2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a range of trim levels, including Essential, Preferred, Luxury, and Ultimate, with the latter two featuring a turbocharged engine for enhanced power and performance. All-wheel drive was standard on all Canadian trims except the Essential, where it was an optional upgrade. The Santa Fe's design was bold and experimental, with a distinctive grille shape, stacked lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings. Inside, the SUV featured a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design and high-contrast interior colours, although the materials used were not as impressive as the design itself. Despite this, the build quality was excellent, and the controls operated smoothly.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared much of its design with the regular Atlas but featured a lower roofline and a more aggressively raked rear hatch. This design choice resulted in a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, with some elements, like the fake exhaust tips, appearing tacky. The Cross Sport's interior followed VW's minimalist design approach, which was visually appealing but let down by subpar materials. The leather upholstery felt rubbery, and the use of dark colours did not create a welcoming atmosphere. The flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place for a non-performance model.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a standard 185-horsepower 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but the turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine was the preferred choice, delivering 235 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided better performance, especially at higher altitudes, and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Santa Fe offered a towing capacity of 1,587 kilograms and had fuel efficiency ratings of 12.0 L/100 km city, 9.2 hwy, and 10.7 combined with the turbocharged engine and AWD. The SUV provided a smooth ride, decent handling, and a quiet highway experience, although it lacked driver engagement.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four with 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, and a 3.6-litre VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 engine provided lively acceleration from a stop but lacked midrange power. The Cross Sport's ride quality was poor, with noticeable bumps and potholes, and the cabin was noisy. The SUV had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with the VR6 engine and AWD, and it featured multiple drive modes for different terrains.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was designed with thoughtful attention to detail, offering creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in cloth seat versions. The SUV featured comfortable front seats with power adjustments, lumbar support, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seats were also comfortable, with air conditioning vents and reclining options. However, the Santa Fe's cargo space was limited, with 1,017 litres behind the rear seats and 2,019 litres with the seats folded. The SUV included a hands-free "smart" liftgate for easy access to the cargo area.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport provided competitive interior space, with ample front-seat and rear-seat legroom. However, rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. The SUV offered 1,141 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 2,203 litres with the seats folded. The Cross Sport included standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats and a foot-activated tailgate on higher trims. The interior featured various storage options, including a centre console and a second-row armrest with cupholders.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a user-friendly touchscreen infotainment system with stereo control knobs, shortcut buttons, and Bluetooth connectivity. The SUV offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Blue Link connected services. Higher trims included a surround-view camera system, a larger display, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium audio system. The Santa Fe also featured a head-up display and a sophisticated voice recognition system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems: the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base trim and the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen on higher trims. Both systems included USB-C ports, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone connectivity. The MIB3 system added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. The Execline trim featured a Digital Cockpit display and a premium audio system. The Cross Sport's infotainment system was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe received a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. The SUV offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance. Higher trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Santa Fe also featured a rear-seat reminder system and an ultrasonic occupant alert system.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the Cross Sport a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking assist. The Cross Sport also featured an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System.