Ford Edge vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh harmonized the Edge's look with Ford's contemporary design language, making it a cleaner alternative to the more elaborate designs of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance enhancements and higher price tag. However, the interior of the Edge showed signs of aging, with a design that struggled to keep up with new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with extra bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport presented a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance by removing the third row from the standard Atlas, lowering the roofline by 2.3 inches, and shortening the SUV's length by 5.2 inches. The SEL Premium R-Line trim stood out with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, emphasizing its broad-shouldered stance. However, the base SE trim's 18-inch alloy wheels appeared too small for the vehicle's size. The interior offered a spacious and comfortable environment for five people, with features like 10-way power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite the upscale appearance, the interior was marred by hard, glossy plastics and unlined storage areas that could produce rattles and scraping noises. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $52,495, slightly less than the standard Atlas SEL Premium R-Line.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds, while the base FWD four-cylinder model had a maximum towing capacity of 3,958 pounds. Despite some criticism from car enthusiasts, the Edge ST was considered a refined vehicle, though the turbo-four engine in non-ST models was noted to be somewhat sluggish.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an available 3.6-liter V6 engine with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW’s 4Motion AWD system available. The V6 engine, which did not require premium fuel, had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the turbo-four was rated to tow 2,000 pounds. The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line, equipped with the V6 engine and 4Motion, offered a more energetic performance compared to the three-row Atlas. However, the V6 engine showed signs of aging, and the ride quality was criticized for being too harsh at lower speeds and too soft at higher speeds. The Atlas Cross Sport excelled in highway driving, where the ride quality was more agreeable.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in terms of interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control and a cargo space of 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Higher trim levels included a foot-activated power liftgate. The center console, despite the rotary shift knob designed to free up space, was still narrow, and the storage nook below the console was difficult to reach.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, sharing its wheelbase and track width with the larger seven-passenger model, provided an exceptionally roomy interior for five adults. The test vehicle included 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. The panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, and rear side-window sunshades were a thoughtful touch. The cargo area, though reduced compared to the seven-passenger model, still offered ample space with deep wells for additional storage. However, the lack of rubber or fabric lining in storage areas could lead to rattles and scraping noises.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The vehicle had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. The Sync 4 system was praised for its simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE came standard with Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB-C ports. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity-sensing display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and additional USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system offered access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, including remote start, emergency assistance, and a WiFi hotspot. However, the user experience was sometimes frustrating, and the standard voice recognition technology was less effective without the Car-Net WiFi hotspot plan. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle included a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was highly praised.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and an automatic post-collision braking system as standard. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and a low-speed automatic braking system. The SEL trim featured automatic high-beam LED headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and IQ Drive, which included Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle also had a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree surround-view camera system. The Atlas Cross Sport received favorable crash-test ratings but did not earn the highest accolades from the IIHS or NHTSA.