A midsize, three-row SUV provides plenty of possibilities for families and solo drivers. You can enjoy a flexible interior that seats extra passengers or adapts to offer more cargo space, depending on your needs. SUVs are a popular choice for everyday driving and are also an ideal vehicle for road trips, providing plenty of space and convenience for life on the go.
Whether you’re just beginning your search or have been looking for a while, chances are you’re finding it difficult to choose from so many different SUV makes and models. If that’s the case, there’s no need to stress because your local Volkswagen dealership is here to provide some guidance along the way!
In our Volkswagen lineup, one of our favorite SUVs is the family-friendly 2026 Volkswagen Atlas. Offering three rows of seating, impressive standard features, and sophisticated styling, this SUV will keep your family riding in comfort.
So how does it stand out among its rivals?
One of its key competitors is the 2026 Honda Pilot, so we’ll show you how these two midsize SUVs compare, highlighting some of their differences and similarities to help make your SUV decision a little easier. Learn more about these two SUVs below, then stop by Low Country Volkswagen in Mount Pleasant, SC, to test-drive the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas and see if it’s the right fit for you.
Performance and Engine Options
Let’s start by looking at how these two SUVs perform.
Whether you’re heading out on a cross-country road trip or zipping around town, the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas gets the job done with a turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI® engine that boasts 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This powerful engine is complemented by an eight-speed transmission, and offers enough strength to tow up to 5,000 pounds, when properly equipped.
The 2026 Honda Pilot brings a V6 engine and a 10-speed automatic transmission to the table. This engine produces 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and you can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when the SUV is properly equipped.
While the Pilot may offer a bit more horsepower than the Atlas, its fuel efficiency falls slightly short of its rival.
The Volkswagen Atlas gives you an EPA-estimated 20/27/23 MPG (city/highway/combined) with front-wheel drive models and an EPA-estimated 20/26/22 MPG (city/highway/combined) with all-wheel drive models.
In contrast, the Honda Pilot gives you an EPA-estimated 19/27/22 MPG (city/highway/combined)3 with two-wheel-drive models and an EPA-estimated 19/25/21 MPG (city/highway/combined)3 with all-wheel-drive models, with the exception of the AWD TrailSport trim, which offers an EPA-estimated 18/23/20 MPG (city/highway/combined).3
Interior Space and Passenger Comfort
When it comes to comfort, the Atlas has an immediate advantage over the Pilot, offering not only standard heated seats and a standard heated steering wheel for extra coziness in cold weather but also standard ventilated seats to help keep you cool throughout hot South Carolina summers.
While the Pilot is equipped with standard heated front seats, it offers a heated steering wheel only in select trim levels and ventilated front seats only in the top two trim levels.
Both models offer available heated second-row outboard seats and a flexible cabin with easy-to-fold seating that comes in handy when you need extra space for cargo. The Atlas comes with a 60/40 split-folding second row, third-row easy entry, and a 50/50 split-folding third row.
The Pilot comes with 40/20/40 split, flat-folding second-row seats, one-touch flat-folding second-row seats, and a 60/40 split, flat-folding third-row bench seat. The TrailSport trim comes with second-row captain's chairs.
Both SUVs offer spacious three rows of seating, and while the Atlas offers standard seating for seven, the Pilot offers standard seating for eight.
When it comes to legroom, the Atlas offers 41.7 inches in the first row, 37.6 inches in the second row, and 33.7 inches in the third row. The Pilot offers 41 inches in the first row, 40.8 inches in the second row, and 32.5 inches in the third row.
Cargo Capacity Comparison
When you’ve got a load to haul, you need an SUV that provides ample space and an easy-to-adapt interior.
Looking at the maximum cargo space of each SUV, you’ll get a maximum of 96.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down in the Volkswagen Atlas. Maximum cargo space varies across the Honda Pilot lineup, ranging from 111.8 cubic feet in the base trim level to 113.7 cubic feet in the TrailSport trim.
Let’s break cargo space down even further, comparing the space behind each row of the base trim levels. For the Volkswagen Atlas SE, that’s 96.6 cubic feet behind the first row, 55.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row.
For the Honda Pilot Sport, that’s 87 standard cubic feet and 111.8 maximum cubic feet behind the first row, 48.5 standard cubic feet and 59.5 maximum cubic feet behind the second row, and 18.6 standard cubic feet and 21.8 maximum cubic feet behind the third row.
