2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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. 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-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender did not undergo any major exterior styling changes but remained distinctive with its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood. These design elements visually tied the 2022 Defender to the original version and the classic Series Land Rovers that preceded it. The modern Defender was much larger than the original, providing more interior space and better ergonomics. The interior design emphasized the Defender’s rugged character without seeming cheesy, with a mix of leather upholstery and suede in the high-end Defender 90 V8 test car. The Defender’s interior was functional, with bare metal and exposed screws in the door for a different kind of look, and nice metal trim for the steering wheel.

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 Offroad mode and eight inches of ground clearance, but it lacked a four-wheel drive (4WD) system with low range, making it better suited for pavement. VR6 models could tow up to 5,000 pounds, while 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, while VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. The V8 engine could get the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 149 mph. V8 models also featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning. The Defender was impressively comfortable on the pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and effectively blocked noise from the massive 22-inch tires. The Defender had a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. The Defender also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

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 had the worst second-row legroom 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 trim levels.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. The two-door Defender 90 had limited cargo space, but the four-door Defender 110 model offered more cargo space with 11.4 cubic feet with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Defender’s interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes that mounted to the side pillars.

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 trim levels, replacing the 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 sounded decent, with a 12-speaker Fender audio system available on SEL and higher trim levels. A built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was new for 2021, supporting up to four devices with service provided by Verizon.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the standard Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on every trim level except the base model, with an 11.4-inch touchscreen newly available for 2022. The Defender’s user interface had a distinctive look with a palette of muted, cool colors, but the screen required a strong poke to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system that was useful for off-roading.

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) had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the similar 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 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 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which was not unusual for vehicles from luxury brands.