Compare the2026 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2026 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Atlas has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Enclave doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Atlas and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Atlas	Enclave
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	159 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	160/266 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Atlas	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	57	64
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	73 lbs.
Hip Force	345 lbs.	372 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	48 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	346

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Atlas is 1.5% to 4.9% less likely to roll over than the Enclave.

Warranty

The Atlas comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Enclave’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Enclave.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Enclave’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPG
Atlas
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	SE 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/26 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Atlas’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

	Atlas	Enclave
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.6 inches

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Enclave doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Atlas 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the Enclave Avenir pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Enclave Avenir AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 200 pounds less than the Buick Enclave.

The Atlas is 6.9 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the Atlas easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has .4 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more third row legroom than the Enclave.

The front step up height for the Atlas is .6 inches lower than the Enclave (18” vs. 18.6”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 1.7 inches lower than the Enclave’s (18” vs. 19.7”).

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the Enclave’s in almost every dimension:

	Atlas	Enclave
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	22.3”/52.8”/86”
Max Width	61.6”	52.2”
Min Width	45”	48.6”
Height	37.5”	35”

The Atlas has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Enclave doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Atlas. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Ergonomics

The Atlas’ front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Enclave can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Atlas’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Enclave doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Enclave Avenir’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Atlas’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas retains 46.49% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 41.48% resale value of the 2025 Buick Enclave after five years, which can save the Volkswagen’s owner up to $5952.52767 in depreciation.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Buick Enclave by almost three to one during 2024.

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