2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot exhibited a dynamic styling consistent with the Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. Its design cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot offered a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog gauges for fuel and engine temperature with a digital screen for other information. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, though it used hard plastics in many areas, which detracted from its overall refinement compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot was available in several trims, each adding more features, with the Black Edition offering unique black accents and red interior lighting.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared much of its design with the regular Atlas but featured a lower roofline and aggressively raked rear hatch, giving it a unique crossover coupe aesthetic. However, the styling was a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, with some elements like fake exhaust tips appearing tacky. The interior followed VW’s minimalist design, which was functional but let down by subpar materials. Despite leather upholstery and contrast stitching, the cabin felt cheap, with hard and shiny plastics prone to smudges. The dark colour scheme didn’t provide a welcoming feel, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place for a non-performance model.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Black Edition had a 9-speed automatic for more refined acceleration and better fuel efficiency. The Pilot’s ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for different conditions, enhancing its capability slightly in challenging terrains.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-litre VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 provided lively acceleration from a stop but lacked midrange power, and the transmission was slow to react. The ride quality was poor, with noticeable bumps and pothole impacts, and the cabin was noisy. The Cross Sport had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with the VR6 engine, and AWD models featured multiple drive modes and decent ground clearance, though it wasn’t particularly sporty or off-road capable.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin, with optional second-row captain’s chairs reducing capacity to seven. Its third row was adult-friendly, with ample head and legroom, and higher trims featured one-touch fold-down rear seats for easy access. The Pilot provided 1,583 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, surpassing many competitors. It was designed for family use, with plenty of storage spaces and features like a conversation mirror and CabinTalk to facilitate communication with rear passengers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport had a large interior, with front-seat and rear-seat legroom among the best in its class. However, rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was generous, with 1,141 litres with the rear seats up and 2,203 litres with them folded, though still behind the Honda Passport. The interior included standard 60/40 split-fold rear seats and various storage solutions, with higher trims offering a foot-activated tailgate.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. The system included a 215-watt stereo, Bluetooth, and a USB port, but lacked a tuning knob, making it less user-friendly. Higher trims added navigation, a rear entertainment system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an upgraded audio system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems: the MIB2 with a 6.5-inch screen on the base trim, and the MIB3 with an 8-inch screen on higher trims. Both systems included USB-C ports, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition, though it was slow to load. The Execline trim featured a Digital Cockpit display and a 12-speaker Fender audio system, though the latter was underwhelming.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Good score from the IIHS, with a Superior rating for crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received Good scores in IIHS crash tests, though with mixed headlight ratings and a Marginal score for child-seat anchor ease of use. It earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Unique to VW were the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, though the former struggled with highway curves.