2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights with new designs, and a new grille shared with the two-row Atlas Cross Sport model. These changes added 2.4 inches to the length of the Atlas, giving it a more extroverted look compared to the conservatively-styled 2020 model. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, as well as side skirts. Despite these updates, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, which is used by most current VW models. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with sensibly laid-out controls and a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. However, the material quality on the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim.

In contrast, the 2021 Dodge Durango maintained its muscular stance and athletic styling, which was revised for the 2021 model year. The new 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat model featured a cold-air scoop, throaty twin-pipe exhaust, LED headlamps, rear spoiler, and a different front end. The Durango offered six different 20-inch wheel varieties and one 18-inch version, with 11 exterior colors and six interior color schemes available. The cabin featured a new-for-2021 instrument panel and either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen running FCA’s fresh Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The Durango's interior became increasingly more premium and sophisticated as one moved up through the trim levels, with options for leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather upholstery.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine rated at 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). The 4Motion system could send power to the rear wheels when needed. However, the driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas had an Active Control feature with different drive modes, but it lacked a four-wheel drive (4WD) system with low range, making it best suited for pavement. The VR6 models could tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the Atlas was not impressive, with the 2.0-liter turbo-four rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and the VR6 models rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD.

The 2021 Dodge Durango offered four different engines: a 3.6-liter V6 making 293 or 295 horsepower, a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 producing 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 392 HEMI V8 delivering 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8 producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with eight-speed automatic transmissions, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. The Durango's steering was on-point, and the SUV was comfortable in both city traffic and on the highway. However, the chassis showed its age, with a reactionary suspension that allowed bumps to be felt in the cabin. The Durango SRT models offered SRT Performance Pages for vehicle performance information, and the Durango R/T with the Tow N Go Package had a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler with three rows of seats. It offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The Atlas provided more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst among its competitive set. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable with thin, flat cushions. The Atlas had a tall driving position, but forward visibility was less than optimal. It featured up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, with low-speed automatic braking and active park assist available on higher trim levels.

The 2021 Dodge Durango excelled as a family hauler with comfortable seating, good storage space, and family entertainment options. It came standard with seating for five in two rows and could seat up to seven across three rows. The front and second-row seats were spacious, with enough room for taller drivers and passengers. The optional third row was more spacious than many other models' third rows and was easy to access. The Durango offered 21 seat options, providing plenty of choices for buyers. The cargo space was about average for its class and functioned as advertised. The Durango's fit and finish had improved significantly, standing head and shoulders above what was offered in the Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan minivan.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The base S trim level had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, replacing analog gauges with a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW’s new MIBIII infotainment system later in the 2021 model year, which would add multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system sounded decent, with a 12-speaker Fender audio system available on SEL and higher trim levels. A built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was new for 2021, supporting up to four devices.

The 2021 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the SXT and GT models, with higher trim levels getting a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Uconnect 5 was five times faster than the old Uconnect 4 system and offered greater personalization, connected services, two Bluetooth simultaneous connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via the car’s 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to navigate, with clear graphics and quick response to touch. The Durango also offered a family entertainment system with a Blu-ray and DVD player and two high-resolution 9-inch screens. SRT models received unique appearance features, including SRT’s “smoke show” start-up animation and SRT serpentine font. The TomTom navigation system was a standout feature, with easy-to-read graphics and quick response to changes.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top “good” rating in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but with a “marginal” rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 model a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Every 2021 Atlas trim level came with standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trim levels offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. Later in the model year, SEL and SEL Premium trim levels were set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The 2021 Dodge Durango fell short in safety compared to its rivals. It came standard with a rearview camera as its only active safety feature. Depending on the trim level or package chosen, buyers could add adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high beams, rear-cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and forward-collision warning. The NHTSA gave the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating. The IIHS had not yet released crash-test ratings for the 2021 Durango.