2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Subaru Outback

Subaru had a winning formula with the Outback and aimed for incremental improvements in 2020. The sixth-gen Outback was built on Subaru’s Global Platform, boasting a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, though seemingly unchanged, had 90% new parts, while higher trims featured a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent. Exterior changes were subtle, mainly in the head- and taillights, but the interior saw significant upgrades, including an 11.6-inch touchscreen for most trims and the innovative DriverFocus system, which used facial recognition to adjust settings and monitor driver alertness.

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 its length. The Atlas had a more extroverted look compared to the 2020 model, though some found the fake chrome exhaust tips 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. Wheel sizes varied by trim, with 18-inch alloys on S and SE trims and up to 21-inch wheels on higher trims with the R-Line package.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured a 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower, a 7-hp increase over 2019, and offered 26 mpg city and 33 highway. The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in XT trims produced 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a CVT, tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission. Subaru’s symmetrical AWD system provided consistent power delivery and better handling, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance for off-road capability.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD or optional 4Motion AWD. The AWD system defaulted to FWD to save fuel but could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The driving experience with the base engine and AWD was underwhelming, with rough shifts and poor ride quality. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models could tow 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder was 22 mpg combined with FWD and slightly lower with AWD, while the VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg with AWD.

The 2020 Subaru Outback offered 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom, even for taller passengers. Visibility was excellent, though the rear quarters had a significant blind spot. The Outback’s design prioritized functionality, with a low load height and a lower center of gravity for better handling and braking.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas provided 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 in its class. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin, flat cushions. The interior layout was driver-focused, with controls within easy reach. The Atlas featured up to five USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad. It also had up to 17 cupholders. Forward visibility was less than optimal, but ultrasonic parking sensors and optional low-speed automatic braking and active park assist helped with parking.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, which was large and easy to navigate but suffered from lag and buried climate-control functions. The camera resolution was also subpar. Despite these issues, the system had potential with its user-friendly interface and attractive display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trims offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive the MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, which would add multi-phone pairing, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system was decent, with an option to center the sound in a specific row. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims. New for 2021 was a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The 2020 Subaru Outback had a strong safety suite, including standard AWD and EyeSight system. However, the DriverFocus system was problematic, frequently giving false alerts. The EyeSight system could also turn off due to obstructions like snow or fog, which was less than ideal.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top ratings in IIHS crash tests, except for a “marginal” rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the 2020 model 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. Later in the model year, the Atlas was set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist on higher trims.