2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB had a boxy and tall design compared to other small Mercedes SUVs. It sat on a front-wheel-drive platform with an optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The vehicle featured a long, flat hood leading to an upright windshield, large side windows, and a nearly vertical rear liftgate. The front and rear overhangs were symmetrical, ensuring visual balance. The GLB prioritized function over form, offering robust standard roof rails and a spacious interior despite its narrow and short dimensions.

The test vehicle, painted in Mountain Gray metallic and equipped with the AMG Line design package and 20-inch AMG wheels, exuded style and attitude. Prices started at $36,600, but the fully loaded GLB 250 4Matic tested had a sticker price of $55,890. The interior featured dual 10.25-inch screens, ambient lighting, and a Burmester premium sound system. The cabin blended high style with simplicity, though some metallic trim pieces revealed the vehicle's more affordable status within the Mercedes lineup.

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 vehicle's length. The Atlas had a more extroverted look than its predecessor, though the fake chrome exhaust tips were a bit cheesy. The R-Line trim package added sportier bumpers and side skirts. Despite the cosmetic changes, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, used by most current VW models.

The Atlas offered various wheel sizes, from 18-inch alloys on the S and SE trims to 21-inch wheels with the R-Line package. Roof rails were standard, and a panoramic sunroof was available on higher trims. The interior took a minimalist approach, with sensibly laid-out controls and a standard seven-seat configuration. However, material quality on the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and faux wood and metal trim.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came in GLB 250 and GLB 250 4Matic specifications, both equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 221 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 and 4,000 rpm. Mercedes claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.9 seconds, though it felt faster due to the engine's wide torque band and the snappy eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The DCT powered the front wheels unless the 4Matic AWD was optioned, which optimized grip and performance.

The test vehicle, equipped with an adaptive damping suspension and 20-inch AMG wheels, delivered a soft, pillowy ride in Comfort mode, perfect for city and highway driving. Switching to Sport mode tensed up the suspension and made the turbo powertrain more responsive. The GLB felt fun to drive, especially on mountain roads, despite its modest engine specifications. However, the brakes faded prematurely during enthusiastic driving, cutting short an otherwise enjoyable experience. The fuel economy was 21.4 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 26-mpg estimate.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, 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 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 these only affected engine, transmission, steering, and adaptive cruise control response, not suspension. The VR6 models could tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy ratings were unimpressive, with the 2.0-liter turbo-four getting 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD, and the VR6 models getting 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg with AWD.

The Mercedes-Benz GLB offered generous interior dimensions, making it more spacious inside than the larger and more expensive GLC. It could be equipped with an optional third row of seats, a feature unavailable on other Mercedes SUVs except the GLS. The GLB comfortably accommodated four adults, with ample headroom, tall seating positions, and large windows. The second-row seat slid forward and back, allowing for extra space for third-row passengers or more cargo.

The test vehicle's front seats offered power adjustment but lacked heating and ventilation. The second-row seat could fit three people, but two was more suitable due to the vehicle's narrow width. Cargo space measured 22 cubic feet behind the second-row seat, expanding to 62 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The GLB's traditional SUV roofline provided more space than the increasingly popular SUV coupe designs.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler, offering 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 had the worst second-row legroom in its class. 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. Controls were logically laid out and within easy reach of the driver. The vehicle offered up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. It also had up to 17 cupholders, though it couldn't match the Subaru Ascent's 19 cupholders. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, with low-speed automatic braking and active park assist available on higher trims.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came with the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Premium Package, costing an extra $2,200, upgraded the standard 7-inch screens to twin 10.25-inch displays with lush graphics and fast response. The Multimedia Package added a navigation system with augmented video, using the forward-facing camera to provide a live video feed with turn-by-turn directions.

The Parking Assistance Package included a high-definition surround-view camera system and a semi-autonomous active parking assistance system. The 12-speaker Burmester premium sound system was also available, offering excellent sound quality and stylish aluminum speaker grilles.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas featured 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. Higher trims offered 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 model year, adding 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 menus were easy to navigate, but the displays were plain and text-heavy. 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 trims. The Atlas also had a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, supporting up to four devices, with service provided by Verizon.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came standard with several safety features, including a driver monitoring system, a backup camera, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and a Pre-Safe front collision preparation system. Emergency call service was also standard and free for the vehicle's lifetime. Optional safety features included second-row side-impact airbags and blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist.

The optional Driver Assistance Package added advanced driving assistance and collision avoidance systems, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assistance, and an automatic emergency stop assistance system. Enhancements to the Pre-Safe technology included rear-impact preparation and ear damage protection at the moment of impact. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had performed crash tests on the GLB at the time of publication.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in all IIHS crash tests, but a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The standard headlights were rated "marginal," while the headlights on higher trims were rated "good." The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating.

All 2021 Atlas trim levels came with standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. Later in the model year, the Atlas was set to receive Travel Assist, enabling automated lane centering at speeds up to 95 mph, and Emergency Assist, which could bring the car to a complete stop if the driver was incapacitated.