2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was available in a variety of trims, including S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium, with optional Technology and R-Line packages. Its design was a key selling point, featuring a shorter and lower profile than the larger Atlas, giving it a sleek SUV coupe appearance. The SEL Premium trim with the R-Line package was particularly striking, with large 21-inch wheels and a custom look in Pure Gray paint. Inside, the Atlas Cross Sport offered a visually appealing interior with a Burgundy and Titan Black two-tone color scheme, though it included some hard plastics. The design and materials were well-executed, with ambient lighting adding a touch of sophistication.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a Heritage Edition trim to celebrate its 65th anniversary. The standard model, however, came in Magnetic Gray with Terra semi-aniline leather upholstery. Its exterior design was reminiscent of a first-generation Toyota Highlander, with large headlights and chrome accents. Inside, the Land Cruiser featured a mix of Toyota parts-bin switchgear and Lexus design themes, with high-quality materials. The interior was a blend of nostalgia and luxury, with a traditional hand-operated parking brake and a CD player, evoking a sense of traveling back in time.

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. However, the optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, generating 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, was more popular due to its better performance. Both engines were paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the Atlas Cross Sport was primarily front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine provided a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, and the vehicle offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. Despite its performance capabilities, the Atlas Cross Sport was noted for its thirstiness, averaging 18.7 mpg in testing.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine, delivering 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case. The Land Cruiser's off-road prowess was enhanced by features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, Multi-Terrain Select traction assist, and Crawl Control. It also had a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System for maximum wheel articulation. On-road, the Land Cruiser offered a refined driving experience, though it required more steering effort when parking. It had a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds and averaged 14.7 mpg in testing.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, despite being smaller than the Atlas, offered a spacious interior. The front seats were large, heated, and ventilated, with numerous power adjustments. The second row was comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom, and included rear air-conditioning vents and heated seat cushions. The dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled in direct sunlight, but storage space was plentiful, with a large center console and door panel bins. The cargo area provided 40.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was luxurious, with plush leather upholstery and heated and ventilated front seats. The second row offered heated seat cushions and a four-zone automatic climate control system with 28 air vents. The third-row seat could accommodate adults if the second row was adjusted, though leg support was lacking. The cargo area provided 16.1 cubic feet of space behind the third row, expanding to 41.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 82.8 cubic feet with the second row down. The split clamshell-style liftgate and tailgate facilitated easy access to the cargo area.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured three infotainment systems, with the top-trim model offering an 8-inch touchscreen display. It supported two Bluetooth device pairings and included Car-Net connected services, such as WiFi and remote engine starting. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system provided excellent audio quality, though the vehicle lacked a natural voice recognition system. Users needed to rely on Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for voice commands.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's technology was more dated, with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system that required tapping rather than swiping. It lacked Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and only supported single-device Bluetooth pairing. The voice-recognition system was basic, and the dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was outdated. The 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system offered good sound quality, but it was not on par with other high-end systems.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came equipped with a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including a standard automatic post-collision braking system. The SEL Premium R-Line model featured additional systems like road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The Lane Assist system and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic emergency braking were also included. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in safety tests.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. However, it lacked more advanced systems like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping assistance. Crash-test ratings were not available for the Land Cruiser.