2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was offered in a variety of trims, including S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium, with optional Technology and R-Line packages. Its styling, characterized by a steeply angled rear liftgate, gave it an SUV coupe look. The test vehicle, an SEL Premium with the R-Line package, featured 21-inch machined-finish wheels and Pure Gray paint, creating a custom appearance. Inside, the Burgundy and Titan Black two-tone color scheme looked good at a glance, but closer inspection revealed hard plastics. However, the design and materials in high-contact areas were well-executed, and ambient lighting added a nice touch.

The 2021 Lexus NX, available in NX 300, NX 300 F Sport, and NX 300h hybrid versions, carried over Lexus's familial design attributes. The NX's sharp design lines and sculpted exterior gave it a familiar appearance akin to the smaller UX and larger RX. The F Sport variant added sportier elements like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch F Sport wheels. Inside, the F Sport featured exclusive quilted NuLuxe sport seats with optional Circuit Red interior. The material fit and finish were excellent, with a gauge cluster featuring a sculpted metal-faced four-dial setup. However, the center stack's design appeared outdated compared to newer models.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Weighing 4,103 pounds, the vehicle felt heavy, making the optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, a more appealing choice. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the vehicle was primarily front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine provided a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, and performed well in Sport mode. However, it lacked an adaptive damping suspension, and its fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The NX accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in around seven seconds. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The NX's fuel economy was 22 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined for the FWD model, with AWD models achieving similar figures. The F Sport variant featured an adaptive suspension system and three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. The NX had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and a top speed electronically limited to 124 mph.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, though smaller than the Atlas, offered a spacious interior. The test vehicle featured large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous power adjustments for both front occupants. The second row was comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for two adults or three children. The vehicle provided 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. However, the dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled in direct sunlight, especially with the engine's automatic stop/start system engaged. Storage space was plentiful, with a large center console, door panel bins, and a glove box.

The 2021 Lexus NX's interior was upscale and comfortable, with front seats providing ample room for adults and the second row accommodating two adults with good legroom. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats offered a 60/40 split-folding configuration. The NX's cargo space was limited, with 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The vehicle featured a power liftgate with kick sensor technology and optional power-folding rear seats. Engine noise was present, but road and wind noise were minimal, maintaining a typical Lexus quiet cabin.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display. The system included USB-C ports, Bluetooth device pairings, and Car-Net connected services with WiFi, remote engine starting, and safe teen driving features. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system provided excellent audio quality. However, the vehicle lacked a natural voice recognition system, requiring the use of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands.

The 2021 Lexus NX featured an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with a 10.3-inch screen available in the Navigation package. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HomeLink. The Navigation package added Lexus Enform Destination Assist, a personal concierge service. Standard features included keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port, HD Radio, and a WiFi hot spot. The Lexus Premium Audio system was standard, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker audio system. The NX was compatible with the Lexus Enform Remote mobile app, offering remote engine start, climate control adjustment, and vehicle-finder functions.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) as standard, including an automatic post-collision braking system. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle featured additional ADAS such as road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The Lane Assist system prevented lane changes when another vehicle was in the blind spot, and the rear cross-traffic alert system included automatic emergency braking. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in safety tests.

The 2021 Lexus NX came standard with Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. Optional safety features included park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, with "Superior" front crash-prevention technology and an "Acceptable" LATCH system rating. The NHTSA awarded the NX a five-star overall safety rating.