2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Jeep Compass

The 2020 Jeep Compass was a handsome SUV, reflecting the more refined side of the Jeep brand, much like the Grand Cherokee. It came in four core trim levels: Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk, with various packages and special edition trim upgrades available. Prices started at $22,280 for a Compass Sport with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission, while the High Altitude upgrade for the Compass Limited with all-wheel drive was priced from $32,645. Our test vehicle, a 2020 Compass Limited with AWD and numerous options, totaled $39,755, including the destination charge. Despite its premium features, the Compass had some cost-cutting measures that detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh, including new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes added 2.4 inches to the length of the Atlas. The Atlas had a more extroverted look compared to 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 and side skirts. The Atlas rode on the same MQB platform as before, with S and SE trim levels getting 18-inch alloy wheels, while higher models got 20-inch wheels. The interior was minimalist, with a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. Material quality on the mid-level SE with Technology test car was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim.

The 2020 Jeep Compass featured a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, known as the Tigershark, producing 180 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 175 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm. However, the engine was loud, slow, and thirsty, with sluggish acceleration and nearly non-existent passing power. The test vehicle averaged 23.1 mpg, falling short of the EPA rating of 25 mpg in combined driving. The nine-speed automatic transmission often shifted harshly and resisted downshifts. The suspension controlled body roll but allowed too much vertical motion and impact harshness. The steering was heavy and vague, and the brake pedal was sensitive. The Compass excelled in off-road capability, especially in Trailhawk trim, but the Limited test vehicle lacked some off-road features.

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 rated at 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. The driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts. Handling was truck-like, and the ride quality was poor, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. AWD models had an Active Control feature with different drive modes, but it didn't improve on-road handling. The Atlas had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the VR6 engine and 2,000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy ratings were unimpressive, with the four-cylinder engine rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and the VR6 engine rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a new-for-2020 Luxury Seat Group, adding premium leather, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a memory function for the driver's settings. The back seat was roomy, with air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Cargo space was 27.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. However, the optional spare tire and Alpine subwoofer housing took up some space. Interior storage was limited, and cupholders were awkwardly positioned.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler, with 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. It offered more third-row legroom than most competitors but had the worst second-row legroom 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. Controls were logically laid out and within easy reach of the driver. The Atlas had up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. It also had up to 17 cupholders. The tall driving position provided a good view, but forward visibility was less than optimal. Ultrasonic parking sensors and low-speed automatic braking were standard, with active park assist available on higher trim levels.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered an excellent Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and 4G LTE WiFi connectivity. It also supported SiriusXM Guardian connected services, which included emergency calling, a vehicle finder, remote engine starting, and more. The test vehicle had a navigation system and an Alpine premium audio system. Uconnect was intuitive and featured appealing graphics, though some features were embedded in menus. The voice recognition system worked well with naturally spoken requests, but navigation required more specific prompts.

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. Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit was available on higher trim levels, 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, which added multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The SE with Technology test car had the 8-inch screen without Digital Cockpit. 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 higher trim levels. The Atlas also had a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The 2020 Jeep Compass offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic warning. These features were optional and included in the Safety and Security Group and the Advanced Safety Group. The adaptive cruise control overreacted to changes in traffic, and the lane-keeping assist could be overly insistent. The Compass earned Good ratings in all IIHS crash tests except for headlight performance. The NHTSA gave the Compass a mix of three-star, four-star, and five-star ratings.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top "good" rating 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 trim levels were rated "good." The NHTSA gave the 2020 Atlas a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. The 2021 Atlas had standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were available on higher trim levels, as was a traffic-jam assist feature. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.