Compare the2023 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2023 Cadillac XT5

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

Safety

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The Atlas 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 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The XT5 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

The Atlas has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Atlas 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems 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 is safer than the Cadillac XT5:

	Atlas	XT5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	57	112
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	151 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	144	183
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	825 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	279	399

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Atlas is 1.5% to 1.8% less likely to roll over than the XT5.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Atlas its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 122 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT5 was last qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT5.

There are over 13 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Atlas’ warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Atlas’ engines use 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’ optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 41 more horsepower (276 vs. 235) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 258) than the XT5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Atlas
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/25 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
XT5
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

The Atlas stops shorter than the XT5:

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

Tires and Wheels

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

The Atlas’ 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 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 SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The XT5’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Atlas’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The XT5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ 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 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the XT5.

The Atlas’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.1% to 44.9%) than the XT5’s (58.2% to 41.8%). This gives the Atlas more stable handling and braking.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the XT5 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Atlas SEL R-Line Black 4Motion is quieter than the XT5 AWD:

	Atlas	XT5
At idle	41 dB	44 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	77 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The Atlas has standard seating for 7 passengers; the XT5 can only carry 5.

The Atlas has 49.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XT5 (153.7 vs. 104.5).

The Atlas has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear hip room and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT5.

The front step up height for the Atlas is .5 inches lower than the XT5 (18” vs. 18.5”). The Atlas’ rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the XT5’s (18” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas’ cargo area provides more volume than the XT5.

	Atlas	XT5
Third Seat Folded	55.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	30.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	96.8 cubic feet	63 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Atlas easier. The Atlas’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.7 inches, while the XT5’s liftover is 30.9 inches.

The Atlas’ cargo area is larger than the XT5’s in every dimension:

	Atlas	XT5
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	23.8”/53”/85”	n.a./41.5”/75”
Max Width	61.6”	51”
Min Width	45”	41.6”
Height	37.5”	30”

Towing

The Atlas’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT5’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT5 is only 3500 pounds. The Atlas offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Atlas’ 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 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 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT5 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Atlas’ 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 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’ available 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 SEL’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 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT5 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Atlas 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

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Atlas with a number “5” insurance rate while the XT5 is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Atlas is less expensive to operate than the XT5 because it costs $173 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Atlas than the XT5, including $25 less for a muffler.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Atlas and the Cadillac XT5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Cadillac XT5 by over three to one during the 2021 model year.

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