2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a new seven-passenger model, distinct from the older five-passenger Grand Cherokee. It was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring a third-row seat and increased cargo volume. Despite the potential confusion of its naming, the Grand Cherokee L's styling was a strong selling point, especially with the arrival of the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. The Grand Cherokee L's design, with its signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, was instantly recognizable as a Jeep and looked impressive across all trim levels.

Jeep offered the Grand Cherokee L in various trims, including Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235. The test vehicle, a Summit trim with 4WD, metallic paint, and several premium packages, had a window sticker price of $64,770. While some interior materials didn't quite match the high price, the Summit's quilted leather and real wood trim were appealing, and the vehicle was loaded with technology. Overall, the redesigned interior was a significant improvement over the old model.

Volkswagen created the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by removing the third row from the standard seven-passenger Atlas, lowering the roofline by 2.3 inches, and shortening the SUV's length by 5.2 inches. The wheelbase remained the same, ensuring a spacious interior for five people, but the reduced length and angled rear window decreased cargo space to 40.3 cubic feet behind the second row and a maximum of 77.8 cubic feet. These changes resulted in a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, particularly in the SEL Premium R-Line trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels.

However, other wheel choices for the Atlas Cross Sport were less appealing. The base SE trim's 18-inch alloy wheels looked too small, while the SE with Technology and SEL trims had larger 20-inch wheels that were more appropriate. The test vehicle, finished in Pure Gray with a Dark Burgundy over Titan Black interior, looked fantastic. Despite the upscale appearance, the interior had an abundance of hard, glossy plastic, which detracted from the overall quality. Additionally, the numerous unlined storage areas could produce rattles and scraping noises while driving. Nevertheless, the Atlas Cross Sport felt worth its price if these issues were overlooked.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or one of three 4WD systems. The V6 engine had a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims and 4WD, generated 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined.

The test vehicle had the V6 engine and 4WD, offering brisk acceleration but becoming loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-behaved but sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to improve fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg on the testing loop, below expectations. The Jeep also offered a Sport driving mode and additional Selec-Terrain off-road modes, including Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock. The Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability.

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 (requiring premium fuel) and an optional 3.6-liter V6 with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The V6 had an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving and a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the turbo-four was rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW's 4Motion AWD system available.

The test vehicle, an Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line with the V6 engine and 4Motion, felt more energetic than the three-row Atlas. However, the V6 was aging, and the drivetrain occasionally lacked refinement, averaging 19.2 mpg on the testing loop. The 21-inch wheels and Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires looked great but negatively impacted ride quality, making the suspension feel harsh at lower speeds and too soft at higher speeds. The Cross Sport excelled on the highway, where the ride quality was agreeable, and the V6 engine was most efficient.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit trim offered heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents in all three rows. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly. The second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades for added convenience. The third row was comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows for a great view.

The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers enjoyed a storage console between the captain's chairs. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 17.2 cubic feet, with a useful storage bin underneath the load floor. Folding the third-row seat down increased cargo capacity to 46.9 cubic feet, and the maximum volume behind the front seats was 84.6 cubic feet.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, providing an exceptionally roomy interior for five adults. 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 helped keep sunlight out of passengers' faces.

Comfort was a priority in the Atlas Cross Sport, with ample storage space in the door panel bins, glove compartment, and other nooks and crannies. However, the lack of rubber or fabric lining in these storage areas could cause rattles and scraping noises. The cargo area offered plenty of load-floor space, with deep wells on either side for added restraint and some storage underneath the load floor. Despite the reduced cargo space compared to the seven-passenger model, the Atlas Cross Sport could easily accommodate full-size suitcases and other items.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response times and an improved user experience. Two touchscreen sizes were available: 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch with navigation. The test vehicle had the larger screen, which integrated well with the dashboard. Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The natural voice-recognition system worked well, though some results were unexpected.

The test vehicle also had a 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system, which sounded terrific but had a logo that didn't fit the interior's vibe. Other available features included a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system. The head-up display remained visible to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The base 2022 Volkswagen 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 had a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity sensing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless smartphone charging, and more USB ports.

The upgraded infotainment system provided access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, offering features like remote start, emergency assistance, a WiFi hotspot, and natural voice recognition. However, the user experience could be frustrating, and the standard voice recognition technology was less effective without the Car-Net WiFi hotspot plan. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was excellent for the price point.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. While the system worked well, the steering assist felt artificial, and lane changes were overly responsive. Jeep planned to make Active Driving Assist a hands-free system for the 2022 model year. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats at intersections and apply the brakes if necessary.

The Grand Cherokee L offered a complete package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of the review, but the new model was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee's flaws.

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, front and rear parking sensors, and a low-speed automatic braking system. The SEL trim featured 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, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and brought the vehicle to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The test vehicle also had a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree surround-view camera system. Travel Assist was generally accurate but occasionally too obvious in its steering inputs. The Lane Assist technology sometimes misinterpreted road construction scars as lane markings, causing unnecessary course corrections. The Atlas Cross Sport received decent crash-test ratings, though not the highest accolades from the IIHS or NHTSA.