2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a bold and experimental design that was not universally appealing. Its exterior featured a distinctive grille shape, stacked lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings, which could be polarizing for some buyers. Inside, the Santa Fe boasted a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design with diamond-textured speaker grilles, creating a high-contrast visual experience. While the materials used in the interior were not top-notch, the build quality was exceptional, and the controls operated with refinement. Overall, the Santa Fe's daring design was a standout feature, appealing to those who appreciated a unique aesthetic.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh, resulting in a more extroverted appearance compared to its predecessor. The new front and rear bumpers, along with standard LED headlights and taillights, contributed to its updated look. The Atlas maintained its boxy, high-riding utility vehicle design, with an R-Line trim package adding sportier elements. While the changes were primarily cosmetic, the Atlas retained its MQB platform, ensuring a familiar driving experience. The interior of the Atlas was minimalist, with a focus on functionality, although the material quality was below average. Despite its spaciousness, the Atlas's second-row legroom was lacking, and the ride quality was less than ideal.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options, with the standout being the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided a significant boost in power compared to the standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter engine. The turbocharged engine delivered a smooth ride, decent handling, and light-effort steering, making it a competent daily driver. The Santa Fe's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, and its fuel economy was rated at 23 mpg combined for the 2.0T front-wheel-drive model. While the Santa Fe excelled in moderate off-roading, it was more of a practical tool than an engaging driving experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine choices: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine producing 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. The Atlas's driving experience was underwhelming, with rough shifts and truck-like handling. The ride quality was poor, and the suspension tuning missed the mark. The Atlas's towing capacity varied, with the VR6 models capable of towing 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy ratings were unimpressive, with the four-cylinder models achieving 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in providing thoughtful attention to detail, with creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in cloth-seat versions. The interior featured comfortable eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. The dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, ensuring effective air conditioning even with the panoramic sunroof. The back seat offered comfort with air conditioning vents, rear side-window sunshades, and heated bottom cushions. However, the Santa Fe fell short in cargo space, offering 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and a maximum of 71.3 cubic feet. The hands-free "smart" liftgate was a convenient feature, allowing easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, as a three-row crossover, provided ample passenger and cargo space, with 96.8 cubic feet behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. While the third-row legroom was commendable, the second-row legroom was lacking, and the bench seat was uncomfortable. The Atlas featured a straightforward folding and raising mechanism for the second and third-row seats, with easy access to the third row. The interior controls were logically laid out, with up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. The Atlas offered a tall driving position, but forward visibility was limited. Safety features like ultrasonic parking sensors and active park assist were available on higher trim levels.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's infotainment system was a highlight, with a user-friendly touchscreen perched high on the dashboard. It featured stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button for personalized functions. Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard across all trims. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three years of free service. The Limited trim offered a larger 8-inch display, navigation, a surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided valuable information, including blind-spot alerts, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came equipped with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim featured a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims received an 8-inch screen. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit, available on select trims, replaced analog gauges with a 10.3-inch digital display. The Atlas was set to receive the MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, offering multi-phone pairing, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base audio system was decent, with an option to center sound in specific rows. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims. The Atlas also introduced a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, supporting up to four devices.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was a safe choice, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It came equipped with a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. A driver monitoring system and rear-seat reminder system were standard. The SEL trim added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, along with a safe exit assist system. The Limited trim featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor, providing a live video feed of blind spots.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in IIHS crash tests, with a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 model, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and traffic-jam assist. The Atlas was set to receive more advanced driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist on SEL and SEL Premium trims.