2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, borrowing design elements from the Ford GT supercar for its headlights and sharing a large grille with the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Its curvaceous design marked a departure from the more upright rear end of its predecessor, which came at the cost of some practicality. 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 yet user-friendly cabin, featuring a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen. The design was forward-thinking but retained essential controls in familiar locations, ensuring ease of use.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille shared with the Atlas Cross Sport model. These changes extended the Atlas by 2.4 inches, giving it a more extroverted appearance compared to the previous model. The R-Line trim package added sportier bumpers and side skirts, although the fake chrome exhaust tips were considered a bit cheesy. The Atlas maintained its MQB platform, which was shared with other VW models like the Jetta and Golf, showcasing its flexibility. The interior of the Atlas was minimalist, with a focus on functionality, offering a standard seven-seat configuration and available second-row captain’s chairs for added comfort.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, setting it apart from competitors. It featured a new 3-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. Additionally, 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, combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric power, produced 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport. A plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The Escape's conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a CVT. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, offering an athletic feel, and its brakes were strong and responsive. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, achieving 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and optional 4Motion AWD. The AWD system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The driving experience with the base engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts. The Atlas's handling was truck-like, and its ride quality was poor, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. The VR6 models offered a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was 22 mpg combined with FWD, while the VR6 models achieved 19 mpg combined with FWD.

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. Folding the backseat down provided 65.4 cubic feet of space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. While this was less than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, the Escape prioritized passenger space. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample headroom and decent legroom, while the front seats provided a commanding view. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple compartments.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, a three-row crossover, was designed as a family hauler. It offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The Atlas provided more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst in its class. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin cushions. Folding and raising the seats was straightforward, and third-row access was easy thanks to a sliding second-row bench. The Atlas featured a driver-focused layout, with controls within easy reach. It offered up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. The Atlas also had up to 17 cupholders, providing ample beverage storage.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore due to its "floating screen" design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, offering a fantastic user experience. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The Escape's infotainment system allowed for multitasking, enabling users to operate their phones while projecting on the car's display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models featured an 8-inch screen. Higher trims offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW’s new MIBIII infotainment system, which included multi-phone pairing and improved voice recognition. The SE with Technology trim had an 8-inch screen without Digital Cockpit, with plain, text-heavy displays. The base audio system was decent, with a 12-speaker Fender audio system available on higher trims. A built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices, with service provided by Verizon.

The 2020 Ford Escape came equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. It earned the best overall score of Good from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems, including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in all IIHS crash tests, with a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The standard headlights were rated "marginal," while the SEL and SEL Premium trims received "good" ratings. The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. The Atlas featured standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.