2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Genesis GV80

The 2021 Genesis GV80, as Genesis' first SUV, was a fresh design that managed to balance innovation with the brand's emerging signature style. It featured a long hood, short front overhang, and a distinctive grille with a diamond mesh and the Genesis flying "G" badge. The SUV's design was further enhanced by Quad Lamp LED headlights and taillights, creating a cohesive and elegant look. Inside, the GV80 offered a luxurious experience with a sleek dashboard, minimalistic controls, and high-quality materials like real wood, metal, and leather. The spacious interior was accentuated by a 14.5-inch high-definition display, making it a standout in the luxury SUV segment.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor updates from its previous model year, maintaining its big and boxy appeal. The Atlas offered a simplified lineup with more standard features, including the SEL Premium R-Line trim with 21-inch wheels. While the interior design was simple and premium, it was marred by the use of low-cost materials, such as hard plastics, which detracted from the overall quality. Despite this, the Atlas excelled in providing a roomy and comfortable interior, accommodating seven passengers with ease. The cargo space was exceptional, offering up to 96.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 with 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. The V6 models came standard with all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder models had rear-wheel drive with an AWD option. The GV80 featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and advanced suspension systems, providing a smooth and refined driving experience. The 2.5T models had a curb weight between 4,506 and 4,850 lbs, while the 3.5T models weighed between 4,907 and 5,104 lbs. Fuel economy for the 2.5T was rated at 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway/23 mpg combined with RWD, and 21/25/22 with AWD. The 3.5T AWD achieved 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 mpg combined.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive or 4Motion all-wheel drive. The turbo-four had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and achieved an EPA fuel economy rating of 22 to 23 mpg combined. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, the V6's performance was considered leisurely, and its fuel economy was rated at 19 to 20 mpg combined. The Atlas offered various driving modes and an Active Control system for different conditions, but its ride quality was criticized for being busy and noisy.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 featured a sophisticated interior with a focus on technology, design, and ergonomics. The center console and stack housed a rotary gear selector, a circular multimedia controller, and capacitive touch buttons for the HVAC system. The second row was comfortable and roomy, with power seats and window shades available. The third row was standard on 3.5T AWD Advanced+ models, increasing passenger capacity to seven, but was not available on other trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a spacious and comfortable interior, seating seven passengers with ease. The Atlas SE with Technology added tri-zone automatic climate control, while the SEL trim included ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof. The SEL Premium R-Line featured genuine leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated second-row seats. The Atlas excelled in cargo space, offering 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 boasted a sixth-generation Genesis UX infotainment system with a 14.5-inch HD screen, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system offered cloud connectivity, over-the-air updates, and user-configurable profiles. The GV80 also featured a head-up display, a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster, and a Lexicon Quantum Logic Surround audio system with 21 speakers.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas included the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display expanding to 10.25 inches on SEL trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. However, the user experience was criticized for being cumbersome, with slow loading times and a complicated process for tuning radio stations.

The 2021 Genesis GV80 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but Genesis aimed for top safety ratings. The GV80 came with 10 airbags, a vehicle stability management system, and a suite of advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control with machine learning and highway-driving assist. The GV80 also offered Remote Smart Parking Assist for automated parking.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. The SEL trim added IQ Drive safety features, such as Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. However, the Atlas had issues with parking sensors and Lane Assist technology, and its crash-test ratings were decent but not class-leading.