Compare the2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Audi A6 Allroad

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A6 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas Cross Sport has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A6 Allroad.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the A6 Allroad 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems 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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Audi A6 Allroad:

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 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Audi A6 Allroad:

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the A6 Allroad.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas Cross Sport’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the A6 Allroad’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The A6 Allroad requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6 Allroad.

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A6 Allroad (265/45R21 vs. 245/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The A6 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 2.1 inches longer than on the A6 Allroad (117.3 inches vs. 115.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 4.2 inches wider in the rear than on the A6 Allroad.

For greater off-road capability the Atlas Cross Sport 2.0T has a greater minimum ground clearance than the A6 Allroad Premium Plus (7.1 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Atlas Cross Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Atlas Cross Sport V6’s minimum ground clearance is .2 inch higher than on the A6 Allroad Prestige (7.5 vs. 7.3 inches).

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 350 pounds less than the Audi A6 Allroad.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 11.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A6 Allroad (112.1 vs. 101).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6 Allroad.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the A6 Allroad with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 30 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the A6 Allroad with its rear seat folded (77.8 vs. 63.8 cubic feet).

The Atlas Cross Sport offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The A6 Allroad’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas Cross Sport offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Atlas Cross Sport offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Atlas Cross Sport is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and the Audi A6 Allroad, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by over 17 to one during the 2022 model year.