2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned for the 2018 model year, was a cleanly styled full-size SUV. While some might have found the styling boring, its clean design aged well over time, making it a good long-term investment. The King Ranch variant featured 22-inch aluminum wheels, a mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim, along with special front fender emblems. Dipped in Star White metallic paint, the test SUV looked impressive, although the taillight shape and roof C-pillar design were points of contention. Inside, the King Ranch boasted Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, with numerous King Ranch cattle-brand logos. Despite the luxurious touches, the presence of hard plastic, especially in lower trims, was disappointing for a vehicle in this price range.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the same sheet metal from the regular Atlas but featured a lower roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch. This design gave it a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, though the fake exhaust tips on the rear bumper looked tacky. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas, sharing the same wheelbase and riding on VW’s MQB platform. Standard LED exterior lighting and varying wheel sizes across trims added to its appeal. Inside, the minimalist design was functional but let down by subpar materials. Even with leather upholstery and contrast stitching in the SEL Premium model, the interior felt cheap, with hard and shiny plastics that were prone to fingerprint smudges. The color scheme was also unwelcoming, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The 10-speed automatic transmission delivered power to the rear wheels, with an optional four-wheel-drive system available. The Expedition offered 9.8 inches of ground clearance, except for the MAX 4WD, which had 9.7 inches. Towing capacity was impressive, with the standard Expedition capable of towing 9,300 pounds with rear-drive and 9,200 pounds with 4WD. The driving experience was mostly pleasing, with the engine providing ample power and the 10-speed automatic finding the right gear at the right time. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch did a good job of controlling ride motions, although the oversized wheels and tires sometimes made the ride busy. The independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, as well as interior space. Fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two powertrain options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and an optional 3.6-liter VR6 engine. The turbo-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the VR6 delivered 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 engine provided a livelier acceleration experience, but midrange acceleration was less robust than expected. The transmission was slow to react, though manual shifting helped. Ride quality was among the worst in modern crossovers, with every bump and pothole felt, and the cabin let in plenty of wind and tire noise. The VR6 models had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. AWD versions featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance, but the Jeep Grand Cherokee was a better off-road choice.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled at towing, carrying cargo, and hauling people. The King Ranch’s power running boards made it easy to step into the SUV, and every seat was comfortable, especially the heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs offered first-class accommodations, and the third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the independent rear suspension. Cargo space in the standard-length Expedition was 19.3 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, expanding to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded and 104.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The long-wheelbase Expedition MAX offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was competitive with other two-row midsize crossovers in terms of interior space. Front-seat and rear-seat legroom were near the top of the class, but rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was above average for the segment. The second-row seats had a 60/40 split-fold and 14-degree backrest recline. SE with Technology trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate. The interior featured various storage options, including a decent-sized center console and a second-row armrest with integrated cupholders.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, which was easy to use but sometimes slow to load and respond. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, and an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. A rear-seat entertainment system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist were also available, with the latter providing a knob on the dashboard to control the trailer’s direction.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems. The base S trim level had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while all other trims featured the new MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom screens, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims included additional USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, and a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system. The Digital Cockpit display allowed for reconfigurable gauge layouts, and analog controls made basic functions easy to manage.

The 2020 Ford Expedition came with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The ADAS worked well, providing smooth and accurate assistance. The Expedition earned 5-star ratings in NHTSA crash tests, with a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the Expedition at the time of the review.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, with five stars for side crash tests and four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, parking sensors, and parking assist. The Cross Sport also had unique features like the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, available on higher trims.