2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 GMC Acadia

The 2020 GMC Acadia was positioned as a premium brand, intended to be nicer than Chevys but not as luxurious as Cadillacs. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse, and assembled in the same factory as the Cadillac XT5, the Acadia shared many similarities with its siblings. The 2020 model came in various trims, including the SL, SLE, SLT, rugged AT4, and luxurious Denali. The Denali trim, with its all-wheel drive, Satin Steel Metallic paint, and Technology Package, had a window sticker price of $52,385. The design changes for 2020 were most noticeable in the front, with squared-off headlights and a boxier grille, giving it a more upscale look. Inside, the cabin featured new electronic transmission shift switches, a redesigned center console, and real open-pore wood trim for Denali models. However, the mix of soft surfaces and hard plastic panels, along with some contrast stitching and bronze-tinted plastic metallic accents, did not fully establish the Acadia as a premium choice.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh, including new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille shared with the two-row Atlas Cross Sport model. These changes added 2.4 inches to the length of the Atlas, giving it a more extroverted look compared to the conservatively-styled 2020 model. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking front and rear bumpers and side skirts. Despite the cosmetic changes, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before. The S and SE trim levels came with 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher trims got 20-inch wheels, and the R-Line package included 21-inch wheels. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with controls sensibly laid out and a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. However, the material quality on the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim that were not convincing.

The 2020 GMC Acadia offered three different engines. Lower trims had a 193-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Acadia SLT came with a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, providing 230 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque. The AT4 and Denali variants featured a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6 engine, which was also available in most other Acadias. All engines were paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Acadia was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), except for the AT4, which had an exclusive dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 and nine-speed automatic combination provided smooth, refined power and up to 4,000 pounds of towing capacity. The test vehicle's powertrain included automatic engine stop/start and an engine cylinder deactivation system, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. The Acadia's ride and handling were finely tuned, making it easy to drive but somewhat forgettable in terms of driving character.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. A 3.6-liter VR6, rated at 276 hp and 266 lb-ft, was available on SE with Technology and higher trim levels. Both engines were coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD or optional 4Motion AWD. The 4Motion system defaulted to FWD under low load to save fuel but could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas had an Active Control feature with different drive modes, but it did not improve on-road handling. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy ratings were not impressive, with the four-cylinder models rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD, and the VR6 models rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg with AWD.

The 2020 GMC Acadia could seat five, six, or seven passengers, depending on the trim level and configuration. The Denali trim provided 6-passenger seating with standard second-row captain’s chairs, but a bench seat was available as a no-cost option. The front seats were wide and supportive, with 10-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated seats. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated and comfortable, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet for rear passengers. The third-row seat was roomier than expected, but the cargo space behind it was limited to 12.1 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat down increased the cargo space to 41.7 cubic feet, and with the second-row seats folded down, the maximum cargo volume was 79 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler, with a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. The Atlas offered more third-row legroom than most competitors, but this came at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst among its competitive set. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin, flat cushions. Folding and raising the second- and third-row seats was straightforward, and third-row access was easy thanks to a sliding second-row bench. The Atlas had a tall driving position, but forward visibility was less than optimal. The interior featured up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. The Atlas also had up to 17 cupholders. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, with low-speed automatic braking and active park assist available on higher trim levels.

The 2020 GMC Acadia included essential infotainment features such as Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and GMC Connected Services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch touchscreen had a higher resolution display, a simplified user experience, and improved voice recognition. The test vehicle had navigation and a Bose premium sound system, with voice-recognition technology that worked well most of the time. The infotainment system was easy to understand and use, with new USB-C connection and charging ports, a more powerful wireless charging pad, a high-definition surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim level had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels featured Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, replacing analog gauges with a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW’s new MIBIII infotainment system later in the 2021 model year, with multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The SE with Technology test car had the 8-inch screen, which was easy to navigate but plain and text-heavy. The base six-speaker audio system sounded decent, with a 12-speaker Fender audio system available on higher trims. The Atlas also had a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The 2020 GMC Acadia came with standard safety features such as a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Standard GMC Connected Services included automatic collision notification and SOS emergency calling, but the free trial period was short. The base Acadia SL and up had a standard blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning system. Forward collision warning and low-speed automatic emergency braking were available on SLT or AT4 trims as part of a Driver Alert Package, which also included lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, pedestrian braking, parking sensors, automatic high-beam headlights, and a head-up display. The enhanced automatic emergency braking system was exclusive to the Denali trim. The NHTSA gave the 2020 Acadia 5-star ratings in most assessments, with a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had incomplete data for the Acadia, with high marks in other tests.

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 headlights on higher trims were rated “good.” The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Every 2021 Atlas trim level had standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. Later in the model year, the Atlas was set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist on higher trims.