2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Ford Explorer

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 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 Explorer offered a variety of models, including the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trim levels. The King Ranch model featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The cabin exhibited a mix of quality and questionable materials, but mostly looked and felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag. The Explorer's design was based on a rear-drive platform, allowing for a long and tall hood, short front overhang, rakish roofline, and tapering greenhouse for a taut, athletic appearance. The blacked-out roof pillars gave the Explorer a "floating roof" visual effect. The King Ranch model also included a Premium Technology package, a twin-panel sunroof, and shiny 20-inch 10-spoke wheels.

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 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 rough shifts and poor ride quality. The Atlas had an Active Control feature 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 rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was 22 mpg combined with FWD, and 21 mpg combined with AWD. VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD, and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains: a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, an efficient hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine making a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine generating 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The four-cylinder engine had a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds and provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid drivetrain could tow up to 5,000 lbs and returned as much as 27 mpg in combined driving. The twin-turbo V6 engine, standard with ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trim, could tow as much as 5,600 lbs and had a maximum gas mileage of 21 mpg in combined driving. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg on the testing loop. The Explorer felt more like a traditional SUV than a typical crossover, with a robust sensation from behind the wheel and good off-roading capabilities. The sport-tuned Explorer ST offered a High-Performance option package with black 21-inch wheels, performance brakes, and red brake calipers.

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 ultrasonic parking sensors, a low-speed automatic braking feature, and active park assist on higher trim levels. The Atlas also had up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered plenty of comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The King Ranch model included triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. The Explorer had practical storage space within the cabin, but could have been better. The King Ranch test vehicle had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat. Flattening the third-row seats created 47.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and folding both rear rows of seats down provided a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet of cargo volume.

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 featured 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 included multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. The SE with Technology test car had the 8-inch screen without Digital Cockpit, and while the menus were easy to navigate, the displays were plain and text-heavy. The base six-speaker audio system sounded decent, and a 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on SEL and higher trim levels. The Atlas also had a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot that could support up to four devices.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen display and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated with the interior design, while the larger screen looked like an afterthought. The King Ranch model had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. It also featured wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Explorer needed an upgrade to Sync 4 technology, as the voice recognition system and operating various features using spoken commands were not as effective. The King Ranch also included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, which could autonomously park the Explorer.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top “good” rating in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but had a “marginal” rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. 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 had standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trim levels offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. The Atlas was set to receive more sophisticated driver aids later in the model year, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ safety rating from the IIHS for every version. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 Explorer, but the previous year’s model earned five-star ratings across the board except for rollover resistance. The Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot360, a collection of driver-assist and collision-avoidance safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a standard post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. The Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ systems operated smoothly and accurately, but the steering wheel sensitivity to the presence of the driver’s hands could be improved.