2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its classic 7-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and a variety of aluminum wheel designs. The Laredo trim started at $31,945, with an additional $1,495 destination charge, and 4WD added another $2,000. The Grand Cherokee was available in 12 trims, each catering to different preferences, from style-focused Altitude to the high-performance Trackhawk. The Limited X trim, priced at just over $50,000, featured a performance vented hood, unique 20-inch wheels, and special leather seats. However, the interior had some drawbacks, including hard plastic panels and a few build quality issues.

In contrast, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered a more modern and stylish design. It was available in S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium trims, with optional Technology and R-Line packages. The Cross Sport's SUV coupe look, with its steeply angled rear liftgate, made it visually appealing. The SEL Premium R-Line trim, with 21-inch wheels and Pure Gray paint, gave it a custom appearance. Inside, the Burgundy and Titan Black two-tone color scheme looked good, but closer inspection revealed hard plastics. Despite this, the design and materials were well-executed for the segment, and the available ambient lighting added a nice touch.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 295 horsepower. For more power, buyers could opt for a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, a 425-hp 6.4-liter V8 in the SRT, or the Trackhawk's 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. An 8-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with three 4WD systems available depending on the trim. The Limited X test vehicle had Quadra-Drive II, providing excellent off-road capability with 8.6 inches of ground clearance and Selec-Terrain driving modes. However, fuel economy was a downside, with the V6 averaging 18.3 mpg during testing. On-road, the Grand Cherokee felt robust, with good acceleration and handling, though the brakes struggled during long descents.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The optional 3.6-liter V6 offered 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Both engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and 4Motion AWD available. The V6 provided adequate power and refinement, though the transmission's delayed downshifts in normal mode were a minor issue. The 4Motion AWD system was effective, and Active Control offered various traction settings. The Atlas Cross Sport's handling was commendable, with good braking and steering, but it lacked an adaptive damping suspension, affecting ride quality. Fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined, with an observed 18.7 mpg during testing.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as a 5-passenger midsize SUV, offered a roomy interior for a family. The power-adjustable and heated front seats were comfortable, but backseat passengers with long legs might find the hard plastic front-seatback panels uncomfortable. Storage space was limited, with small bins and trays, but the cargo area provided 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 68.3 cubic feet with them folded down.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, despite being smaller than the Atlas, felt spacious inside. The test vehicle featured large heated and ventilated leather seats with numerous power adjustments. The second row was comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for two adults. Storage space was plentiful, with a large center console, door panel bins, and a glove box. The cargo area offered 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with them folded down. However, the dual-zone automatic climate control struggled in direct sunlight, especially with the engine's stop/start system engaged.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims featured a more advanced Uconnect system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, and navigation. Pairing a smartphone was easy, and the voice recognition system worked well. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, while higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered three infotainment systems, with the top-trim test vehicle featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, virtual menu buttons, and two stereo knobs. The system supported two Bluetooth device pairings and included Car-Net connected services with WiFi, remote engine start, and safe teen driving features. The 12-speaker Fender audio system provided excellent sound quality. However, the voice recognition system was lacking, unable to handle natural prompts, making Apple CarPlay or Android Auto necessary for voice commands.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered modern driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and available semi-autonomous parking assistance. The Advanced Active Safety Group package added adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. However, the Grand Cherokee's crash-test ratings were poor, with a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection for the driver and a Poor rating for the front passenger from the IIHS, and a 3-star rollover resistance rating from the federal government.

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included a comprehensive suite of safety features, even on the base trim. The SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had all available ADAS, including road-sign recognition and Traffic Jam Assist. The Lane Assist system prevented lane changes when another vehicle was in the blind spot, and the rear cross-traffic alert included automatic emergency braking. Crash-test results for the Atlas Cross Sport were not available, but the larger Atlas performed well in safety tests.