2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, 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 cosmetic changes, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, which was 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.

The 2021 Ford Edge's styling remained largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the carryover Edge body shell. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the Edge ST trim had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The interior of the Edge, however, showed its age, with a design that seemed less fresh than the exterior. Titanium models had leather upholstery, while ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Despite the dated interior design, the Edge remained competitive in terms of rear-seat headroom and legroom, and it offered a decent amount of cargo space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. A 3.6-liter VR6, available on SE with Technology and higher trim levels, produced 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. 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 defaulted to FWD under low load to save fuel but could send power to the rear wheels when needed. 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 a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the VR6 engine and 2,000 pounds with the four-cylinder engine. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg combined with AWD, while VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD or optional AWD. The Edge ST performance model had an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 that produced 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST also had an option package that included upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge's towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder model, 4,122 pounds for four-cylinder AWD models, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. The Edge was noted for its refined driving experience, although the turbo-four engine in non-ST models was found to be a bit sluggish.

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 also 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 and an optional wireless charging pad, along with up to 17 cupholders. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, and higher trim levels offered a low-speed automatic braking feature and active park assist.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive on interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both the first and second rows. It offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trim levels. The Edge featured Ford's rotary shift knob, which freed up space on the center console, although the narrow width of the console meant the available space was still only about average. The raised console left room for a storage nook below, but it was difficult to reach and easy to forget about.

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, which replaced 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 added multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system was decent, with an option to center the sound in a specific row. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on SEL and higher trim levels. The Atlas also featured a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot that could support up to four devices.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, which included standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were also standard. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge featured four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts, making it easy for new users to acclimate to.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top "good" rating in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The standard headlights were rated "marginal," while the headlights on the SEL and SEL Premium trim levels were rated "good." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 Atlas a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trim levels. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," with top "Good" ratings in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. However, it received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on trim level. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.