Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the QX50 and the Atlas Cross Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, 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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	QX50	Atlas Cross Sport
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	307
Neck Injury Risk	26%	30%
Neck Stress	245 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	59 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	155/130 lbs.	67/229 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	39%
Neck Compression	48 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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	QX50	Atlas Cross Sport
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	208
Spine Acceleration	25 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	227 lbs.	529 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	339 lbs.	594 lbs.

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

Warranty

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Atlas Cross Sport’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas Cross Sport. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas Cross Sport ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The QX50’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Atlas Cross Sport runs out after 100,000 miles.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Atlas Cross Sport (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX50 has a standard 720-amp battery. The Atlas Cross Sport’s 680-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 13 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 more horsepower (268 vs. 235) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 266) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport:

	QX50	Atlas Cross Sport turbo 4 cyl.	Atlas Cross Sport V6
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	8.1 sec	7.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.3 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	84.5 MPH	87.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

			MPG
QX50
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 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

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (3 to 5). This means the QX50 produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas Cross Sport every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The QX50 stops shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport:

	QX50	Atlas Cross Sport
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The QX50’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Atlas Cross Sport SE’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SE.

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 4.1 feet tighter than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (36.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas Cross Sport 2.0T (8.6 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX50’s minimum ground clearance is 1.1 inches higher than on the Atlas Cross Sport V6 (8.6 vs. 7.5 inches).

Chassis

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

The QX50 is 10.8 inches shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport, making the QX50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the QX50 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Atlas Cross Sport uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The design of the Infiniti QX50 amounts to more than styling. The QX50 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the Atlas Cross Sport (.34 to .36) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX50 get better fuel mileage.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The QX50 has 1.6 inches more front headroom and 1.3 inches more rear headroom than the Atlas Cross Sport.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 29% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The QX50 Sensory/Autograph has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 QX50 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.

The QX50’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas Cross Sport has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The QX50 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Atlas Cross Sport.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the Atlas Cross Sport.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti QX50 and the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.