Ford Escape vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared the same visual updates as its three-row Atlas sibling, notably focusing on new lighting elements at both the front and rear. The signature VW logos on the grille and tailgate lit up in white and red, respectively—a feature borrowed from the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. These illuminated logos were complemented by a sophisticated light bar that linked the daytime running lights, new standard LED headlights contributing to a distinctly "Americanized" aesthetic. Tailored for the U.S. market, the Atlas and Cross Sport were manufactured in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

At the rear, the reshaped taillights merged seamlessly into a light bar, further enhancing the vehicle's distinct silhouette—similar to crossover coupes prevalent in German luxury brands. The Cross Sport, 5.2 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and equipped with a lower roofline, appeared more compact and sporty. For wheels, the base SE trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, while the SE with Technology and SEL models upgraded to 20-inch wheels (available in a black wheel package). The SEL R-Line trim offered a unique 20-inch wheel design accompanied by exterior sportier details such as extended side skirts and modified bumpers. The top-tier SEL Premium R-Line sported 21-inch wheels.

Inside, the Cross Sport adopted a revised interior aligning with the standard Atlas. It featured a raised center console with a small storage nook underneath, thanks to an all-new electronic shifter. Upholstery options ranged from standard leatherette to quilted leather on the top trim levels, although attempts to elevate the quality of the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim still ended up appearing somewhat plasticky.

Ford gave the Escape a notable facelift in 2023, a revamp that carried over into 2024. The changes included a more aggressive front-end design, new wheel options, and enhanced next-generation infotainment and safety features. These updates rendered the Escape more appealing compared to previous models, which had a softer, less defined appearance.

The 2024 Escape was available in several trims: Active, ST-Line, ST-Line Select, ST-Line Elite, Platinum, and Plug-in Hybrid. In terms of pricing, Ford removed the base trim level, inching the prices up from $29,345 to $40,500 before a $1,495 destination charge.

Our test model, the ST-Line Elite, boasted a sophisticated Rapid Red paint job, black 19-inch wheels, a Premium Technology Package, and a Panoramic Vista Roof. The total price was steep at $43,650. Inside, diamond-stitched, perforated leather seats with an upscale initial appearance were later found lacking due to their exceptionally glossy surfaces and uncomfortable stiffness, giving rise to questions about the vehicle's high cost.

In 2024, Volkswagen offered the Atlas Cross Sport exclusively with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, could switch between standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). This new powertrain marked the end of the 3.6-liter VR6 era for both the Atlas and the Cross Sport.

The new turbo-four delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque using regular fuel. Compared to the VR6's 276 hp and 266 lb-ft, the turbo-four promised slightly lower horsepower but higher torque, making it quicker off the line thanks to peak torque arriving at 1,550 rpm instead of 3,600 rpm. VW hadn't disclosed specific performance numbers but did anticipate better acceleration and overall performance for the 2024 Cross Sport.

However, while the new engine provided sufficient power, it was noisy and seemed to struggle under stress—a factor noted during the test drive. Despite the sporty name, the Cross Sport underdelivered in driving engagement, compounded by poor ride quality, potentially due to the 21-inch wheels on the test car. The towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE model, rated at 2,000 pounds. Competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee offered higher towing capacities of up to 6,200 pounds.

Buyers of a 2024 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite had two powertrain choices. The first was a 192-horsepower hybrid setup expected to yield 39 mpg in combined driving. The second was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with an average of 26 mpg in combined driving.

Our test vehicle featured the turbocharged engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD, incorporating a driveline disconnect feature to enhance fuel economy. It offered driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Slippery, devoid of an Off-Road mode. The Escape, with a turbocharged engine, could tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Despite its "ST-Line" name suggesting sportiness, the driving dynamics didn’t quite live up to that promise. The turbocharged engine provided quick acceleration, but the suspension allowed excessive body motions, and the steering felt sluggish, detracting from the overall driving experience. Even the brake pedal, while responsive, could not compensate for the expected firmness and connectivity one might associate with a sportier model.

Given the underwhelming performance of the turbocharged engine, it was recommended that buyers opt for the hybrid powertrain or lower-tier models with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine offering 180 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque—adequate for most driving scenarios without the performance gap.

Volkswagen added new standard features to the Cross Sport for 2024. The base SE trim gained heated side mirrors, a two-zone automatic climate control system, and a heated steering wheel. Heated and ventilated front seats were standard across all trims, and the SE with Technology trim included a power liftgate and tow hitch. Heated second-row seats and leather upholstery became standard on the SEL trim, lowering the access level for these comforts.

Though the Cross Sport's roofline cut into rear-seat headroom, legroom was fairly competitive. Cargo space was a strong suit, offering 40.3 cubic feet with rear seats up and 77.6 cubic feet with them folded down, rivalling models like the Honda Passport.

Interior functionalities included ample storage in the redesigned center console, large cupholders, and door pockets designed to minimize unwanted noise.

For 2024, if opting for the Ford Escape ST-Line, buyers were restricted to a black interior, featuring standard cloth inserts with artificial leather bolsters and red stitching. Leather seats were available with the ST-Line Elite trim, but their feel and overall quality were subpar despite their attractive looks.

The test model came well-equipped with features like ambient lighting, dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable seats, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel—but notably lacked ventilated seats, a deficiency felt during hot weather.

The Escape offered large and supportive front seats and a comfortable, adjustable rear seat—a rarity in the compact SUV segment. Cargo space was slightly less generous than the Cross Sport’s, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the back seat and up to 65.4 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. However, smart storage solutions like deep pockets and a grocery bag hook added practicality.

The Cross Sport expanded its standard tech features for 2024. It now included a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. While the touchscreen system was generally user-friendly, the haptic touchpads for volume control and other functions were less intuitive and lacked tactile feedback.

Standard USB-C ports (four, expandable to six), a new USB-C dash cam port, and a head-up display on the SEL trim added modern conveniences. The premium audio system, now provided by Harman Kardon, replaced the former Fender system and offered a high-quality listening experience in the SEL Premium R-Line trim with its 12 speakers.

Digital instrumentation was standard in the 2024 Escape, with higher trims featuring a 12.3-inch display. Our ST-Line Elite test vehicle came with a 13.2-inch Sync 4 infotainment system, known for its landscape format and intuitive layout. However, the color scheme and fonts detracted from readability.

The touchscreen included integrated climate controls, which could be cumbersome. The smaller 8-inch display in lower trims still offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and FordPass Connect services. The larger 13.2-inch system added Amazon Alexa and connected navigation.

Despite some lag issues and an overheating wireless charger, the voice recognition worked well, and switching between smartphone interfaces was seamless. The Escape's engine start/stop button placement did raise eyebrows due to its unconventional location.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. While the IIHS had not yet rated the 2024 model, the 2023 model received top "Good" scores in most tests but a "Marginal" rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

The IQ.Drive package, now standard on all Cross Sport models, included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. Higher trims added predictive adaptive cruise control, park assist, and a surround-view camera system. All models also featured post-collision braking, VW's crash response system, and emergency assist.

The 2024 Ford Escape came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assistance systems. This included forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Our ST-Line Elite added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, predictive speed assist, evasive steering assist, lane-centering assist, and a 360-degree camera system.

However, the lane-keeping systems and predictive speed assist showed inconsistent behavior, sometimes slowing the SUV too much and shutting down unexpectedly. On freeways, the systems performed better, with adaptive cruise control working smoothly in stop-and-go traffic.

The 2024 Escape earned five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all categories except rollover resistance, which received four stars. The IIHS had not yet rated the 2024 model, but the 2023 Escape received "Good" ratings except for a "Marginal" score in the new side-impact test.