover, but it’s really not. Aside from all-terrain tires, this Atlas is the same as the rest of the lineup with some tough-looking design elements. But the 6.3” of ground clearance is quite a bit off the Pilot’s pace. As for towing, there’s no difference with both models offering the same 5,000-pound max rating when properly equipped.
Likely, those doing a 2025 Honda Pilot vs. 2025 Volkswagen Atlas comparison are most interested in the cabin. For maximum space, the Atlas takes the cake with 97 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row versus 87 for the Pilot. The VW stays in front of the Pilot for this metric behind the second and third row as well. Both SUVs can seat 7 or 8 depending on the second-row layout.
In the legroom matchup, Honda has the second-row edge with 41” versus 38” in the VW. But it’s the other way around in the third row where the Pilot offers 32” of legroom to the 34” found in the Atlas. Both crossovers come with leather or leatherette and standard heated front seats. But the Atlas one-ups the Pilot with standard front seat ventilation and available massaging backrests on the top-spec Sel Premium R-Line.
As for infotainment, there’s no contest. Base 2025 Honda Pilots come with a 7” central touchscreen and wired smartphone mirroring. From the EX-L trim line on up, this improves to a 9” display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. But every 2025 VW Atlas boasts a 12” infotainment touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, and a fully digital gauge cluster. If screen size matters to you, the Atlas is one of the best infotainment purveyors in the biz.
If you’re sensing the Atlas pulling away from the Pilot in this comparison, it will be even clearer when comparing trim levels and price points. Honda starts the 2025 Pilot out at $40,200 for the Sport model. It comes with 20” wheels, LED headlights, triple zone automatic climate control, and USB ports for the first two rows. Forward collision mitigation, a lane-keeping system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control are lineup-standard.
Next up is the EX-L for $43,500, which adds a power-operated liftgate, leather upholstery, a 9-speaker stereo, wireless phone charging, and an in-cabin PA system. The $49,400 TrailSport model is the off-roader of the group and features a panoramic moonroof and surround-view monitor. For $47,500, the Pilot Touring features a hands-free liftgate, a Bose audio system, and navigation. The Elite trim runs $53,080 and is loaded with rain-sensing wipers, climatized front seats, heated seconds, and a head-up display. For an extra $1,500, the top-dog Black Edition builds on the Elite model with darkened content.
The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas SE base model starts at $38,200 and features 18” wheels, adaptive LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, climatized front seats, a heated steering wheel, USB ports for all 3 rows, the same roster of advanced driver aids as Honda offers, plus wireless phone charging and the Travel Assist semi-automated driving system. For $42,305, the SE Technology model features 20” wheels, illuminated front and rear fascia elements, a hands-free liftgate, and parking sensors at both ends.
Next up is the Atlas Peak Edition pseudo-off-roader. It runs $46,655 and comes with black trim, special body cladding, a panoramic moonroof, and illuminated dashboard décor. In $48,200 SEL guise, the Atlas sports leather seating, heated second-row seats, a heads-up display, and navigation. At the top of the 2025 Atlas range is the SEL Premium R-Line. For $53,205, it comes with 21” wheels, premium leather upholstery, massaging front seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, an SVM, and a self-parking system.
On paper, the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas handily bests the 2025 Honda Pilot by offering more for less. It has a lower starting price with a better roster of creature comforts and technology included. And at the top end, for nearly the same $53,000, the Atlas offers stuff the Honda can’t match like seat massagers and the ability to park itself.
Of course, these being family-oriented vehicles, safety is of the utmost importance. On that front, both of these crossovers have a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The Pilot does do slightly better at the IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick+ award versus the Top Safety Pick – sans plus sign – rating for the Atlas. As for warranty coverage, both go the industry-average route with Volkswagen offering two years of complimentary maintenance versus one from Honda. Ultimately, we’d pick the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas over the 2025 Honda Pilot.