Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Atlas Cross Sport.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Atlas Cross Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	CX-5	Atlas Cross Sport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	82	307
Neck Injury Risk	23%	30%
Neck Stress	274 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	59 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	156	277
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	39%
Neck Compression	86 lbs.	117 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 Mazda CX-5 is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	CX-5	Atlas Cross Sport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.5 inches
Hip Force	189 lbs.	215 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	208	208
Hip Force	524 lbs.	529 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	435 lbs.	594 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Atlas Cross Sport does not qualify as a “Top Safety Pick.”

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas Cross Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas Cross Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 21 points higher than the Atlas Cross Sport.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 50 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 23rd.

Engine

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 266) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-5 4 cyl. is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport turbo 4 cyl.:

	CX-5	Atlas Cross Sport
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	3.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.6 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	16.6 sec	16.8 sec

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-5 (250 HP engine) is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 3.6:

	CX-5	Atlas Cross Sport
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	87.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy
Atlas Cross Sport
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/25 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/24 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-5 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (3 to 5). This means the CX-5 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas Cross Sport every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport:

	CX-5	Atlas Cross Sport
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (36 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda CX-5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

The CX-5 is 1 foot, 3.4 inches shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-5 is 5.7 inches narrower than the Atlas Cross Sport, making the CX-5 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

Passenger Space

The CX-5 has .3 inches more front headroom and 1.2 inches more rear headroom than the Atlas Cross Sport.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas Cross Sport only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-5’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Atlas Cross Sport’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volkswagen Atlas by 85% during 2022.