Volkswagen Atlas vs Lexus NX

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas continues as VW’s North American-market three-row SUV (a two-row Atlas Cross Sport is also available, but we’ll cover that separately), and it’s largely unchanged from its substantial 2024 refresh. What remains, however, is a vehicle that impresses with its upscale appearance and genuinely spacious interior. A stiff ride and poorly executed technology will fight and frustrate you every step of the way, but the Atlas will nonetheless make you look good.

Verdict: The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas delivers on its core promise of style and space at a non-luxury price point. If you can tolerate its sub-par ride quality and maddening infotainment system—or if you simply plan to rely on Apple CarPlay and ignore the native tech—this handsome three-row SUV offers compelling value for shoppers prioritizing looks and space.

The NX is the compact crossover SUV of the Lexus lineup. It sits between the Lexus UX and Lexus RX in size and price, and it competes with small luxury crossovers like the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Genesis GV70, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60. This second-generation version arrived for the 2022 model year and receives minimal updates for 2026. The previously offered NX 250 base model is gone, but Lexus made some changes to the lineup to make the hybrid and plug-in hybrid NX models more affordable. The Lexus NX is assembled in Canada at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada in Cambridge, Ontario.

Verdict: The NX offers good value in hybrid form, but it otherwise doesn’t feel like a true luxury vehicle.