Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Mazda CX-50

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

Safety

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The Atlas Cross Sport has standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CX-50 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 CX-50 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Atlas Cross Sport has standard Rear Traffic Alert with automatic braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the CX-50 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, 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.

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 CX-50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	CX-50
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	42	174
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	2.05 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	10 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	163	251
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.43 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	10 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Atlas Cross Sport comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The CX-50’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CX-50’s (7 vs. 5 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. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-50.

There are over 17 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Mazda 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 CX-50’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 82 more horsepower (269 vs. 187) and 87 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 186) than the CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (269 vs. 256) than the CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-50 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-50 (18.6 vs. 15.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Atlas Cross Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	CX-50
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	12.8 inches

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-50 are solid, not vented.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the CX-50:

	Atlas Cross Sport	CX-50
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the CX-50 (245/60R18 vs. 225/65R17). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-50 (265/45R21 vs. 245/45R20).

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 CX-50’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CX-50. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Atlas Cross Sport has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Atlas Cross Sport flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 6.5 inches longer than on the CX-50 (117.3 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the CX-50.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-50 2.5 S (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 11.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-50 (111.9 vs. 100.3).

The Atlas Cross Sport has .3 inches more front headroom, 4.8 inches more front hip room, 5.6 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, 6.6 inches more rear hip room and 6.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Atlas Cross Sport’s rear seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-50 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 31.4 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-50 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Atlas Cross Sport. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Atlas Cross Sport’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda CX-50 is limited to 3500 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 CX-50 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Atlas Cross Sport and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Atlas Cross Sport is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 CX-50 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 CX-50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Atlas Cross Sport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-50 Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

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 CX-50 Turbo Premium.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CX-50 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the CX-50 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Atlas Cross Sport has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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 CX-50.

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 CX-50 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 CX-50 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 CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Mazda CX-50 by almost four to one during 2022.

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