Technology and Connectivity Features
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas and 2026 Honda Pilot are both designed to keep you seamlessly connected on the go. Both offer sleek touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
In the Atlas, you’ll find a 12-inch touchscreen, and in the Pilot, you’ll find a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Both SUVs offer an available head-up display for greater convenience and safety, and both offer upgraded sound systems. For the Atlas, that’s an available Harman Kardon® premium audio system, which includes a center speaker and subwoofer. For the Pilot, that’s an available Bose® premium sound system, which includes a subwoofer.
While both models offer wireless charging, the Atlas offers wireless charging in all models, starting with the base trim level. You won’t find wireless charging in the Pilot’s base trim level, though.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Technologies
Both SUVs provide peace of mind with a variety of safety and driver-assistance features.
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas is designed with front and rear crumple zones and a rigid safety cage for your protection. It’s also equipped with an Advanced Airbag Protection System with six airbags and gives you features like:
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Available Dynamic Road Sign Display
- Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning & Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian & Cyclist Monitoring)
- Available Head-Up Display
- Lane change system Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert and Exit Warning System
- Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights)
- Available Park Assist with Park Distance Control, front and rear
- Rear View Camera System
- Available Rear View Camera System with Area View (Overhead View Camera)
- Available remote engine start
- Travel Assist
- Lane Assist
- Emergency Assist
- Intelligent Crash Response System
Designed with an Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, the 2026 Honda Pilot comes with advanced front airbags, SmartVent® front side airbags, three-row side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, and front knee airbags. This SUV also includes features like:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System
- Road Departure Mitigation System
- Forward Collision Warning
- Lane Departure Warning
- Lane Keeping Assist System
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
- Traffic Sign Recognition System
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Blind Spot Information System
- Cross Traffic Monitor
- Driver Attention Monitor
- Auto High-Beam Headlights
- Parking Sensors (4 front and 4 rear)
- Rear Seat Reminder
- Post-Collision Braking System
- Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
- Available Multiview Camera System
Volkswagen Atlas vs. Honda Pilot Trims
When shopping for a new ride, cost is a major factor for most drivers. So let’s take a look at the trim levels of the Volkswagen Atlas and the Honda Pilot and see how these two SUVs' starting prices compare.
2026 Volkswagen Atlas Lineup
- Atlas SE: Starting at $39,3101
- Atlas SE with Technology: Starting at $43,7301
- Atlas Peak Edition: Starting at $48,0601
- Atlas SEL: Starting at $49,6201
- Atlas SEL Premium R-Line: Starting at $54,6301
The 2026 Honda Pilot Lineup
- Pilot Sport: Starting at $42,3952
- Pilot EX-L: Starting at $44,6952
- Pilot TrailSport: Starting at $50,5952
- Pilot Touring: Starting at $51,2952
- Pilot Touring Blackout: Starting at $52,4952
- Pilot Elite: Starting at $53,6952
- Pilot Black Edition: Starting at $55,1952
Here you can see the Volkswagen Atlas has the lower price advantage over the Honda Pilot. Looking at the base trim levels, that’s an over $3,000 difference. Plus, the Atlas offers better fuel economy, providing another way to save.
Test-Drive the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas at Low Country Volkswagen
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas and 2026 Honda Pilot are worthy rivals, offering family-friendly seating and advanced safety features, but the best choice for your lifestyle depends on what you want most in your SUV.
If cost is a concern, the Volkswagen Atlas for sale offers an attractive starting price point and better fuel efficiency than the Honda Pilot. The Atlas also offers an impressive array of standard features like ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless charging. If you need extra seating and maximum cargo space, you may be happier with the Pilot.
We have a large selection of new Volkswagen Atlas models in stock now, so if you want to get to know this outstanding SUV even better, visit Low Country Volkswagen in Mount Pleasant, SC, for a test drive! Our team will be happy to walk you through our available lineup and help you compare different trim levels. Then our finance experts will help you finalize your purchase or lease so you can get behind the wheel of your new ride in no time!
Disclaimers:
1MSRP excludes destination, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges and fees. Dealer sets actual price.
2MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1,495 destination charge, and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $455 charge for premium colors.
319 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 19 city/ 25 highway/21 combined mpg rating for non-TrailSport AWD trims. 18 city/23 highway/20 combined mpg rating for TrailSport. Based on 2026 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.