Compare the2026 Land Rover Range Rover VelarVS 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar 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 Cross Sport doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

Both the Range Rover Velar and Atlas Cross Sport have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Range Rover Velar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Atlas Cross Sport’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Range Rover Velar. But it costs extra on the Atlas Cross Sport.

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

The Range Rover Velar’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 Cross Sport doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Range Rover Velar and the Atlas Cross Sport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The Range Rover Velar’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The battery on the Range Rover Velar is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Range Rover Velar’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Atlas Cross Sport’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 17 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Land Rover higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Land Rover vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Land Rover higher than Volkswagen.

The Range Rover Velar’s optional 3.0 turbo/supercharged 6-cylinder hybrid produces 126 more horsepower (395 vs. 269) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 273) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Range Rover Velar gets better mileage than the Atlas Cross Sport:

Regenerative brakes improve the Range Rover Velar’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Range Rover Velar has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas Cross Sport (21.9 vs. 18.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Land Rover Range Rover Velar higher (6 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (4). This means the Range Rover Velar produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas Cross Sport every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Range Rover Velar’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Atlas Cross Sport:

The Range Rover Velar stops shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport:

For better traction, the Range Rover Velar has larger standard tires than the Atlas Cross Sport (255/50R20 vs. 245/60R18).

The Range Rover Velar’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 Cross Sport SE’s standard 60 series tires. The Range Rover Velar’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Range Rover Velar has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SE. The Range Rover Velar’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line.

The Range Rover Velar has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Range Rover Velar offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Range Rover Velar has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Range Rover Velar’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Range Rover Velar’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.1% to 49.9%) than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (56% to 44%). This gives the Range Rover Velar more stable handling and braking.

The Range Rover Velar handles at .82 G’s, while the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Range Rover Velar Dynamic SE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Range Rover Velar’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (39.2 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Range Rover Velar has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas Cross Sport (8.4 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Range Rover Velar to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Range Rover Velar w/Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 3.6 inches higher than on the Atlas Cross Sport (9.9 vs. 6.3 inches).

The Range Rover Velar is 6.7 inches shorter than the Atlas Cross Sport, making the Range Rover Velar easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Land Rover Range Rover Velar amounts to more than styling. The Range Rover Velar has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the Atlas Cross Sport (.34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Range Rover Velar get better fuel mileage.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Range Rover Velar’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Atlas Cross Sport’s (5291 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is only 5000 pounds. The Range Rover Velar offers up to a 5511 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Range Rover Velar is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas Cross Sport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Range Rover Velar’s standard Entry and Exit Mode raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Range Rover Velar has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas Cross Sport 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 Range Rover Velar offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The Range Rover Velar’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 Cross Sport has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line.

The Land Rover Range Rover Velar has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Volkswagen charges extra for Homelink® on the Atlas Cross Sport.

The Range Rover Velar’s optional Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Range Rover Velar third among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Atlas Cross Sport isn’t in the top three.