Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Acura RDX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 RDX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Atlas Cross Sport offers optional Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the RDX 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Cross Sport is safer than the Acura RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	328/464 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	353
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	362/441 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 Cross Sport is safer than the Acura RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	63
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	215 lbs.	217 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	309	486
Hip Force	594 lbs.	704 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the RDX’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 Cross Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the RDX’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 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.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (18.6 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.4 inches

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 RDX are solid, not vented.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the RDX (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

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

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the RDX (117.3 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RDX (111.9 vs. 104).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .1 inches more front legroom, 3.4 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear legroom, 8.8 inches more rear hip room and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

Payload and Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura RDX is only 1500 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (1091 vs. 838 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 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 RDX’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 Cross Sport SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas Cross Sport also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Atlas Cross Sport 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 RDX.

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

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 RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

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

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Acura RDX by over three to one during 2022.

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