Compare the2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2025 Audi Q3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
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 Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Front Assist, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Audi Q3, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-10 MPH	-8 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-24 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-21 MPH	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	-23 MPH	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-28 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-2 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	.6 sec	No Warning

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 Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Q3 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, 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 Audi Q3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	307	326
Neck Injury Risk	30%	39%
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	235/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	346
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	186 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	261/249 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 Audi Q3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	88
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	95 lbs.
	STARS
5 Stars	5 Stars	Spine Acceleration
35 G’s	43 G’s	Hip Force
529 lbs.	632 lbs.
Into Pole		STARS
5 Stars		5 Stars
Max Damage Depth		13 inches
13 inches		HIC
309		504
Spine Acceleration		41 G’s
47 G’s

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 Q3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	42	190
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.22 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis Force	1205 lbs.	1406 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	163	329
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	1.73 in
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	848 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Q3 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

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. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q3.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas Cross Sport’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

Engine

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 85 more horsepower (269 vs. 184) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 221) than the Q3 40 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 41 more horsepower (269 vs. 228) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 251) than the Q3 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is faster than the Q3 45 TFSI:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q3 (18.6 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the Q3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the Q3 (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R18). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q3 (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The Q3’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 11.8 inches longer than on the Q3 (117.3 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 4.8 inches wider in the front and 5.7 inches wider in the rear than on the Q3.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion handles at .81 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Q3 (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Atlas Cross Sport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (6.3 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Atlas Cross Sport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport amounts to more than styling. The Atlas Cross Sport has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .34 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q3 (.38 to .39). 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 27.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (111.9 vs. 84).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 4.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom and 5.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 48 cubic feet).

Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q3’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 Q3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Atlas Cross Sport offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard KESSY Keyless Access that allows 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. The Audi Advanced Key costs extra on the Q3.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Consumer Reports rated the Atlas Cross Sport’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas Cross Sport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q3 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Atlas Cross Sport SEL is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Q3’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Q3 have standard heated front seats. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Atlas Cross Sport keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Atlas Cross Sport’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

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 Q3.

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 Q3.

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 Q3 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 Q3 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Audi Q3 by over four to one during 2023.