2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first introduced on the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was adorned with a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more Americanized aesthetic. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed specifically for the U.S. market. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and sat slightly lower, enhancing its sporty appearance.

The interior of the Cross Sport received similar updates to the standard Atlas, with a central touchscreen now standing upright and a raised center console providing additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas models, featuring standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on SEL and higher models, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the top SEL Premium R-Line trim level. The highest-level option included blue seat inserts, adding a touch of elegance. However, despite efforts to improve the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim, the materials remained predominantly plastic. The Cross Sport also introduced new wheel designs for 2024, with various options available across different trim levels, enhancing its overall sporty appeal.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly in the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, presented a luxury SUV with a price tag of $75,000. It featured an exclusive Incognito paint job and distinctive orange brake calipers, adding a touch of uniqueness to its appearance. However, despite these standout features, the RX Hybrid's overall design was considered unremarkable, with a large front grille and a dramatic rear haunch swell. The RX lineup included three hybrid models: the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+. The RX 350h, the base model, offered 246 horsepower and impressive fuel efficiency at 36 mpg combined. The RX 500h, known for its performance, delivered 366 horsepower but sacrificed fuel economy at 27 mpg. The RX 450h+ was a plug-in hybrid, providing an estimated 37 miles of electric-only driving range before switching to hybrid operation.

All RX Hybrid models came with standard all-wheel drive, and the lineup offered various trim levels, including base, Premium, F Sport Design, Premium+, and Luxury. The RX 500h was available in F Sport Performance and Black Line Special Edition trims, while the RX 450h+ was exclusively offered in Luxury trim. The RX Hybrid's interior boasted quality materials and ambient lighting, creating a contemporary and comfortable environment. However, the controls ranged from baffling to brilliant, with Lexus avoiding the common single curved display approach. The RX Hybrid's pricing ranged from $52,875 to $72,710, with our test vehicle's MSRP reaching $75,000 with options.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). This marked the end of an era for VW, as the Atlas and Cross Sport were the last models to use the automaker's 3.6-liter VR6 engine. The new turbo-four engine delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, slightly less horsepower but more torque than the previous VR6 engine. Peak torque arrived earlier at 1,550 rpm compared to 3,600 rpm for the VR6. While specific performance numbers were not provided, VW expected the 2024 Cross Sport to be quicker from zero to 60 mph than the 2023 model with the VR6. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains across its lineup. The RX 350h, the least powerful but most efficient model, featured a hybrid powertrain based on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 246 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. It achieved impressive fuel efficiency, allowing drivers to pass multiple gas stations without stopping. The RX 450h+ PHEV utilized the same gas engine paired with a larger battery pack and a more powerful primary electric drive motor, resulting in a total system output of 304 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time of 6.2 seconds. The RX 500h, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and traditional six-speed automatic transmission, delivered 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It offered better acceleration to 60 mph compared to the RX 350h but at the cost of lower fuel economy.

The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, standard 21-inch wheels, and Lexus's Direct4 all-wheel-drive system, which continuously adjusted power distribution based on surface conditions and driver behavior. It also included performance brakes, a dynamic rear-wheel steering system, and a customizable driving mode. While the RX 500h's drivetrain provided plenty of power and quick acceleration, it was not very fuel-efficient, averaging 20.9 mpg during testing. The RX 500h was quiet on the freeway but felt firm on city streets, with the adaptive damping suspension producing unnatural sensations. Despite its capabilities, the RX 500h's dynamic limits were difficult to discern, and the SUV's communication with the driver was filtered, making it less rewarding to drive.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were now ventilated as well as heated. The SE with Technology trim featured a standard power liftgate and tow hitch, while heated second-row seats and leather upholstery were standard on the SEL trim. The Cross Sport's roofline, while stylish, impacted rear-seat headroom, creating a more cramped feeling in the back seats compared to other vehicles of its size. However, legroom was competitive with rivals, and the Cross Sport offered a decent amount of first-row legroom. The cargo space was not significantly affected by the styling, with 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 77.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance test vehicle featured heated and ventilated front seats with enhanced bolstering, although the bottom cushions were not very comfortable for long drives. The automatic climate system's fan was loud, and the panoramic sunroof extended over most of the rear seat. The test vehicle included optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated rear seats, providing ample room for adults. The RX Hybrid offered plenty of interior storage in practical locations, although the rear center armrest storage compartment lacked a lining, potentially causing unwanted noise. The RX Hybrid's cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet, with hooks for grocery bags and a small amount of storage space under the load floor. Folding down the second row created 46.2 cubic feet of cargo volume, which was not much for a midsize SUV.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging as standard features. The infotainment setup was similar to the three-row Atlas, with intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics. However, the haptic touchpads used in place of conventional buttons were less user-friendly, requiring precise finger placement and visual confirmation. The Cross Sport included four USB-C ports as standard, with the option to add up to six. A USB-C dash cam port was added to SE with Technology and above models, and the SEL trim featured a head-up display as standard equipment. The optional premium audio system was now from Harman Kardon, offering a 12-speaker system on the SEL Premium R-Line model.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid met the high-tech expectations of a luxury vehicle, although some features were optional even on the top-of-the-line RX 500h Black Line Special Edition. The RX Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and unlabeled, dual-function steering wheel controls, which were distracting to use while driving. The modern Lexus Interface infotainment system included a volume knob and large dials for climate control settings. The RX 500h model featured a 14-inch touchscreen display and generous complementary subscriptions to connected services, including a three-year Drive Connect plan with a digital voice assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and streaming options. The RX Hybrid's technology worked well, although there was an intermittent glitch with satellite radio. The head-up display was helpful but not as comprehensive as those in some rivals. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system sounded great, but the steering wheel controls were frustrating to use.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released ratings for the 2024 Cross Sport at the time of publication, but the structurally similar 2023 model earned top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests. The IQ.Drive package of driver aids, previously limited to higher trim levels, was now standard on all 2024 Atlas Cross Sport models. It included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. SEL and SEL R-Line models received predictive adaptive cruise control, while the Premium R-Line featured park assist and a surround-view camera system.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid included Safety Connect, a connected service plan providing automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency assistance button, and roadside assistance for up to ten years. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) was standard, offering advanced driver assistance systems such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX Hybrid also featured a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert. Predictive Driving Assist (PDA) was part of LSS+ 3.0, actively monitoring forward progress and using braking or steering input to ensure safe following distances. The optional Convenience Package included a surround-view camera, which was considered a must-have upgrade. In crash tests, the RX earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, but the IIHS gave it a Poor rating for occupant protection in the updated moderate overlap frontal-impact test.