Compare the2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2025 Lincoln Nautilus

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Nautilus doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the Nautilus 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, 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 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 Lincoln Nautilus:

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, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

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

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Nautilus’ (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. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Nautilus. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Nautilus models.)

There are over 32 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it 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 Nautilus’ engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (269 vs. 250) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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 Nautilus are solid, not vented.

The Atlas Cross Sport stops much shorter than the Nautilus:

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Nautilus (265/45R21 vs. 255/60R19).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 3.1 inches longer than on the Nautilus (117.3 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Nautilus.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion handles at .81 G’s, while the Nautilus Black Label pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Nautilus Black Label (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.6 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.4 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nautilus.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Nautilus with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 36.4 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nautilus with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 71.3 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 Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (5000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Atlas Cross Sport SEL has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, unlock the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Access standard on the Nautilus doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Nautilus doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by 6% during 2024.