Compare the2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Mazda CX-30

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The CX-30 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

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. Only the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

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. Only the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the CX-30 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport weighs 589 to 1025 pounds more than the Mazda CX-30. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Mazda CX-30:

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

The Atlas Cross Sport comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The CX-30’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-30’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-30.

There are over 17 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it 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 CX-30’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (235 vs. 191) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 186) than the CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Atlas Cross Sport’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 26 more horsepower (276 vs. 250) than the CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl.:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Atlas Cross Sport’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-30 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-30 (18.6 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-30.

For better stopping power the Atlas Cross Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-30:

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-30 are solid, not vented.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the CX-30:

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the CX-30 (245/60R18 vs. 215/65R16). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-30 (265/45R21 vs. 215/65R16).

The Atlas Cross Sport SE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-30 2.5 S’ standard 65 series tires. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the CX-30 2.5 S. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium.

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-30 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Atlas Cross Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 12.9 inches longer than on the CX-30 (117.3 inches vs. 104.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 5.5 inches wider in the front and 6.1 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-30.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion handles at .81 G’s, while the CX-30 Premium pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-30 Premium (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 18 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-30 (112.1 vs. 94.1).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 3.6 inches more front hip room, 5.9 inches more front shoulder room, 4.1 inches more rear legroom, 4.8 inches more rear hip room and 7 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-30.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Atlas Cross Sport’s rear seats recline. The CX-30’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-30 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 20.2 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-30 with its rear seat folded (77.8 vs. 45.2 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Atlas Cross Sport. The CX-30 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Atlas Cross Sport’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-30 has no towing capacity.

The Atlas Cross Sport uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CX-30 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the Atlas Cross Sport and the CX-30 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Atlas Cross Sport is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-30 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas Cross Sport the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-30 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 CX-30 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas Cross Sport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-30 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-30 Carbon/Turbo.

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Premium. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CX-30.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CX-30 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 CX-30 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The CX-30 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Atlas Cross Sport is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Mazda CX-30 by 78% during the 2022 model year.