Ford Explorer vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport (2026)
Price gap, MSRP + destination
$485
- Explorer: 1 mpg better, 31 hp more.
- Atlas Cross Sport: 2.1 in more rear legroom, 74 lb-ft more torque.
- Explorer wins 8 of 12 measures.
- Price: about the same.
| Measure | Explorer | Atlas Cross Sport | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $40,260 | $39,775 | About the same |
| Horsepower | 300 hp | 269 hp | Explorer |
| Torque | 199 lb-ft | 273 lb-ft | Atlas Cross Sport |
| MPG combined | 24 mpg | 23 mpg | Explorer |
| Cargo, max | 85.3 cu ft | 77.6 cu ft | Explorer |
| Cargo, seats up | 46.0 cu ft | 40.3 cu ft | Explorer |
| Rear legroom | 38.3 in | 40.4 in | Atlas Cross Sport |
| Front legroom | 43.0 in | 41.7 in | Explorer |
| Length | 198.7 in | 195.6 in | Not scored |
| Width | 78.7 in | 78.3 in | Not scored |
| Curb weight | 4,360 lb | 4,165 lb | Not scored |
| Towing | 5,000 lb | 2,000 lb | Explorer |
| Seats | 6 to 7 | 5 | N/A |
| Ground clearance | 7.8 in | 6.3 in | Explorer |
| 0-60 mph | 6.5 s estimate | 6.8 s estimate | Explorer |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | 4 yr / 50,000 mi | Atlas Cross Sport |
Not scored: length, width, curb weight. N/A rows are not counted.
Nearest trims by price
| Trim | Nearest in price | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer Active RWD $38,465 | Atlas Cross Sport SE FWD $38,300 | $165 |
| Atlas Cross Sport SE FWD $38,300 | Explorer Active w/100A Pkg RWD $38,465 | $165 |
Cost to run
About the same over 6 years.
12,000 miles a year. Gas $3.20. Electricity 17 cents per kWh.
| Cost | Explorer | Atlas Cross Sport |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP + destination | $40,260 | $39,775 |
| Fuel or charging, 1 year | $1,600 | $1,670 |
| Fuel or charging, 6 years | $9,600 | $10,017 |
| Total, 6 years | $49,860 | $49,792 |
Which is better for me?
Weight each group from 0 to 10. MPG uses fuel or charging cost.
Equal weights: Explorer wins.
No single weight change flips the winner.
| Group | Ahead | By |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About the same | |
| MPG | Explorer | 4% |
| Power | Explorer | 10% |
| Space | Explorer | 9% |
| Towing | Explorer | 60% |
Other years
What this cannot tell you
Your price and mpg will differ.
Reliability and safety are not included.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree