2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, borrowing its large grille from the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its design was more curvaceous than its predecessor, which came at the cost of some cargo space. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the most attractive small SUVs, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, maintaining a balance between futuristic design and practical control placement. The range of trims, from the base S to the top-tier Titanium, offered various features, with the SE trim recommended for its value.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, with its SUV coupe look, was shorter and lower than the larger Atlas, appealing to those prioritizing style over cargo volume and a third-row seat. The SEL Premium trim with the R-Line package featured impressive 21-inch wheels and Pure Gray paint, giving it a custom appearance. Inside, the Atlas Cross Sport's Burgundy and Titan Black two-tone color scheme was visually appealing, though closer inspection revealed hard plastics. The cabin design and materials were well-executed, with ambient lighting adding a nice touch. Despite some material shortcomings, the Atlas Cross Sport's styling was a strong selling point.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of four engine options, setting it apart from competitors. The base 3-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The hybrid drivetrain, with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, produced 198 horsepower, while a plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, with strong brakes contributing to its sporty feel. Fuel efficiency varied, with the non-Sport hybrid achieving 44 mpg city and 37 highway.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, generating 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine offered 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, with the Atlas primarily front-wheel drive but offering an optional 4Motion AWD system. The V6 provided adequate power, though the transmission's delayed downshifts were noticeable. The Atlas Cross Sport's driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, adjusted powertrain and steering behavior. Despite its size, the Atlas Cross Sport was agile, though its fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, cargo space increased to 65.4 cubic feet, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. While not the most spacious in its class, the Escape prioritized passenger space, providing ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats offered commanding positions with good visibility, and the cabin featured numerous storage solutions for everyday use.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, despite being smaller than the Atlas, felt spacious inside. The front seats were large, heated, and ventilated, with numerous power adjustments for comfort. The second row comfortably accommodated three children or two adults, with ample legroom and headroom. The dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled in direct sunlight, but storage space was plentiful, with a large center console and door panel bins. The Atlas Cross Sport offered 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 77.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, making it accommodating for cargo despite its stylish design.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out due to the floating screen design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering a more modern interface. The Titanium trim included a head-up display, though its flip-up screen design limited its effectiveness for taller drivers. Overall, the Escape's technology offerings were competitive, with the SE trim providing a good balance of features and value.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display. The system supported two Bluetooth device pairings and included Car-Net connected services, such as WiFi and remote engine starting. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. However, the lack of a natural voice recognition system was a drawback, requiring reliance on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands. Despite this, the Atlas Cross Sport's technology was robust and user-friendly.

The 2020 Ford Escape came equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. It earned a Good rating from the IIHS in all testing phases. The standard Ford Co-Pilot360 suite included advanced safety systems like forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control, along with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered extensive safety equipment, with the base trim including essential advanced driving assistance systems. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle featured additional systems like road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The ADAS operated smoothly, though lane assistance was not preferred. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in safety tests.