2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover was a testament to luxury and rugged capability, a legacy that began with the original Series I off-roader. Over the years, it evolved into a luxury SUV, maintaining its robust 4x4 underpinnings. By 2020, the Range Rover offered multiple trims, including HSE, Autobiography, and SVAutobiography Dynamic, with options for standard or long wheelbase configurations. Standard features included leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, and a dual-screen infotainment system, while higher trims added more opulent touches like massaging seats and a rear-seat entertainment system.

In contrast, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was a stylish SUV with a coupe-like design, shorter and lower than the larger Atlas. It offered trims like S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium, with optional Technology and R-Line packages. The SEL Premium trim, especially with the R-Line package, stood out with its 21-inch wheels and Pure Gray paint. Inside, the Atlas Cross Sport featured a spacious cabin with a two-tone color scheme, though some hard plastics were evident. It provided ample comfort with heated and ventilated seats, but the dual-zone climate control struggled in direct sunlight.

The 2020 Range Rover boasted a diverse range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 355 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque. The HSE trim offered a non-hybrid version of the same engine, delivering 395 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. A turbodiesel V6 was also available, rated at 254 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The P525 and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while a plug-in hybrid option combined a 2.0-liter inline-four with electric motors for 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The SV Autobiography Dynamic trim topped the range with a 557 hp, 516 lb-ft V8. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, offering impressive off-road capabilities and a comfortable ride.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. However, the optional 3.6-liter V6, with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, was more suitable for its 4,103-pound weight. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and 4Motion all-wheel drive available. The V6 provided a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and felt sprightly in daily driving. The 4Motion system offered various traction settings, enhancing its capability. Despite its size, the Atlas Cross Sport handled well, though it lacked adaptive damping suspension, affecting ride quality.

The 2020 Range Rover offered two wheelbase options, with seating for five or four with optional second-row captain’s chairs. The SWB version provided 70.9 cubic feet of cargo space with rear seats folded, while the LWB model offered 77.5 cubic feet. The Range Rover featured a hands-free power liftgate with a two-piece configuration, enhancing convenience. Interior storage was adequate, with decently sized compartments and cupholders.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, though smaller than the Atlas, felt spacious inside. It featured large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous adjustments. The second row comfortably accommodated three children or two adults, with ample legroom and headroom. The dual-zone climate control struggled in direct sunlight, but storage was plentiful, with a large center console and door bins. The cargo area offered 40.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2020 Range Rover featured the InControl Touch Pro Duo system, with two touchscreens for navigation, phone, stereo, and climate controls. The system had a learning curve and occasional lag issues, but a volume knob remained. A fully digital instrument panel and optional head-up display added to the tech offerings.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, virtual menu buttons, and stereo knobs. It supported two Bluetooth device pairings and included Car-Net services like WiFi and remote engine start. The 12-speaker Fender sound system delivered excellent audio quality, but the lack of natural voice recognition was a drawback.

The 2020 Range Rover came with standard safety features like low-speed automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. While it had a solid list of safety features, some were optional rather than standard.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included essential ADAS features even on the base trim, with an automatic post-collision braking system. The SEL Premium R-Line trim had additional features like road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. While crash-test results were pending, the larger Atlas performed well in safety tests.