Families all over the Greater Dallas and Fort Worth area are in love with 3-row SUVs, and it’s easy to see why. For one, they have spacious and versatile interiors that allow you to seat plenty of people with room to spare for storage, making them perfect for road trips. At the same time, they also tend to have superior power and drivability compared to minivans and other large people movers.
Considering how popular they are, it’s no shocker that most major carmakers have at least one 3-row SUV in their lineup. So, how do you narrow it down to the best one?
We don’t have time to compare all of them, but today, let’s take a look at two of the most popular—the 2025 VW Atlas and 2025 Ford Explorer—to see which one comes out on top.
Atlas vs. Explorer Price
First, let’s check out the Atlas and Explorer’s starting MSRP to figure out which is the most affordable 3-row SUV.
2025 Volkswagen Atlas trims and price:
- SE: $38,200
- SE with Technology: $42,305
- Peak Edition: $46,655
- SEL: $48,200
- SEL Premium R-Line: $53,205
2025 Ford Explorer trims and price:
- Active: $39,775
- ST-Line: $44,615
- Platinum: $52,250
- ST: $54,260
It starts out pretty close, with the base-level Explorer being about $1,500 more expensive. However, the Explorer quickly skyrockets in price, and it doesn’t offer shoppers as many mid-range options as the Atlas does, which makes our 3-row Volkswagen SUV far more affordable for families who don’t need all the extra bells and whistles.
Atlas vs. Explorer Performance
The Volkswagen Atlas is motivated by a turbocharged engine that puts out 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It can be optioned with either front-wheel drive or 4MOTION® all-wheel drive, and it’s capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The Explorer has two available engine options. The standard motor is an inline 4-cylinder that puts out 300 horsepower, and there’s also an available V6 engine that churns out 400 horsies. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive can be featured as an upgrade. The Explorer is also able to tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds.
Despite having more powerful engine options, the Explorer and Atlas haul the same amount of weight, and they have very similar real-world performance, so this category is effectively a tie.
Atlas vs. Explorer Interior
Now that we’ve discussed their respective price tags and power specs, let’s take a look at their dimensions to see which is the 3-row SUV with the most room.
Here’s a side-by-side look at their passenger and cargo dimensions:
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas | 2025 Ford Explorer | |
| Seating capacity | 7 | 7 |
| Total passenger volume | 154 cu. ft. | 152.7 cu. ft. |
| Head room (1st/2nd/3rd) | 41.3 in. / 40.4 in. / 38.3 in. | 40.7 in. / 40.5 in. / 38.9 in. |
| Legroom (1st/2nd/3rd) | 41.7 in. / 37.6 in. / 33.7 in. | 43.0 in. / 39.0 in. / 32.2 in. |
| Cargo capacity (behind 3rd) | 20.6 cu. ft. | 18.2 cu. ft. |
| Cargo capacity (behind 2nd) | 55.5 cu. ft. | 47.9 cu. ft. |
| Cargo capacity (behind 1st) | 96.6 cu. ft. | 87.8 cu. ft. |
While the Explorer has slightly more legroom in its front two rows, it has significantly less space in all other respects, especially when you consider its storage capacity and third-row dimensions, which means this one goes to the 2025 Atlas.
Atlas vs. Explorer Features
Both SUVs benefit from some recent refreshes that make their interiors stand out—the Atlas got some massive upgrades for the 2024 model year, while the Explorer just received an update for 2025.
Every 2025 Atlas model comes with a 12.0-inch center touch screen display and the 10.25-inch VW Digital Cockpit system. Standard features include App-Connect® to allow wireless device connection and streaming, wireless device charging, 6 standard USB ports, SiriusXM®, and myVW with connected services through Car-Net®, including an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot and interfacing with Alexa. Other available features include a Harmon Kardon® premium sound system and, starting next year, Plus Speech with AI powered by ChatGPT.
The Explorer’s recently upgraded infotainment setup includes a 13.2-inch center touch screen and a 12.3-inch digital information cluster. It also comes with Alexa Built-in, 8 USB ports, and the Ford Digital Experience with in-vehicle Wi-Fi.
They both exhibit some truly upscale standard features and interior design, and the question of which is better will likely come down to the shopper’s own personal preference. However, the Atlas does come with a few more standard features.
Atlas vs. Explorer Safety
The Atlas and Explorer have been lauded for their safety features—the 2024 models both won Top Safety Pick awards from the IIHS. They each come with their own proprietary driver assistance packages, IQ.DRIVE and Co-Pilot360, respectively. Both include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Lane keeping assistance
- Blind spot monitoring
- Exit warning
IQ.DRIVE in the 2025 Atlas also includes features like high beam assist, as well as other available features like parking assist and road sign assistance.
They also both have different levels of semi-automated driving. The Atlas’s standard Travel Assist required hands-on action, while the Explorer has available BlueCruise, which allows for hands-free highway driving, but can generally only be equipped on upper-level trims.
So, to sum up the matter of safety, both SUVs provide a solid collection of safety and driver assistance features.
Lease the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Near Mansfield, TX
The 2025 Ford Explorer offers competitive performance and technological features, but the Atlas simply provides more bang for your buck, with a larger interior and a superior list of standard features.
If you’re interested in test driving the new VW Atlas, Family Toyota of Burleson is your go-to spot near Fort Worth. Contact us online or give us a call at (682) 349-1946, and don’t forget to check out our special offers, including discounts for first responders, military, and recent college grads.
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