Compare the2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2025 Acura RDX

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

Safety

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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 RDX 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 RDX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Atlas Cross Sport offers optional Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and RDX 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 RDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 Acura RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	328/464 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	353
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	362/441 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 Acura RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	63
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	215 lbs.	217 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	52 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	309	486
Hip Force	594 lbs.	704 lbs.

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

Warranty

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the RDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 1 year and 8000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the RDX (2/20,000 vs. 1/12000).

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Acura 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 RDX’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (18.6 vs. 17.1 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 RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.4 inches

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the RDX are solid, not vented.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops much shorter than the RDX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RDX
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the RDX (117.3 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RDX (111.9 vs. 104).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .1 inches more front legroom, 3.4 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear legroom, 8.8 inches more rear hip room and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

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

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

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 RDX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Entry standard on the RDX doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Atlas Cross Sport offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Atlas Cross Sport also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas Cross Sport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RDX 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 is only available on the RDX Advance.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R Line has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

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 RDX 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 RDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

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

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Acura RDX by over two to one during 2023.

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