Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2024 Acura MDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Atlas has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The MDX 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 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Atlas and MDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Atlas has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The MDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Atlas	MDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	463/521 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	288
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	392/458 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 Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the Acura MDX:

	Atlas	MDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	57	107
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	105 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	549

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

Warranty

The Atlas’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the MDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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

Reliability

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

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Atlas’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 Acura With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Acura.

Engine

The Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 267) than the MDX’s standard 3.5 SOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the MDX:

			MPG
Atlas
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	SE 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		SEL 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		Peak Edition 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	18 city/24 hwy
MDX
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		3.0 turbo V6	17 city/21 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

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

The Atlas stops much shorter than the MDX:

	Atlas	MDX
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	184 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the MDX (117.3 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Atlas’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (55% to 45%) than the MDX’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Atlas more stable handling and braking.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the MDX SH-AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has 14.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (154 vs. 139.1).

The Atlas has 2.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, .8 inches more rear hip room, .2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 4.6 inches more third row legroom and 4.5 inches more third row hip room than the MDX.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the MDX.

	Atlas	MDX
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	18.1 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	48.4 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.6 cubic feet	95 cubic feet

The Atlas has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Ergonomics

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

The Atlas’ standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access System standard on the MDX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Atlas’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

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

The Atlas has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the MDX.

The Atlas 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 MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $545 less than the MDX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Atlas will be $12510 to $19506 less than for the Acura MDX.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Acura MDX by 66% during 2023.