Mazda CX-90 vs Volkswagen Atlas: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Mazda CX-90 burns about $2,450 of fuel annually against $2,450 for the Volkswagen Atlas. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City versus highway split: the Mazda CX-90 is the stronger commuter at 24 mpg city, while the Volkswagen Atlas pulls ahead on the interstate at 29 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Mazda CX-90 is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI; PHEV, SIDI; Mild Hybrid), the Volkswagen Atlas with 1 (SIDI). Across 9 recorded Mazda CX-90 configurations and 57 for the Volkswagen Atlas, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Mazda CX-90 is offered with 4-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen Atlas with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mazda CX-90 emits 159 g/mile of CO2 versus 364 g/mile for the Volkswagen Atlas. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.