Compare the2026 Volkswagen AtlasVS 2025 Lexus TX

Both the Atlas and the TX 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, 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 is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Atlas	TX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	30%	39.3%
Leg Forces (l/r)	67/229 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	277	356
Neck Stress	129 lbs.	199 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	297/97 lbs.	384/277 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Volkswagen Atlas is safer than the TX:

	Atlas	TX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	3.1/0 kN	3.5/1.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	1%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.46/.5	.69/.57

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 Lexus TX:

	Atlas	TX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	48 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	17 inches
HIC	279	344
Hip Force	800 lbs.	823 lbs.

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% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the TX.

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the TX (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas’ warranty.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Atlas is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Atlas	TX
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.3 MPH	88.8 MPH

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

The Atlas has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Atlas stops much shorter than the TX:

	Atlas	TX
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (265/45R21 vs. 255/55R20).

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 TX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas’ wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the TX (117.3 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The Atlas 4Motion handles at .84 G’s, while the TX 550h+ Luxury pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Atlas SEL 4Motion executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the TX 350 Luxury (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

The design of the Volkswagen Atlas amounts to more than styling. The Atlas has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .33 Cd. That is lower than the TX (.34 to .35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Atlas get better fuel mileage.

The Atlas has .1 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.1 inches more third row headroom and .2 inches more third row legroom than the TX.

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

	Atlas	TX
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	20.2 cubic feet

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 TX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Atlas’ 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.

The Atlas 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 TX.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Lexus TX by over two to one during 2024.