GMC Terrain vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. GMC equipped the Terrain AT4 with a steel skid plate under the front end to protect vital mechanical components, anticipating that some owners might test its off-road capabilities. The test vehicle came with Ebony Twilight metallic paint, a black leather interior, and several packages, bringing the MSRP to $41,810. Despite the high price, the Terrain's interior materials and execution did not fully meet expectations, with some design choices like the pushbutton transmission controls and narrow storage tray falling short.

Volkswagen transformed the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by removing the third row from the standard Atlas model, lowering the roofline, and shortening the SUV's length. These changes resulted in a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, especially in the SEL Premium R-Line trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels. The test vehicle, priced at $52,495, featured Pure Gray paint and a Dark Burgundy over Titan Black interior, which looked fantastic. However, the interior had an abundance of hard, glossy plastic, detracting from the overall impression of quality. Despite this, the Atlas Cross Sport felt worth the price if one could overlook these cheap fittings.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which offered better acceleration and a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could tow up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the torque band, but the engine's power delivery was delayed off the line. The Terrain AT4 offered FWD and AWD modes, with an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system. However, torque steer was an issue in FWD mode. The AT4's 17-inch wheels and 225/65 tires provided a good ride and decent handling on pavement, but the SUV struggled off-road due to its low ground clearance and lack of grip from the sport-terrain tires. The EPA rating was 26 mpg, and the test vehicle achieved 26.2 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine, which did not require premium fuel, had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, compared to the turbo-four's 2,000 pounds. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW's 4Motion AWD system available. The test vehicle, an SEL Premium R-Line with the V6 engine and 4Motion, felt more energetic than the three-row Atlas. However, the V6 was aging, and the drivetrain occasionally lacked refinement. The test vehicle averaged 19.2 mpg. The 21-inch wheels and Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires looked great but negatively impacted ride quality at lower speeds. The suspension felt too soft at higher speeds, leading to a floaty and wallowy ride. Highway driving was where the Atlas Cross Sport excelled, with agreeable ride quality and efficient V6 performance.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The test vehicle included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, with plenty of legroom and foot room, and the AT4 trim featured perforated leather upholstery with caramel-color contrast stitching and piping. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The front passenger seat could also be folded down for longer items.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, resulting in an exceptionally roomy interior for five people. The test vehicle had 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear outboard seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, and rear side-window sunshades helped keep sunlight out of passengers' faces. The Atlas Cross Sport offered plenty of storage space, though many storage areas lacked rubber or fabric linings, leading to potential rattles and scraping noises. The cargo area provided ample space, with deep wells on either side and additional storage under the load floor.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen added connected navigation and a Bose premium sound system. The test vehicle had the Infotainment Package II, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and the Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, accurately responding to various prompts. The Tech Package added a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The Terrain also featured a Tire Fill Alert system and remote engine starting.

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, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless smartphone charging, and additional USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system provided access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, offering features like remote start, emergency assistance, and a WiFi hotspot. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which delivered excellent audio quality.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came standard with the GMC Pro Safety Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package, available on SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims, added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The test vehicle had all these features, which worked effectively and subtly. The IIHS awarded the Terrain mostly "Good" crash-test scores, with a "Marginal" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain's crashworthiness at the time of the review.

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 test vehicle also had a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree camera system. The Atlas Cross Sport received decent crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though not the highest accolades.