2020 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2020 Jeep Renegade was easily recognizable with its signature Jeep round headlights, 7-slot grille, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It offered a purposeful yet expressive design, with primary trim levels including Sport, Latitude, Limited, and Trailhawk. Special editions ranged from the affordable Jeepster to the pricey High Altitude. The base Renegade Sport trim level started at $25,210, while the High Altitude test car, loaded with extras, had an MSRP of $36,515. The High Altitude trim featured extra-cost paint, dark gray 19-inch wheels, and a dual-pane panoramic glass roof, giving it a surprisingly grown-up look. However, the interior, dominated by hard plastic and an all-black color scheme, looked inexpensive despite the fancy details.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the same sheet metal from the regular Atlas but featured a low roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch. This design made it resemble luxury automakers' "crossover coupes," blending SUV ruggedness with car-like features. The Cross Sport was 5.2 inches shorter and 2.2 inches lower than the seven-seat Atlas, with the same 117.3-inch wheelbase. Standard LED exterior lighting and various wheel sizes, from 18-inch to 21-inch, were available. The interior had VW’s typical minimalist design, but subpar materials let it down. Even with leather upholstery and contrast stitching, the interior felt cheap, with hard plastic and shiny surfaces prone to fingerprint smudges. The multiple dark colors didn’t provide a welcoming feel, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque. The test vehicle had the turbocharged engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on base models, while all-wheel drive was available on higher trims. The Active Drive AWD system, featured in the test vehicle, disconnected the rear wheels to save fuel and activated when needed. The turbocharged engine provided peak torque at 1,750 rpm, making the Renegade feel energetic, but turbo lag and a transmission calibrated for fuel economy led to uneven powertrain response. The Renegade averaged 23.6 mpg, below the EPA estimate of 26 mpg, and had a small 12.7-gallon fuel tank. The Trailhawk trim was recommended for off-roading, offering a more capable AWD system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start-stop systems. The VR6 engine, paired with AWD, provided lively acceleration and a pleasant sound but lacked midrange robustness. The transmission was slow to react, but manual shifting was an option. Ride quality was poor, with noticeable bumps and potholes, and the cabin let in wind and tire noise. The Cross Sport handled like a truck, with significant body roll and loose steering. VR6 models had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, while four-cylinder models were rated for 2,000 pounds. AWD versions featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee was recommended for off-roading.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade’s boxy exterior design resulted in a far-away windshield, thick and curved windshield pillars, and vertical side glass, making the interior feel larger. The panoramic glass roof added to the spacious feel. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat made it easy to get comfortable, but front passengers lacked seat height adjustment. Rear seat space was cramped, with no air conditioning vents for rear occupants. Cargo volume was limited, with 18.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover. Front-seat and rear-seat legroom were near the top of the class, but rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, above average for the segment. The second-row seats had a 60/40 split-fold and 14-degree backrest recline. SE with Technology trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate. The interior featured cargo nets, cupholders, storage bins, a decent-sized center console, and a second-row armrest with integrated cupholders.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade impressed with its technology, featuring the Chrysler Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. SiriusXM satellite radio provided connected services, and a new Kenwood premium audio system offered good sound. The Renegade also had a comprehensive driver information center and a parking assist system for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems: the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base trim, and the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Both systems included USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom screens, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. SE models and above had additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. SEL Premium models added a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system. The MIB3 system was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts. The Digital Cockpit display allowed for customizable gauge configurations, and analog controls made basic functions easy to use.

The 2020 Jeep Renegade offered an Advanced Tech Group with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Safety and Security Group added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Renegade earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for rear-seat side-impact protection. The IIHS gave it commendable scores but did not carry forward its Top Safety Pick rating from 2019.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with five-star side crash ratings and four-star frontal and rollover crash ratings. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, parking sensors, and parking assist. The Cross Sport also had an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, available on SEL and higher trims.