2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that was subtly updated for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs were introduced for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers could choose from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the $1,120 destination charge. The Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, giving it a more luxurious feel.

Volkswagen made the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by removing the standard seven-passenger Atlas model’s third row, dropping the roofline by up to 2.3 inches for a more rakish appearance, and shortening the SUV’s length by 5.2 inches. The wheelbase remained the same, ensuring a roomy interior for five people, but the Cross Sport’s stubby rear and angled rear window reduced cargo space to 40.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seat and a maximum of 77.8 cubic feet. These changes resulted in a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, especially in SEL Premium R-Line trim with newly standard 21-inch machined-finish wheels. The test vehicle, finished in Pure Gray with a Dark Burgundy over Titan Black interior, looked fantastic. However, the interior had a significant amount of hard, glossy plastic, which dulled the impression of quality. The MSRP for the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line was $52,495, including a $1,295 destination charge.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission powering the front wheels, producing 280 horsepower. The transmission included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management, a fuel-saving technology, and the EPA estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, with an observed average of 21.8 mpg. All-wheel drive was unavailable, putting the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. Honda added a new electronic brake booster for 2021, improving brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey’s ride and handling qualities were enjoyable, with perfectly weighted steering and firm but comfortable ride quality. However, the brakes did not withstand much abuse, heating up and fading during a Southern California heatwave.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engines: a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an available 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine had an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving and a 5,000-pound towing capacity. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW’s 4Motion AWD system available. The test vehicle, an SEL Premium R-Line, had the V6 engine and 4Motion as standard equipment. The V6 felt more energetic in the two-row version, but the drivetrain occasionally lacked refinement, and the observed fuel economy was 19.2 mpg. The 21-inch wheels and Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires looked great but negatively impacted ride quality, making it harsh at lower speeds and too soft at higher speeds. The Cross Sport shined on the highway, with agreeable ride quality and efficient V6 performance.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. A 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was standard in all but the base LX trim, with the Elite trim adding a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided various seating modes, and the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, offering exceptional roominess. The test vehicle had 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. A panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, and rear side-window sunshades protected passengers from sunlight. Storage space was plentiful, but many storage areas lacked rubber or fabric lining, causing items to rattle or scrape. The cargo area offered ample load-floor real estate, with deep wells for carrying items and additional storage under the load floor.

Starting with EX trim, the 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. Touring and Elite trims also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, wireless headphones, and built-in streaming apps.

The base Atlas Cross Sport SE came with Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB-C ports. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity-sensing display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless smartphone charging, and additional USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system provided access to Car-Net connected service subscription plans, including remote-start, emergency assistance, WiFi hotspot, and natural voice recognition. However, the user experience could be frustrating, and the standard voice recognition technology was subpar. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was excellent for the price point.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features for 2021, with Honda Sensing now standard on all trims. Honda Sensing included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. EX trim and higher added blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning. The Odyssey’s ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, except for a four-star rating for rollover resistance.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and an automatic post-collision braking system as standard. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and IQ Drive. IQ Drive included Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle also had a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree camera system. Travel Assist was accurate but occasionally too obvious in its steering inputs. The Atlas Cross Sport received favorable crash-test ratings but did not earn the highest accolades from the IIHS or NHTSA.