2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes added 2.4 inches to its length, giving it a more extroverted look compared to the 2020 model. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking front and rear bumpers and 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 was minimalist, with a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. However, the material quality in the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, which launched in 2005 and was in its second generation, received an interior and exterior refresh for the 2018 model year that carried over into 2021. This refresh included a dual-screen center console that defined Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport 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, and a 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, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system.

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 AWD 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 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. VR6 models could tow up to 5,000 pounds, while four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the Atlas was not impressive, with the 2.0-liter engine rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg combined with AWD, and the VR6 engine rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a variety of powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain 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 of this powertrain, rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The HSE Silver Edition was available with plug-in hybrid or diesel powertrains, with the P400e plug-in hybrid producing 398 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 making 254 hp and 443 lb-ft. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had a more powerful version of this engine, making 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system. The Range Rover Sport could tow up to 7,716 pounds, except for the SVR, which could tow 6,613 pounds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler, offering 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. It 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 trims.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided 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. It offered an optional third row of seating, bringing seating capacity from five to seven, with 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats when the third row was in use. Both the first and second rows provided ample headroom and legroom, with lavish appointments. However, the optional third row was very tight and best suited for children.

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. Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit was available on higher trims, 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 added multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The base six-speaker audio system was decent, with a 12-speaker Fender audio system available on SEL and higher trims. A built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was new for 2021, supporting up to four devices.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen operated climate controls and vehicle settings, while the upper screen housed the infotainment system. The system was not always intuitive, and earlier models had bugs. The lower screen had dials that controlled multiple functions, while the upper screen had reasonably sized icons for switching between menus and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The Range Rover Sport also had a real volume button, though it was tucked down by the base of the lower screen. Overall, the infotainment system had a learning curve, but it was better than some other systems on the market.

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 standard headlights were rated “marginal,” while the headlights on the SEL and SEL Premium trims were rated “good.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

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. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.