2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport vs 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

$48,900 · Crossover

$38,300 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the luxurious feel of the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and the sheer practicality of the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport often comes down to budget versus pedigree. The Atlas Cross Sport makes a compelling case right out of the gate, saving you a hefty $10,600 with an MSRP of $38,300 compared to the Discovery Sport's $48,900. While the VW boasts slightly more muscle with 269 horsepower against the Land Rover's 246 hp, the Land Rover is notably more compact at 180.9 inches long, potentially aiding city maneuverability. However, the Atlas counters with superior utility, offering 40.3 cu ft of cargo space versus the Discovery Sport's 32.2 cu ft. Fuel economy is also leaning toward the VW, achieving 23 combined MPG versus the Land Rover’s 20 combined MPG, making the Atlas a surprisingly efficient workhorse.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The Atlas Cross Sport wins for commuters due to its better combined MPG of 23 and lower overall operating cost implications.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Families will appreciate the significantly larger 40.3 cu ft of cargo capacity provided by the longer 195.6-inch Atlas Cross Sport.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Enthusiasts get a slight edge in performance specs with the Atlas Cross Sport's 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2026 Atlas Cross Sport provides substantially more size and power while costing $10,600 less than the Discovery Sport.

Choose the Land Rover Discovery Sport if...

You prioritize standard All-Wheel Drive capability right from the base trim level.
You prefer the tighter dimensions of an 180.9-inch vehicle for easier urban parking.
You want the more refined output from the 9-speed automatic transmission, paired with 269 lb-ft of torque.

Choose the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport if...

Saving over $10,000 on the initial purchase price is a major factor, as it starts at $38,300.
You need maximum utility, benefiting from 40.3 cu ft of cargo space for gear or family trips.
You value better running efficiency, achieving 27 MPG highway versus the 23 MPG highway of car 1.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Land Rover Discovery Sport	Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Length	180.9"	195.6"
Width	-	78.3"
Height	67.9"	68.1"
Wheelbase	107.9"	117.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	—	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Brake Preparation System	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Cornering Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	246 hp @ 5500 rpm	269 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	269 lb-ft @ 1300 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Transmission Type	9-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/23 MPG	20/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	20 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	336.3/407.1 mi.	372.0/502.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.7 gal.	18.6 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Front View Camera	✓	—
Side View Camera	✓	—
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Heated Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Meridian Speakers	✓	—
Stereo Power	380W	—
Speaker System	10	6
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Antenna Type	Diversity	—
Infotainment Display	—	12.0 in
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
One-Touch Power Windows	4	—
Moonroof Type	1st Row Fixed Glass Extended	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Front Head Room	40.2 in.	39.4 in.
Front Leg Room	39.1 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.3 in.	61.5 in.
Seat Material: Leather/Sueded Microfiber	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Front Hip Room	—	58.4 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Driver Seat Ventilation	—	✓
Passenger Seat Ventilation	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Rear Head Room	38.7 in.	37.8 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.1 in.	40.4 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.9 in.	60.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Rear Hip Room	—	58.7 in.

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Size	N/A	245/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	—
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	—	18 x 8.0 in
Tire Type	—	All Season

Suspension

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	—	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Land Rover	Volkswagen
Basic Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	4 yr./ 50000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 20000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

How does the fuel economy compare between these two crossovers?

The 2026 Atlas Cross Sport is the clear winner here, delivering 23 combined MPG (20 city/27 highway). The 2025 Discovery Sport lags slightly behind, rated at 20 combined MPG (19 city/23 highway).

Is the significant price difference ($10,600) justified by the performance gap?

Not necessarily; the Atlas Cross Sport actually produces more power at 269 hp compared to the Discovery Sport's 246 hp. You save over ten grand while getting more horsepower in the VW.

Which vehicle is better equipped for hauling cargo or luggage?

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is superior for cargo, offering 40.3 cubic feet behind the second row, whereas the smaller Land Rover Discovery Sport provides 32.2 cubic feet.

Does the Land Rover Discovery Sport offer standard AWD while the Atlas is FWD?

Yes, that's a key differentiator; the Discovery Sport comes standard with all-wheel drive, while the listed Atlas Cross Sport is Front Wheel Drive (FWD).

If I drive mostly in the city, which vehicle is easier to handle?

The 2025 Discovery Sport is physically smaller, measuring 180.9 inches in length, which generally translates to easier navigation and parking in dense urban environments than the 195.6-inch Atlas Cross Sport.

What type of fuel do both vehicles require?

Both the 2025 Land Rover Discovery Sport and the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport conveniently run on regular unleaded fuel, which is a nice cost-saver for both owners.