2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Ford Escape, a fourth-generation model, balanced the line between SUV and hatchback. Its curved snout and sleek roofline made it resemble an enlarged Focus, yet it maintained the tall ride height typical of an SUV. This design gave the Escape a less truck-like appearance compared to the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, or Toyota RAV4, but it also resulted in a more generic look than the Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage. For 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages for three of its four trim levels, including the SE Sport Appearance Package, SEL Stealth AWD Package, and Titanium Elite Package, which added features like 19-inch alloy wheels, ActiveX upholstery, and leather trim.

Inside, the Escape's design was less cohesive. The angular instrument cluster clashed with the exterior's smooth lines, and the interior materials felt low-rent. Even the top-tier Titanium model lacked standard leather upholstery, although it did offer ambient lighting. Dual-zone automatic climate control was only available starting from the SEL trim level. Despite these drawbacks, the Escape provided ample headroom and legroom, with a sliding rear seat to adjust for more legroom or cargo space as needed.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor modifications after significant updates in 2021. The lineup was simplified to SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line trims. Most models received more standard features, and pricing ranged from $34,355 to $51,505, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL Premium R-Line trim, with its 21-inch wheels and Aurora Red paint, gave the Atlas an upscale look. The interior was simple yet premium, though the use of hard, shiny plastics was disappointing for a vehicle costing nearly $54,000. Storage areas lacked linings, leading to unwanted noise and vibration.

The Atlas's interior was spacious and comfortable, seating seven adults with ease. The step-in height was low, making entry and exit convenient. Higher trims added features like tri-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was exceptional, with up to 96.8 cubic feet available when the second and third rows were folded down. However, the unlined storage areas and the use of low-cost materials detracted from the overall quality.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered two gasoline powertrains, along with hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. The base engine was a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder producing 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The upgraded 2.0-liter turbo-four engine delivered 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, exclusively with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, generating a combined 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. The hybrid was available in FWD or AWD, while the plug-in hybrid was FWD only. The Escape's towing capacity reached 3,500 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine, but figures for the hybrid and plug-in hybrid were not provided.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas featured a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for the SE, SE with Technology, and SEL trims, producing 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque with premium fuel. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. The turbo-four's towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, with an EPA fuel economy rating of 22-23 mpg combined. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on higher trims, produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The V6's fuel economy was 19-20 mpg combined. The Atlas offered driving modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, along with Active Control calibrations for AWD models. The V6 engine's performance was adequate but lacked refinement, and the ride quality varied depending on road conditions and driving modes.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space among compact SUVs. It provided ample headroom and legroom in both rows, with a sliding rear seat to adjust for more legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models offered 40.7 inches of rear legroom, second only to the Hyundai Tucson. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet with the rear seat up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet by sliding the seat forward, and 65.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo space due to the battery pack.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space and comfort, seating seven adults comfortably. The step-in height was low, and higher trims added features like tri-zone automatic climate control, ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was impressive, with 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The Atlas also offered numerous storage areas, though many were unlined, leading to unwanted noise.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with a 4.2-inch touchscreen on base models. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. Upgrading to the SE trim added an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 3 was user-friendly, but the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto available with Sync 4.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas came standard with the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, featuring an 8-inch display on lower trims and a 10.25-inch display on higher trims. The SE trim had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with the last-generation infotainment system, while higher trims featured the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Car-Net connected services offered various plans for remote access, safety, and hotspot capabilities. The SEL Premium R-Line trim included a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the infotainment system had a slow startup, and the user experience was not as intuitive as it should be.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and Travel Assist. The SEL trim included brighter LED headlights with adaptive front lighting. The Atlas did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and received four-star ratings for frontal-impact tests from the NHTSA.