One of the first questions most drivers have when car shopping is “What’s under the hood?” The Volkswagen Atlas and the Subaru Ascent share some similarities in their powertrains, both offering exceptional horsepower and torque output.

With the Subaru Ascent, you’ll have a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that gets up to 260 horsepower. Meanwhile, the VW Atlas features a 2.0L Turbo engine that generates 269 horsepower. The engines in both models provide over 270 lb-ft of torque. Still, the Volkswagen uses that torque to a greater advantage.

When it comes to heading out on your next adventure with your crew, you may want to enjoy some recreation. As such, you’ll want to know your SUV is capable of hauling your favorite toys.

With its standard configuration, the Ascent can tow up to 2,000 pounds. While that may be adequate for your everyday routine, the Volkswagen Atlas can answer the call for turning ordinary travels into extraordinary ones. That’s because every trim of the VW Atlas pulls its weight with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

SUVs are designed for versatility, so most car buyers look for plenty of interior space for both passengers and cargo. The Volkswagen Atlas and the Subaru Ascent offer plenty of seating options with room for seven passengers.

However, the VW Atlas offers just a tad more passenger volume. You can expect 154 cubic feet of passenger volume in the Volkswagen Atlas and 153.2 cubic feet in the Subaru Ascent.

Third-row passengers will be able to enjoy more space with 38.3 inches of headroom and 33.7 inches of legroom in the VW Atlas, while passengers in the back of the Subaru Ascent will only have 36.2 inches of headroom and 31.7 inches of legroom.

While both SUVs feature a large trunk and folding seats in both the second and third rows, the Subaru can’t carry quite as much.

	VW Atlas	Subaru Ascent
Cargo Room Behind 1st Row	96.8 cubic feet	75.6 cubic feet
Cargo Room Behind 2nd Row	55.5 cubic feet	43.5 cubic feet

As you can see, there’s more cargo space in the Volkswagen Atlas than in the Subaru Ascent. This extra space is great for your next big move, project, or adventure.

When you glance in the cabins of the VW Atlas and the Subaru Ascent, you’ll notice several similarities, including sizable touchscreen displays. Still, the standard 12-inch touchscreen in the VW Atlas outsizes the 11.6-inch display in the Ascent.

You can also enjoy must-have features like:

• Apple CarPlay®
• Android Auto™
• SiriusXM® Radio

With their available navigation systems, you’ll be able to see a map of your route in real time with both SUVs. The VW Atlas makes it easier to view your route, though, with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro. This makes your instrument cluster fully customizable and offers display modes, like full-screen navigation.

The Subaru Ascent has a more traditional instrument cluster, so you won’t have the same level of convenience and customization with the information you’ll see as you drive.