People who own SUVs enjoy these large vehicles’ interior space for passengers and cargo. But a large luxury SUV, such as the 2022 Nissan Armada, is expensive to purchase, uses a lot of gasoline, and can be difficult to maneuver in parking lots. By comparison, the midsize 2022 Volkswagen Atlas SUV is easier to park, gets better fuel mileage, is less expensive, and has a surprising amount of cargo space.

2022 Nissan Armada specs

The 2022 Nissa Armada has a starting price of $51,595 and, according to Car and Driver, features popular features such as second-row captain’s chairs and power-fold third-row seating. Of course, a big SUV needs big power, and Nissan delivers with its 5.6-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. 

Paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, the Armada is also available with rear- or all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD version gets an EPA estimated 13 mpg on city streets and 18 while driving on the highway, while rear-wheel drive models get slightly better ratings in both categories. 

The 2022 Nissa Armada is a large SUV at 17 feet six inches long, six feet eight inches wide, six feet four inches tall, and has a wheelbase of ten feet one inch. Passenger space encompasses up to 157 cubic feet, and cargo space behind the rear seats adds up to 17 cubic feet. 

2022 Volkswagen Atlas specs

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas starts at $35,630, considerably less than the Nissan Armada, and features a less luxurious interior. As a smaller SUV, the Volkswagen Atlas finds enough power from either of its engine choices. 

The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. However, upgrading to the 3.6-liter V6 increases the Atlas’ horsepower to 276 and torque to 266 lb-ft. Either engine choice mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy ratings range from 18 mpg combined to 21 depending on the choice of engine and front-wheel or all-wheel drivetrain. 

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas is smaller than the Nissan Armada while still providing the commanding presence and view of the road ahead that many SUV owners desire. The Volkswagen Atlas is 16 feet nine inches from bumper to bumper, six feet two inches wide, five feet 10 inches tall, and its wheelbase is nine feet nine inches. The Atlas presents a smaller passenger compartment with 155 cubic feet compared to the Armada’s 157. But, it offers a much larger cargo area behind the back seats with 21 cubic feet compared to 17 in the larger Nissan SUV. 

Choosing between these two midsize SUVs

If you need to speed away from a bank job or want your commute filled with luxury, pick the Nissan Armada with its powerful V8 engine and upscale interior. But if you need a smaller family SUV with the space to take the family to hockey or soccer practice with all their gear and you want to save some cash when you buy it and at the gas pump, choose the Volkswagen Atlas.