2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the same dynamic styling as the rest of the current Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it look more svelte than it really was. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, though hard plastics were used in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

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. The 2021 model had a more extroverted look than the conservatively-styled 2020 model, although the fake chrome exhaust tips were a bit cheesy. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, as well as side skirts. Despite the cosmetic changes, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, which was used by most current VW models, including the Jetta and Golf.

A 3.5-liter V6 engine powered the 2020 Honda Pilot, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This power was sent to the front wheels (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission on LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed provided more refined acceleration and potentially better fuel economy. The Pilot’s ride was tuned for a refined, comfortable driving experience, ideal for easy commutes and relaxing road trips. Honda’s Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes like Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, each with specific drivetrain and traction control tuning.

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, available on SE with Technology and higher trim levels, was rated at 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. 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. The Atlas had a truck-like handling and poor ride quality, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. AWD models featured an Active Control system with different drive modes, but it didn’t improve on-road handling.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot’s third row was adult-friendly, unlike some rivals with cramped third rows. EX trims and higher offered one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier third-row access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space. While this was slightly less than some competitors, it was still ample. The Pilot had plenty of spaces for toys, juice boxes, and other gear, making it ideal for family hauling.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. It provided more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst among its competitive set. The standard 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. It featured up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders.

The 2020 Honda Pilot’s LX trim level featured a 5-inch color LCD screen operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer. Bluetooth connectivity and a USB port were also included. All other trims featured Honda’s Display Audio 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had a small volume knob and lacked a tuning knob, making interaction with the radio reliant on the touchscreen, which had a confusing layout. Higher trims included HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability. Navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a wall-style power outlet were optional on the EX-L and standard on the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The higher trims also received an upgraded 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability.

All 2021 Volkswagen Atlas models came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone 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, adding multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system sounded decent, with an option to center the sound in a specific row. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on SEL and higher trim levels. New for 2021 was a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control were standard. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best crash test score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned the best score of Superior in IIHS crash prevention technology evaluation.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top “good” rating in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but with a “marginal” rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The standard headlights were rated “marginal,” while the headlights on the pricier SEL and SEL Premium trim levels were rated “good.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the similar 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Every 2021 Atlas trim level came with standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trim levels offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. Later in the model year, SEL and SEL Premium trim levels were set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.