Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 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 Cross Sport 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 Cross Sport 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 Cross Sport and X5 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 X5’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport 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 Cross Sport is safer than the BMW X5:

	Atlas Cross Sport	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 Cross Sport is safer than the BMW X5:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	72
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	215 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	529 lbs.	584 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	594 lbs.	796 lbs.

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

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 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 Cross Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s 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 Cross Sport 4Motion gets better fuel mileage than the X5 M50i (19 city/26 hwy vs. 16 city/22 hwy).

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Atlas Cross Sports 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 Cross Sport 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 Cross Sport stops shorter than the X5:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X5
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Atlas Cross Sport’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X5’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 900 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport amounts to more than styling. The Atlas Cross Sport offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .34 to .36 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas Cross Sport get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X5 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 33.9 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X5 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 72.3 cubic feet).

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 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 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 X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

The Atlas Cross Sport has a higher maximum payload capacity than the X5 (1091 vs. 1030 lbs.).

Ergonomics

Consumer Reports rated the Atlas Cross Sport’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the X5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Cross Sport’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the X5’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

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 X5.

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 X5.

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

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas Cross Sport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas Cross Sport will cost $1935 to $5100 less than the X5 over a five-year period.

The Atlas Cross Sport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Atlas Cross Sport will retain 50.68% to 52.68% of its original price after five years, while the X5 only retains 48.6% to 49.43%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will be $28769 to $34126 less than for the BMW X5.

Recommendations

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