Compare the2024 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 BMW X5

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Atlas are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable 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 Atlas are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Atlas and X5 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 X5’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 BMW X5:

	Atlas	X5
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	34%
Neck Compression	59 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	342
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	527/418 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 BMW X5:

	Atlas	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	57	72
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	130 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	527 lbs.	584 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	279	308

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

The Volkswagen Atlas achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The X5 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

There are over 85 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are BMW 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 X5’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas gets better mileage than the X5:

			MPG
Atlas
	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
X5
	AWD	4.4 turbo V8	16 city/22 hwy

Both the Atlas and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Atlass have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas stops shorter than the X5:

	Atlas	X5
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 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 X5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the X5 xDrive40i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Atlas’ turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the X5’s (40.5 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Atlas may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas amounts to more than styling. The Atlas has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Atlas has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5.

The front step up height for the Atlas is 1.5 inches lower than the X5 (18” vs. 19.5”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the X5’s (18” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

	Atlas	X5
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	33.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.6 cubic feet	72.3 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Atlas easier. The Atlas’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the X5’s liftover is 30.8 inches.

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the X5’s in every dimension:

	Atlas	X5
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	n.a./40.7”/70”
Max Width	61.6”	49”
Min Width	45”	44”
Height	37.5”	31.5”

The Atlas’ liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Payload and Towing

Standard trailer stability control on the Atlas uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Atlas has a much higher standard payload capacity than the X5 (1091 vs. 827 lbs.).

The Atlas has a higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1135 vs. 1030 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Atlas’ headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the X5’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 X5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Atlas has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X5.

The Atlas 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 X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas will cost $3470 to $5770 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

The Atlas will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Atlas will retain 50.34% to 51.84% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 48.6% to 49.43%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the X5 because typical repairs cost much less on the Atlas than the X5, including $1214 less for a muffler, $89 less for front brake pads, $18 less for fuel injection, $172 less for a fuel pump, $89 less for front struts, $437 less for a timing belt/chain and $954 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Atlas will be $28774 to $34745 less than for the BMW X5.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the BMW X5 by 32% during 2023.