2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which debuted in 2005 and entered its second generation in 2014, received a significant refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a hallmark of recent Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian premium sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added more luxurious features, such as quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, while sharing much of its design with the regular Atlas, featured a lower roofline and an aggressively-raked rear hatch, giving it a unique blend of SUV ruggedness and car-like features. However, some design elements, like the fake exhaust tips on the rear bumper, were considered tacky. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas but shared the same wheelbase. It came with standard LED exterior lighting and various wheel sizes depending on the trim. The interior had a minimalist design, but the materials used were subpar, with hard and shiny plastics that felt cheap. Despite the leather upholstery and contrast stitching in the SEL Premium model, the interior did not feel luxurious.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain, available in the SE and SE Silver Edition, combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent version, the P400, with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition also offered plug-in hybrid and diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 producing 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims came with a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine, generating 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had an even more powerful version of this engine, with 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system for various driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which had a towing capacity of 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas, including a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and an optional 3.6-liter V6 engine. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start-stop systems for better fuel economy. The turbo-four engine produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 delivered 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. The V6 engine provided better acceleration and a pleasant sound, but midrange acceleration was lacking, and the transmission was slow to react. The ride quality was poor, with noticeable bumps and potholes, and the cabin let in a lot of wind and tire noise. The Cross Sport had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the V6 engine and 2,000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. AWD versions featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance, but the vehicle did not feel sporty and had significant body roll and loose steering.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven but reduced cargo space to 10.8 cubic feet. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was tight and best suited for children.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport had competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover. It offered near top-of-the-class front-seat and rear-seat legroom, but rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was above average for the segment. The second-row seats had a 60/40 split-fold and a 14-degree backrest recline. The SE with Technology trim added a foot-activated tailgate. The vehicle also featured various storage options, including cargo nets, cupholders, and storage bins.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate settings and vehicle functions, while the upper screen handled the infotainment system. Although the system had a learning curve and some bugs in earlier models, it featured useful dials for controlling various functions. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, the system was not the most intuitive, and there were better options available on the market.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems. The base S trim had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while all other trims featured the new MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom screens, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The MIB3 system added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims included additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster. The SEL Premium model had a 12-speaker Fender audio system. The MIB3 system was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts. The Digital Cockpit display was a valuable feature, allowing for customizable gauge configurations.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with five stars for side crash tests and four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, parking sensors, and parking assist. The Cross Sport also had unique features like the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, available on higher trims.