A three-row midsize SUV is an excellent choice if you need a spacious vehicle but don't want a minivan. Among the many options available, the 2024 Hyundai Palisade and the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas stand out as two top contenders.
The Hyundai Palisade impresses with its high-quality interior, ample space, and solid performance. On the other hand, the Volkswagen Atlas boasts a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, an extensive list of standard features, and a balanced ride.
This Hyundai Palisade vs VW Atlas comparison comprehensively compares these two midsize SUVs, covering aspects such as price, cargo space, and safety to help buyers make an informed decision. 
Hyundai Palisade vs Volkswagen Atlas: Price
Both the 2024 Hyundai Palisade and the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas are priced under $40,000, making them accessible to many buyers. The base SE trim of the Palisade starts at $36,650, while the entry-level Atlas is slightly more expensive at $36,985.
For buyers seeking all the bells and whistles, a fully loaded Palisade at the highest trim level costs $53,850. The Atlas, with its premium trim, is a bit less at $51,880.
Hyundai Palisade vs Volkswagen Atlas: Reliability
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade has a predicted reliability score of 81 out of 100. According to J.D. Power, a predicted reliability score of 91–100 is considered the best, 81–90 is great, 70–80 is average, and 0-69 is fair and considered below average. This places the Palisade in the "Great" category.
In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has a predicted reliability score of 73, which places it in the "Average" category. This gives the Palisade an advantage in terms of reliability.
Hyundai backs the Palisade with a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Volkswagen offers the Atlas with a four-year/50,000-mile limited warranty.
Hyundai Palisade vs Volkswagen Atlas: Seat Comfort
The Palisade seats seven or eight people across three rows, depending on the chosen configuration. A second-row bench seat comes standard, with optional second-row captain's chairs available. While all rows offer plush and comfortable seating, the third-row seats are less cushioned and more cramped, making them less suitable for adults on longer trips.
The Volkswagen Atlas features a spacious cabin with supportive and comfortable seating in the first two rows. The third row, while slightly short on legroom, can still accommodate adults on shorter drives. Overall, the Atlas also has three rows but seats only six or seven people, depending on the configuration.
Therefore, the Hyundai Palisade takes the lead in this category, as it can accommodate more passengers than the Volkswagen Atlas. 
Hyundai Palisade vs VW Atlas: Cargo Space
 The Volkswagen Atlas boasts impressive cargo space, offering 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a substantial 96.8 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. However, it's important to note that the two-row Cross Sport model provides significantly less cargo space. Moreover, the Atlas comes with a manual liftgate as standard, with an available option for a hands-free power liftgate.
In comparison, the Hyundai Palisade can't quite match the Atlas in terms of cargo capacity but still offers ample space. It provides 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.
Volkswagen Atlas vs Hyundai Palisade: Interior Quality 
The Hyundai Palisade has one of the finest interiors in its class. The cabin features high-quality materials and a design that rivals luxury SUVs, combining a cozy ambiance with sophisticated styling.
On the other hand, Volkswagen has enhanced the interior of the 2024 Atlas compared to the 2023 model. The Atlas offers a clean, modern look that is quite appealing. However, the Palisade still stands out as the clear winner in this category, thanks to its superior interior quality and design.
Hyundai Palisade vs VW Atlas: Interior Features
The Hyundai Palisade comes standard with a 12.3-inch touch screen, navigation, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, voice recognition, a 4.2-inch driver information display, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Available features include wireless device charging, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, ambient interior lighting, and a sunroof.
Volkswagen's Atlas comes standard with a 12-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless device charging. It also includes a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, push-button start, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Buyers can add features like navigation, multicolor ambient LED interior lighting, remote start, and a panoramic sunroof.
While both SUVs offer comparable lists of standard and optional features, the Palisade stands out with its intuitive and user-friendly touch screen. In contrast, the Atlas's infotainment system can be frustrating to use, as it doesn't always recognize taps on the screen.
VW Atlas vs Hyundai Palisade: Acceleration
All trims of the 2024 Hyundai Palisade have a V6 engine producing 291 horsepower, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 
The Palisade comes standard with front-wheel drive, but buyers can opt for an additional $2,000 for all-wheel drive. The vehicle accelerates well off the line and provides ample passing power.
In contrast, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 269 horsepower. It also comes standard with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available on some trims for an additional $1,900. The Atlas's engine is adequate for daily driving, with minimal turbo lag, and it effortlessly merges and passes on the freeway.
Given the Palisade's higher horsepower compared to VW Atlas, it has the advantage in this category of our comparison.
 VW Atlas vs Hyundai Palisade: Fuel Economy
Both vehicles offer average fuel economy for their class, but the Atlas has a slight advantage over the Palisade. Front-wheel-drive models of the Volkswagen get 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive versions achieve up to 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
In comparison, the Palisade's front-wheel-drive configuration delivers 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. The all-wheel-drive versions maintain the same city fuel economy but drop to 24 mpg on the highway.
Therefore, Atlas takes the lead when it comes to fuel efficiency
Hyundai Palisade vs VW Atlas: Ride and Handling
 The Palisade and the Atlas provide enjoyable and comfortable rides. The Palisade has decent handling, although it could use a bit more excitement. On the other hand, the Atlas is easy to drive, featuring light steering that gradually becomes heavier as you accelerate. The overall ride quality is smooth, with minimal body roll. However, if you opt for larger optional wheels on the Atlas, the ride can become firmer.
Both vehicles are closely matched in terms of driving, resulting in a tie in this category. Regardless of which SUV you choose, you'll end up with a comfortable vehicle for daily commutes and longer journeys.
 
VW Atlas vs Hyundai Palisade: Safety: 
The 2024 Palisade received a safety rating of 9.8 out of 10 from U.S. News, surpassing the Atlas, which scored 9.2 out of 10 in safety. This higher score positions Palisade as the winner in this comparison.
While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not completed its full crash testing of the 2024 Palisade at the time of writing, it has awarded it five stars in the frontal crash test and four stars in the rollover test.
In contrast, the 2024 Atlas earned an overall safety rating of five stars from the same organization, with four stars in both the frontal crash and rollover tests and an impressive five stars in the side crash test.

The 2024 Palisade outperforms the VW in most of the categories: safety, price, seat comfort, interior features and reliability. Additionally, it has a better cabin and a stronger powertrain than the Atlas. It checks most boxes with few downsides and stands as one of the best three-row SUVs in 2024 for money.
The Atlas, which has been refreshed for this year, has more cargo space and a better fuel economy compared to the Palisade. It's a versatile, family-friendly vehicle that's definitely worth a look if these aspects are your priority.
Nevertheless, for this comparison, the Palisade claims an easy victory in our head-to-head.