2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its final year of the current form, offered a nostalgic experience with its Heritage Edition trim, celebrating the SUV's 65th anniversary. The standard model, however, arrived in Magnetic Gray paint with plush Terra leather upholstery, resembling a first-generation Toyota Highlander with excessive chrome and oversized lights. Inside, the Land Cruiser mixed Toyota parts-bin switchgear with Lexus design themes, featuring high-quality materials and a traditional hand-operated parking brake. The overall feel was a trip back in time, lacking the modern flair expected in a high-end SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the regular Atlas's design but with a lower roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch, giving it a crossover coupe vibe. The styling was a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, with fake exhaust tips adding a tacky touch. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas, riding on VW’s MQB platform. It featured standard LED lighting and various wheel sizes across trims, with the R-Line adding sportier styling. Inside, the minimalist design was functional but let down by subpar materials, with a mix of hard and shiny plastics and a flat-bottom steering wheel that seemed out of place.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser was powered by a 381-horsepower 5.7-liter V8 engine, shared with the Toyota Tundra, but with a quieter roar. It averaged 14.7 mpg, slightly better than the EPA rating. The eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case provided legendary off-road capability. Features like a Torsen limited-slip differential, mud-and-snow tires, and a full-size spare tire enhanced its ruggedness. The SUV also included Active Traction Control, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and a sophisticated suspension system, making it a formidable off-road vehicle. On pavement, it offered a refined, albeit numbed, driving experience, with a towing capacity of 8,100 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two powertrain options: a 235-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 276-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 engine provided lively acceleration but lacked midrange power, and the transmission was slow to react. The ride quality was among the worst in modern crossovers, with noticeable bumps and noise. The Cross Sport had a 5,000-pound towing capacity with the VR6 engine and AWD, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. It featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance, but it wasn't as off-road capable as some competitors.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior was swanky but dated, with plush leather upholstery and heated, ventilated front seats. The second-row bench seat was roomy and heated, while the third-row seat accommodated adults if the second row slid forward. The SUV offered 16.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 82.8 cubic feet with seats folded. The split clamshell-style liftgate provided easy access, and the lower tailgate was a convenient spot for cleaning up before entering the vehicle.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered competitive interior space, with top-class front-seat and rear-seat legroom. However, rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was above average, with 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with seats folded. The second-row seats had a 60/40 split-fold and 14-degree recline. The Cross Sport included various storage options, including a decent-sized center console and a second-row armrest with cupholders.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Toyota Entune technology, lacking modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system required tapping rather than swiping, and the voice-recognition system was basic. The SUV included a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system and a 14-speaker JBL Synthesis audio system, but both felt outdated compared to competitors.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems: the MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the MIB3 with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included USB-C ports and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. The MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims featured the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit and a 12-speaker Fender audio system. The Digital Cockpit allowed for customizable displays, while analog controls made basic functions easy to use.

The 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser came with 10 airbags and standard Toyota Safety Sense (TSS-P) driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. However, it lacked advanced driving assistance systems like stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. It included standard safety features like forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep 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, offering automated lane centering and emergency stopping.