2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Ford Expedition

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh, featuring 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 is used by most current VW models. 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.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Expedition received exterior styling revisions and updated infotainment tech. The front featured a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear got revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels debuted across the model lineup. The Expedition came in various trim levels, including a new Timberline trim for off-road enthusiasts. Inside, a redesigned dashboard housed the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with the latter featuring a 15.5-inch touchscreen display. The test vehicle, a Limited Stealth Edition, had leather seats, soft padding, and impressive tech, although it still had some F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim and switchgear. The Expedition was praised for its huge and comfortable cabin, making it ideal for long road trips.

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 coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). 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 less suitable for off-road use. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 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 2022 Ford Expedition, on the other hand, used a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque (400 hp and 480 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel). The engine drove the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with an optional 4WD. Fuel economy ranged from 17 mpg to 19 mpg in combined driving, and the Expedition's powertrain could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment. The twin-turbo V6 provided addictive power and a pleasing engine sound, although it guzzled gas when pushed hard. The Expedition's driving dynamics were generally good, but the sport-tuned suspension of the Stealth Edition could have benefited from the adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims. The Expedition was surprisingly easy to park and shined on the highway, making it ideal for long road trips.

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 a low-speed automatic braking feature and active park assist available on higher trim levels.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort levels, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of legroom and their own climate controls. The third-row seat was easy to access and offered outstanding leg support, although headroom could be tight for taller passengers. Cargo room behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, with 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max offered even more cargo space. The Expedition's interior was well-designed, with a wide console, hidden cupholders, and a concealed cubby with a wireless smartphone charging pad.

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 got an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels offered Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit, 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 SE with Technology test car had the 8-inch screen, which was easy to navigate but plain and text-heavy. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on SEL and higher trim levels. New for 2021 was a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford's next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen, while Sync 4A offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice recognition, and a connected navigation system. Higher trim levels added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. Sync 4A had an upgraded conversational voice-recognition system and an adaptive dashcard user interface. The Expedition also offered an upgraded dual-touchscreen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV. Additionally, it featured Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 with Trailer Reverse Guidance, making it easier to reverse the SUV with a trailer attached.

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 similar 2020 model 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 trim levels. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The 2022 Ford Expedition grouped its driving-assistance systems into three different Ford Co-Pilot360 collections. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and new features like intersection assist and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also introduced Road Edge Detection and offered Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology.