Compare the2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2025 Cadillac XT5

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

Safety

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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 XT5 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

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. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas Cross Sport has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert and the XT5’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the XT5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Cadillac XT5:

	Atlas Cross Sport	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	112
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	529 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	309	399
Hip Force	594 lbs.	799 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 XT5 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the XT5’s (7 vs. 6 years).

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. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT5.

There are over 14 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it 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 XT5’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 34 more horsepower (269 vs. 235) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 271) than the XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas Cross Sport gets better mileage than the XT5:

			MPG
Atlas Cross Sport
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT5 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the XT5. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the XT5:

	Atlas Cross Sport	XT5
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the XT5 (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT5 (265/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Atlas Cross Sport SE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XT5’s standard 65 series tires. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the XT5’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The XT5’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 4.8 inches longer than on the XT5 (117.3 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the XT5.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the XT5’s (58.2% to 41.8%). This gives the Atlas Cross Sport more stable handling and braking.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 7.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XT5 (111.9 vs. 104.5).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .5 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.9 inches more rear hip room and 4.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT5 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 30 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT5 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 63 cubic feet).

Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (5000 vs. 1000 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Atlas Cross Sport’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT5’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Atlas Cross Sport the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT5 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 XT5’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 XT5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 XT5’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The XT5’s 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 XT5 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 XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport.

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 XT5.

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. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

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 XT5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

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 XT5 only retains 46.63% to 47.63%.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Cadillac XT5 by almost four to one during 2023.