2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite a 2019 refresh and a 2020 Black Edition, the exterior design remained polarizing. The Pilot was available in seven trims, ranging from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices between $32,250 and $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000, except on the Elite and Black Edition trims where it was standard. The new Special Edition trim added features like black 20-inch alloy wheels and wireless smartphone charging. The Black Edition, priced at $51,435 with optional white paint, featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red accents, but its black floor mats were a hassle to clean. The interior quality was high, but the design felt more like a minivan, which, along with its exterior, did not enhance its appeal.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over most updates from the 2021 model with minor modifications. The lineup was simplified to six trims, with prices ranging from $34,355 to $51,505, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The SEL Premium R-Line trim, priced at $53,790, featured 21-inch wheels that enhanced its bold, boxy design. The interior was simple yet premium, but the use of low-cost materials and hard plastics was disappointing for its price. Storage areas lacked linings, causing noise and vibration. Despite these drawbacks, the Atlas offered a spacious and comfortable interior, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided smooth and quick acceleration. The available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system could direct up to 70% of power to a single rear wheel, enhancing traction. The Pilot offered driving modes like Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, and fuel-saving features like variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start. The EPA rated the AWD model at 22 mpg combined, and the test vehicle averaged 21.5 mpg. The Pilot's suspension provided a comfortable ride and surprisingly athletic handling, aided by the torque-vectoring AWD system and 20-inch wheels. However, its off-road capability was limited by its 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine on lower trims, producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, had a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds and an EPA rating of 22-23 mpg combined. The optional 3.6-liter V6 engine, standard on higher trims, produced 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. However, its acceleration was leisurely, and the engine felt outdated and unrefined. The V6 had an EPA rating of 19-20 mpg combined, and the test vehicle averaged 19.6 mpg. The Atlas offered driving modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, and the 4Motion AWD system included Active Control calibrations. The Atlas had a ground clearance of 7.1 inches for the turbocharged model and 7.5 inches for the V6. The SEL Premium R-Line's 21-inch wheels provided good grip but resulted in a busy ride and noticeable road noise. The suspension felt softer and more compliant than previous models, but the Atlas still exhibited body float on undulating pavement.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered ample space for families, seating up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle's leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and four-way adjustment for the front passenger. Second-row captain’s chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models, providing nearly the same comfort as the front seats. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults due to its low and flat bottom cushion. The Pilot had numerous storage areas, including a large center console with a rolltop design. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 83.9 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas no longer offered cloth seats, with V-Tex leatherette seating standard. Heated front seats and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat were standard, with higher trims adding features like tri-zone automatic climate control, ambient cabin lighting, and a panoramic sunroof. The SEL Premium R-Line trim included genuine leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated second-row seats. The Atlas provided exceptional interior space, comfortably seating seven adults, including in the third row. The low step-in height made entry and exit easy. The Atlas had numerous storage areas, but many were unlined, causing items to slide and make noise. Cargo space was 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 96.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded, making it one of the most spacious in its class.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition trim added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim included navigation, a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system was adequate but had a small screen and lacked a tuning knob. The voice-recognition technology required specific prompts, and HondaLink services were limited to higher trims. The Touring trim also added a rear-seat entertainment system with a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas included the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, with an 8-inch display on lower trims and a 10.25-inch display on higher trims. The Atlas SE had a 6.5-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. Higher trims featured the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Car-Net connected services with Amazon Alexa integration. The Car-Net services were available in three plans, with additional features like natural voice recognition and internet radio available with a Hotspot subscription. The MyVW smartphone app provided access to Car-Net services and more. Higher trims included a navigation system and a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the infotainment system was slow to load, and tuning the radio was cumbersome. The voice recognition was hit-or-miss without the Speech Plus upgrade.

The 2021 Honda Pilot came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also had a blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning system. The older version of Honda Sensing worked but was not very smooth or refined. The Pilot received favorable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and high ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an “acceptable” score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.

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, front and rear parking sensors, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and Travel Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Atlas SEL also had brighter LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation and an adaptive front lighting system. The SEL Premium R-Line included a surround-view camera system and Park Assist technology. However, the parking sensors were overly sensitive, and the Lane Assist technology had trouble with old construction markings. The Atlas received decent crash-test ratings but did not earn a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and had four-star ratings for frontal-impact protection from the NHTSA.