Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Buick Envision

The Atlas Cross Sport 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 Envision 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.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and Envision 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 Envision’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Envision 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 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 Buick Envision:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Atlas Cross Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 50 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Envision has not been tested, yet.

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

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Envision’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Envision.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Envision’s engine uses 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 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (269 vs. 228) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the Envision’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Envision requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision FWD’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Envision AWD’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 16.1 gallons).

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Envision. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the Envision (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Envision (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 Envision’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Atlas Cross Sport has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Envision doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 7.9 inches longer than on the Envision (117.3 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Envision.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 11.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Envision (111.9 vs. 100.4).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.3 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front hip room, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear legroom, 11.3 inches more rear hip room and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Envision.

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

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Envision with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 25.2 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Envision with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 52.7 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 Envision doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

The Atlas Cross Sport’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Envision’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 Envision can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Envision’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Envision doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Atlas Cross Sport’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Envision’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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

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 Envision.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Envision.

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. Only the Envision Avenir offers wireless charging.

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

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Buick Envision by over three to one during 2022.