Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 BMW X6

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X6 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Atlas Cross Sport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X6 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and X6 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Atlas Cross Sport has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X6’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the X6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 X6 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

There are over 85 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas Cross Sport’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the X6’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

On the EPA test cycle the Atlas Cross Sport gets better mileage than the X6:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X6 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

For better maneuverability, the Atlas Cross Sport’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the X6’s (40 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 750 pounds less than the BMW X6.

The Atlas Cross Sport has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Atlas Cross Sport’s rear seats recline. The X6’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X6 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 27.4 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X6 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 59.6 cubic feet).

Standard trailer stability control on the Atlas Cross Sport uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X6 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a higher standard payload capacity than the X6 (1091 vs. 994 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Atlas Cross Sport has a standard rear wiper. The X6 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 X6.

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 X6.

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 X6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Atlas Cross Sport is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Atlas Cross Sport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Atlas Cross Sport will cost $5335 to $8720 less than the X6 over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will be $34135 to $39221 less than for the BMW X6.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the BMW X6 by over 9 to one during 2023.