2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 shorter length and lower height compared to the larger Atlas, gave it an SUV coupe look with a steeply angled rear liftgate. The SEL Premium trim with the R-Line package featured 21-inch machined-finish wheels and optional Pure Gray paint, giving it 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 the available ambient lighting added a nice touch.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic that was likely to age well. It was large for its class, nearly as spacious inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to its long-wheelbase version. The roomy interior could comfortably accommodate four people, with an optional third-row seat expanding capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children. The Tiguan's interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine producing 235 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm on premium gas. This engine, related to the one in the Golf GTI, struggled with the Atlas Cross Sport's 4,103-pound curb weight. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine offered 276 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,750 rpm, providing a more sprightly feel around town and a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission with a sport mode, and the Atlas was primarily front-wheel drive, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The V6 engine was adequate but could benefit from a more powerful option. The 8-speed automatic transmission performed well, though it had delayed downshifts in normal mode. The 4Motion AWD system allowed some front-wheel slip before engaging the rear wheels, and the Active Control system offered various traction settings. The Atlas Cross Sport had 8 inches of ground clearance and performed well on smooth pavement, though it was thirsty, averaging 18.7 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as an option. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite this, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners. The Tiguan was quiet and composed on the highway, making it suitable for long road trips.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, though smaller than the Atlas, felt spacious inside. The test vehicle featured large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous power adjustments for both the driver and front passenger, providing comfort for hours of driving. The second row was equally comfortable, accommodating three kids or smaller adults, with expansive legroom and headroom. The test vehicle included rear air-conditioning vents and heated seat cushions. However, the dual-zone automatic climate control system struggled to overcome direct sunlight on warm days, especially when 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 rakish roofline restricted cargo room, but the Atlas Cross Sport still offered 40.3 cubic feet of space behind the back seat and 77.8 cubic feet with it folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy entry and exit. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, ensuring proper support and excellent visibility. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control system was effective. The back seat provided generous legroom and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan also offered ample clearance for reverse-facing child safety seats. A large panoramic sunroof was available, and storage space included a large glovebox and fabric-lined door panel bins, though it was otherwise limited. The 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for carrying long items and four passengers simultaneously. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the SUV had the optional third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three different infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring the top-shelf technology. It included an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen display, large virtual menu shortcut buttons, and two stereo knobs, creating a clean and simple aesthetic. The audio system accommodated two Bluetooth device pairings simultaneously and included robust Car-Net smartphone and smartwatch connected services, such as WiFi, remote engine starting, and safe teen driving features. The 12-speaker Fender premium sound system performed well, but the lack of a natural voice recognition system was a drawback, as it struggled with standard prompt tests.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) platform called MIB3, available starting with the SE trim. MIB3 equipped the Tiguan with an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing times, and expanded features, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Car-Net connected services included remote engine starting, automatic crash notification, and Family Guardian safe teen driving settings. The MIB3 system was an improvement, but the user interface had quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender premium audio system performed better. Both the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, maintaining an understated approach to technology.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a comprehensive suite of safety equipment, with even the base trim level featuring advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as an automatic post-collision braking system. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had additional features, including a road-sign recognition system and Traffic Jam Assist, which provided semi-autonomous steering, braking, and acceleration assistance at low speeds. 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 this regard.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with the IQ Drive collection of ADAS, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Starting with the SE trim, the Tiguan added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. During testing, the adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to accelerate when traffic cleared. The lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent, and the blind-spot warning indicator was easy to see. The parking sensors were helpful but could be overly sensitive. The standard reversing camera provided a clear view, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. The Tiguan also included automatic post-collision braking and Car-Net connected services with numerous safety features. The IIHS awarded the 2021 Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.