Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Infiniti QX50

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

Safety

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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 QX50 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 QX50 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and QX50 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 QX50’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the QX50 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 Infiniti QX50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	QX50
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	333
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	161 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	504/622 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 Infiniti QX50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	QX50
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	98
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	215 lbs.	306 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	17 inches
HIC	309	333

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the QX50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	QX50
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	42	141
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.06 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis Force	1205 lbs.	1316 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	.67 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 QX50 has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Infiniti 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 QX50’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 Infiniti With 11 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Infiniti.

Fuel Economy and Range

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 QX50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The QX50 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX50 (18.6 vs. 16 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 QX50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	QX50
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	12.1 inches

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the QX50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	QX50
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the QX50 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX50 (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 QX50’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the QX50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the QX50 (117.3 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the QX50.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the QX50’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the Atlas Cross Sport more stable handling and braking.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX50 (111.9 vs. 104.4).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.1 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the QX50.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the QX50 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the QX50 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 65.1 cubic feet).

Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the QX50’s (2000 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Infiniti QX50 AWD is only 3000 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard trailer stability control on the Atlas Cross Sport 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 QX50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Atlas Cross Sport and the QX50 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 QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 QX50’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 QX50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 is only available on the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph.

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 QX50 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 QX50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Infiniti QX50 by over seven to one during 2022.

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