Compare the2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2025 BMW X3

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

Safety

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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 X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Atlas Cross Sport 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 X3 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.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and X3 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 X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

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 BMW X3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X3
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	32.2%
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	546/448 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	39%	40.2%
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	168 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	495/536 lbs.

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

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 BMW X3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	60
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	148 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	529 lbs.	866 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches

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

Warranty

There are over 80 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.

Engine

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (269 vs. 255) than the X3 30 xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X3 M50 xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (18.6 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Atlas Cross Sport’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the X3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X3
Front Rotors	13.2 inches	13 inches

The Atlas Cross Sport stops shorter than the X3:

	Atlas Cross Sport	X3
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	137 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (265/45R21 vs. 255/40R21).

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the X3 (117.3 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

Passenger Space

The Atlas Cross Sport has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (111.9 vs. 101.4).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.5 inches more front legroom, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 4.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

Cargo Capacity

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 31.5 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 67.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

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 X3.

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 X3.

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 costs extra on the X3.

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 X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Atlas Cross Sport is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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