Compare the2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2026 Lexus RX

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

Safety

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

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the RX 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 Lexus RX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	353/469 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	472
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	160 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	454/389 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Atlas Cross Sport is much safer than the RX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	202/225 pounds
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Forces L/R	45/45 pounds	202/225 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

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 Lexus RX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	58
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	99 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	529 lbs.	640 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	15 inches
HIC	309	317
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	594 lbs.	919 lbs.

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

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The RX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus 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 RX’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 23 more horsepower (269 vs. 246) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Atlas Cross Sports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas Cross Sport stops much shorter than the RX:

	Atlas Cross Sport	RX
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	149 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the RX (117.3 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the RX.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion handles at .81 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, 3.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

Towing

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (5000 vs. 0 pounds).

Ergonomics

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 RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

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 RX.

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