Volkswagen Atlas vs GMC Terrain
The GMC Terrain is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 32 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Volkswagen Atlas, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the GMC Terrain leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2018–2027
Volkswagen Atlas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 57 configurations
2015–2027
GMC Terrain
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Volkswagen Atlas | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 25 mpg | 32 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 22 mpg | 28 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 29 mpg | 39 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,450 | $2,200 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 364 g/mi | 316 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI | SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic 8-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular, Premium, Diesel |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2018–2027 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 57 | 47 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Atlas vs Terrain: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Volkswagen Atlas or the GMC Terrain?
The GMC Terrain is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 32 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Volkswagen Atlas, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the GMC Terrain runs about $2,200 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,450 for the Volkswagen Atlas — a difference of roughly $250 per year.
What engines do the Atlas and Terrain offer?
Volkswagen Atlas: SIDI. GMC Terrain: SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Volkswagen Atlas as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the GMC Terrain as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Atlas comparisons
Comparison id: volkswagen-atlas-vs-gmc-terrain