2026 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 was often praised for its elegant design, which stood out in the small SUV class. Its graceful curves and timeless styling made it appear more luxurious than its price suggested, even though it hadn't been redesigned since 2017. Inside, the CX-5 offered a refined interior with high-quality materials and a layout that balanced traditional and modern elements. While it lacked the large infotainment screens of its competitors, its use of physical buttons and knobs was appreciated for its usability. The interior's soft-touch materials and sturdy plastics gave it a premium feel, comparable to older Acura or Lexus models.

In contrast, the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas exuded an upscale appearance, especially in the SEL Premium R-Line trim, which bordered on luxury crossover territory. The Atlas featured full-LED lighting, power-adjustable heated side mirrors, and a sculpted silhouette that aged well since its 2018 debut. The interior boasted quilted diamond-pattern leather seats, metallic accents, and artificial wood trim, creating a warm and inviting environment. The 12-inch touchscreen and Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster promised a high-tech experience, although the interface was criticized for being cumbersome. Despite its good looks, the Atlas's ride quality was less refined, particularly with the larger wheels on the top trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and a turbocharged version producing 256 horsepower. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The base engine accelerated to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the turbocharged model was quicker by two seconds. The CX-5 was praised for its sporty driving dynamics, with minimal body roll and a firm yet comfortable ride. Its quiet cabin effectively filtered out wind and road noise, enhancing long-distance comfort.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine with 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on lower trims, while all-wheel drive was available across the range. The Atlas's engine was tuned for flexibility, with peak torque arriving at 1,600 rpm. It accelerated to 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, which was adequate but not particularly quick. The Atlas excelled in highway merging and offered a smooth ride, although its ride quality suffered on rough surfaces, especially with the larger wheels on the SEL Premium R-Line trim.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior was praised for its design and refinement, but it fell short in terms of practicality and space compared to rivals. While it offered sufficient headroom and rear legroom, competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage provided more space. The CX-5's cargo capacity was 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. It featured helpful latches for easy seat folding and a power liftgate on higher trims. Storage for smaller items was adequate, with moderately sized cupholders and door pockets.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in accommodating passengers and cargo. Its front seats were heated, ventilated, and equipped with massage functions, providing comfort on long drives. The second-row captain's chairs allowed easy access to the third row, which offered decent leg support. The Atlas's cargo capacity was a competitive advantage, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 96.6 cubic feet with all seats folded. It provided ample space for luggage and outdoor gear, making it an excellent choice for families and adventurers.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 featured a 10.25-inch infotainment display controlled via a center console dial. While smaller than competitors' screens, its placement minimized distraction. The system was easy to operate, with logical menus and a combination of dial and touchscreen controls for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered wireless phone integration and a wireless charging pad. The analog gauges felt dated, but a head-up display was standard on midrange trims and above. The audio system ranged from a basic four-speaker setup to a 10-speaker Bose premium system on the top trim.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas came with a 12-inch touchscreen running VW's MIB3 system, a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and multiple USB-C ports. The SEL Premium R-Line trim added a Harman Kardon audio system, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera. However, the MIB3 system was criticized for its complexity, with touch-sensitive controls that were difficult to use at night. The voice control system was unreliable, making Apple CarPlay and Android Auto the preferred options. The Harman Kardon audio system delivered excellent sound quality, and the Digital Cockpit Pro offered customizable views.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for rollover protection. The IIHS awarded the 2024 model a "Good" rating in all tests and a Top Safety Pick rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, a surround-view camera, and traffic jam assist. The systems operated smoothly, with no false alarms or technical glitches during testing.

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The 2025 model was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS. Volkswagen's IQ.Drive suite of driver assistance features was standard across all trims, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. The systems performed reliably during testing, even in heavy traffic, and the SEL Premium R-Line trim added Park Assist.