2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 updates, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, which is used by most current VW models, including the Jetta and Golf. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with 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 and tinny plastics and simulated wood and metal trim that were not convincing.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic that was likely to age well. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to a long-wheelbase version. The Tiguan's upsizing resulted in a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and the optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven, though it was best suited for children. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with shiny detailing, available digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, there was too much hard plastic, and the steering wheel stalks felt flimsy. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trim levels, with sporty R-Line design and equipment upgrades available in the SE R-Line Black and SEL Premium R-Line variants.

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, was 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 defaulted to FWD under low load to save fuel but could send power to the rear wheels when needed. The base 2.0-liter engine with AWD provided adequate acceleration, but the driving experience was underwhelming, with rough shifts and truck-like handling. The Atlas also had poor ride quality, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. AWD models featured an Active Control system with different drive modes, but it did not improve on-road handling. The VR6 models could tow up to 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD, while the VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg with AWD.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as a $1,400 option on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing maneuvers or when extra power was needed. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but during testing, the AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite the powertrain's shortcomings, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking action, and nimble handling. However, the suspension allowed too much vertical and lateral body motion on curvy roads, and the tires gave up their grip early in corners. The Tiguan was remarkably quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips more enjoyable.

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 had the worst second-row legroom in its class. The standard second-row bench seat was uncomfortable with thin, flat cushions. Folding and raising the second- and third-row seats was straightforward, and third-row access was easy thanks to a sliding second-row bench. The Atlas featured a logically laid-out interior with controls placed within easy reach of the driver. It offered up to five USB ports across the first and second rows, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders. The tall driving position provided a commanding view, but forward visibility was less than optimal. Ultrasonic parking sensors were standard, with low-speed automatic braking and active park assist available on higher trim levels.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy entry and exit. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments for proper support and excellent outward visibility. The Tiguan's V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control system was effective. The back seat provided excellent occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan offered a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, allowing owners to carry long items and four passengers simultaneously. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the SUV had the optional third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet. The Tiguan also featured a large panoramic sunroof, a slot for wireless smartphone charging, and deep, roomy cargo wells.

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, adding 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. New for 2021 was a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot that could support up to four devices, with service provided by Verizon.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) platform starting with the SE trim. MIB3 equipped the Tiguan with an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing and response times, and an expanded offering of features and services, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a long list of Car-Net connected services. The Tiguan's MIB3 infotainment system was an improvement, but the user interface had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender premium audio system was a better option. Both the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, with an understated approach to technology and information display.

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 trim levels were rated "good." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the similar 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Every 2021 Atlas trim level came with standard 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 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with Volkswagen's IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Starting with SE trim, the Tiguan had adaptive cruise control, while the SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to recognize vehicles cutting into the gap ahead. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent. The Tiguan's parking sensors were sensitive, and the reversing camera provided a clear view. The SEL Premium R-Line offered a top-down surround-view vantage point. The Tiguan also featured automatic post-collision braking and Car-Net connected services with numerous safety features. The IIHS awarded the 2021 Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.