Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Maserati Grecale

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 Grecale doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Grecale 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.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grecale.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Grecale’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas Cross Sport has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Maserati charges extra for Rear Cross Path on the Grecale and the Grecale’s Rear Cross Path does not include automatic braking.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Grecale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Grecale has not been tested, yet.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 3 years and 50,000 miles longer than the Grecale’s (7/100,000 vs. 4/50,000).

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. Maserati doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Grecale.

There are almost 6 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas Cross Sport’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Atlas Cross Sport’s reliability 20 points higher than the Grecale.

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas Cross Sport gets better mileage than the Grecale:

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

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grecale (18.6 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the Grecale:

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

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 Grecale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Grecale (117.3 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 3.2 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the Grecale.

For better maneuverability, the Atlas Cross Sport’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Grecale’s (40 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

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

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grecale (40.3 vs. 18.9 cubic feet).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the Grecale.

Consumer Reports rated the Atlas Cross Sport’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Grecale’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 Grecale 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 Grecale.

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 Grecale.

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 Grecale doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Atlas Cross Sport is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Grecale doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Maserati Grecale isn't recommended.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Maserati Grecale by over 156 to one during 2022.