The 2023 models of the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas are two of the best crossover SUVs on the market, offering solid performance and an impressive set of features for an affordable price. The vehicles have comparable price points and specs under the hood, but the similarities between them don’t stop there. The cost of upkeep for the Telluride and Atlas are also in close proximity even after years of use. 

Five-year ownership costs for the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas

Edmunds provides a side-by-side comparison between the Telluride and Atlas that shows what the two vehicles have to offer. When it comes to estimated ownership costs, you can see that the prices to keep these SUVs running well are basically even. 

Here are the numbers for the Telluride:

• Five-year ownership cost – $50,162
• Average cost per mile – $0.67
• Depreciation – $17,031
• Financing – $8,863
• Taxes and Fees – $2,467
• Fuel – $11,907
• Insurance – $4,092
• Maintenance – $5,278
• Repairs – $524

And here are the same stats for the Atlas: 

• Five-year ownership cost – $51,246
• Average cost per mile – $0.68
• Depreciation – $16,679
• Financing – $8,476
• Taxes and Fees – $2,383
• Fuel – $14,123
• Insurance – $4,949
• Maintenance – $3,727
• Repairs – $909

Fueling the Atlas requires more money because it takes premium unleaded gas instead of regular, while the Telluride will likely need more investment into maintaining its performance after you buy it. Aside from those two categories, the gap in spending is negligible. 

The Telluride betters the Atlas when it comes to its warranty and roadside assistance

One aspect where there is a clear difference between the Telluride and the Atlas is in their warranties. Kia’s SUV delivers much better coverage than the VW model. The basic warranty for the Telluride covers five years or 60,000 miles, and the drivetrain warranty covers either 10 years or 100,000 miles. Roadside assistance is standard for five years or 60,000 miles. The Telluride doesn’t come with any complimentary scheduled maintenance, but this is still one of the better warranty options you’ll find. 

Coverage for the Volkswagen Atlas isn’t bad, but it falls well short of the Telluride at higher levels. The basic warranty only covers four years or 50,000 miles, and the drivetrain warranty covers the exact same mileage for the same amount of years. The Atlas does improve on the Telluride in terms of complimentary maintenance. Volkswagen’s coverage covers for two years or 20,000 miles. 

Which SUV has more safety features?

The Kia Telluride and VW Atlas come closer together when comparing their safety features. Kia offers way too many trims of their leading SUV, but each model of the Telluride comes with Kia Drive Wise Technologies, a comprehensive suite of tools to protect drivers and passengers. The most notable features are forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring and collision warning, and lane-keeping assists. 

The Telluride rates well in the eyes of major safety organizations. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the SUV a four-star rating out of five (it should be noted that the Telluride has been involved in two recalls up to this point) and earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. 

The base model Atlas SE comes standard with a rearview camera system, electronic stability control, and an anti-lock braking system, among other useful features. In the eyes of the NHTSA, it is even safer than the Telluride, giving the Atlas a five-star rating. The IIHS has a slightly lesser view, knocking VW’s vehicle for its seat belt reminders and the ease of use for its Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children (LATCH) feature. 

With all of this information, you have more than enough to make an informed decision between the two SUVs.