Compare the2024 Lexus TXVS 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Lexus TX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Atlas doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Lexus TX has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The TX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the TX and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the TX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The TX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 78 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

The TX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 more horsepower (275 vs. 269) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 500h’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 97 more horsepower (366 vs. 269) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The TX 550h+’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 135 more horsepower (404 vs. 269) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas:

On the EPA test cycle the TX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Atlas:

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Atlas can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the TX 500h/550h+’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Atlas doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus TX higher (7 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas (3). This means the TX produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas every 15,000 miles.

The TX 550h+ has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Atlas doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the TX 500h/550h+’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Atlas:

The TX stops much shorter than the Atlas:

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the Atlas (255/55R20 vs. 245/60R18).

The TX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Atlas SE/Peak Edition’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Atlas SE/Peak Edition. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury 4dr Sport Utility handles at .85 G’s, while the Atlas 4Motion pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Atlas SEL 4Motion (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the TX’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (38 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the TX 550h+ Luxury 4dr Sport Utility has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas (7.7 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the TX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility’s minimum ground clearance is 1.7 inches higher than on the Atlas (8 vs. 6.3 inches).

The TX F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Atlas doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The TX has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more third row hip room and 2.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Atlas.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the TX’s middle and third row seats recline. The Atlas’ third row seats don’t recline.

The TX’s cargo area provides more volume than the Atlas.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the TX Premium/Luxury’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The TX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas’ (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 64% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

The TX Premium/Luxury’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The TX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Atlas does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the TX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The TX Luxury/F Sport has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Atlas doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The TX’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The TX Premium/Luxury has standard front air conditioned seats and the TX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Atlas doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.