2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2020 Honda Pilot exhibited a dynamic styling consistent with Honda's 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 and digital elements. While the cabin was comfortable and spacious, it did incorporate hard plastics, which detracted from its overall refinement compared to some competitors. The Pilot's trim levels ranged from the value-packed LX to the luxurious Black Edition, each adding progressively more features and upscale touches.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh, gaining new front and rear bumpers, LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes gave the Atlas a more extroverted look, although some elements like the fake chrome exhaust tips were less appealing. The Atlas maintained its MQB platform, known for its flexibility across VW models. The interior followed a minimalist approach, with a focus on functionality over decorative elements. While the design was pleasing, the material quality was below average, with plastics that felt cheap and unconvincing simulated trim.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada, with a 6-speed automatic transmission on lower trims and a 9-speed automatic on higher trims. The V6 provided strong acceleration, making it suitable for both city driving and highway passing. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, offering a smooth driving experience, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System allowed drivers to select from various drive modes, enhancing traction in different conditions.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas 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 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive. The driving experience with the base engine was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts. The Atlas's ride quality was poor, with noticeable impacts from road imperfections. The AWD system included various drive modes, but the Atlas was best suited for on-road use, lacking true off-road capabilities.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious cabin with seating for up to eight passengers, or seven with optional second-row captain’s chairs. Its third row was adult-friendly, providing ample head and legroom. The Pilot excelled in cargo space, offering 1,583 litres with the rear seats folded, surpassing many competitors. The interior was designed for family use, with features like a conversation mirror and CabinTalk to facilitate communication with rear passengers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas provided average passenger and cargo space for its segment, with 2,741 litres behind the front seats and 583 litres with all seats up. It offered more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row comfort. The interior featured logically laid-out controls and up to five USB ports, along with a wireless charging pad. The Atlas had a tall driving position, but forward visibility was limited. It included standard ultrasonic parking sensors and available advanced parking aids.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. While the system included a 215-watt stereo and Bluetooth connectivity, its interface was criticized for being confusing. Higher trims added features like navigation, a rear entertainment system, and a premium audio system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and smartphone compatibility, with a 6.5-inch or 8-inch touchscreen depending on the trim. Higher trims offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, replacing analog gauges with a digital display. The infotainment system was user-friendly but lacked visual appeal. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on top trims.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and IIHS, with a five-star overall rating and a Superior score in crash prevention.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received good ratings in IIHS crash tests, but mixed ratings for headlights. It included standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with additional driver aids available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more advanced safety features later in the model year.