Compare the2026 Ford ExplorerVS 2026 Volkswagen Atlas

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Atlas doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Ford Explorer has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Atlas doesn’t offer knee airbags.

With its standard Pre-Collision Assist, the Ford Explorer is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Atlas, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Explorer	Atlas
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-28 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-34 MPH	-2 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.4 sec	.6 sec

The Explorer’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Atlas doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Explorer and the Atlas have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	Explorer	Atlas
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	131	307
Neck Injury Risk	29.4%	30%
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	13 lbs.	59 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	277
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches

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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	Explorer	Atlas
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	224 lbs.	345 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	144
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	51 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	800 lbs.

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

Warranty

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Explorer 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Atlas. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Atlas ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Explorer’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Atlas’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Atlas doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Explorer’s reliability 21 points higher than the Atlas.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 32 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 77 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Ford higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 5 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 31 more horsepower (300 vs. 269) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 131 more horsepower (400 vs. 269) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 273) than the Atlas’ 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer is faster than the Volkswagen Atlas:

	Explorer turbo 4 cyl.	Explorer turbo V6	Atlas
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	5.3 sec	7.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	13.9 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.1 MPH	99.9 MPH	91.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Atlas:

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
Atlas
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	SE 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/26 hwy
		SEL 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		Peak Edition 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy

The Explorer 3.0L EcoBoost V6’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Atlas (20.2 vs. 18.6 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Atlas doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Explorer higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Volkswagen Atlas (4). This means the Explorer produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Atlas every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Atlas.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Atlas:

	Explorer	Explorer ST	Atlas
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.3 inches	13.2 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	13.8 inches	12.2 inches

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Atlas:

	Explorer	Atlas
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Atlas (255/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Atlas (275/45R21 vs. 265/45R21).

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Atlas doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Atlas’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Atlas (119.1 inches vs. 117.3 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Atlas’ (55% to 45%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the Atlas 4Motion pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Atlas SEL 4Motion (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Atlas’ (38.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Atlas (7.6 vs. 6.3 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Tremor’s minimum ground clearance is 2.4 inches higher than on the Atlas (8.7 vs. 6.3 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Atlas doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Atlas doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 1.3 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room and .6 inches more third row headroom than the Atlas.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Explorer’s (except Active) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Atlas doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Atlas. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Explorer (except Active)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Atlas doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Atlas doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Car-Net can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Atlas only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Explorer’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Atlas has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Ford Explorer retains 47.11% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.49% resale value of the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas after five years, which can save the Ford’s owner.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Atlas because it costs $173 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Atlas, including $278 less for a water pump, $92 less for a muffler, $79 less for front brake pads, $527 less for a starter, $322 less for fuel injection, $342 less for front struts, $556 less for a timing belt/chain and $125 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Ford Explorer, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Atlas isn't recommended.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and they ranked the Ford Explorer Active higher than the Volkswagen Atlas SEL 4Motion.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Volkswagen Atlas by almost three to one during 2024.

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