2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2020 Mazda CX-5

Mazda executed the concept of premium better than its competitors with the 2020 CX-5. The model year saw more standard equipment, revised instrumentation, and control markings to enhance the cabin's appearance, along with modifications to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. The turbocharged engine received an increase in torque output, and AWD versions gained a new off-road traction assistance feature. Prices ranged from $25,190 to $37,155, with the test vehicle in Signature trim costing $38,680, including destination charges. The CX-5's "Kodo" styling themes made it look appealing, distinctive, and upscale, a feat many automakers struggled to achieve.

Inside, the CX-5's Signature trim featured premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood, and a black headliner, giving it a luxurious feel. However, the Caturra Brown leather was almost indistinguishable from the black cabin, reducing the contrast that often makes a vehicle seem premium. Despite this, the interior was stylish and reflected good taste, making the CX-5 a strong contender in the premium segment.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carried over most of the same sheet metal from the regular Atlas but featured a low roofline and aggressively-raked rear hatch. This design made it resemble the "crossover coupes" offered by luxury automakers, though the styling was an odd mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas, with the same wheelbase. It rode on VW’s MQB platform, which underpinned most of the automaker’s lineup. Standard LED exterior lighting and various wheel sizes were available, with R-Line trims adding sportier exterior styling features.

The interior of the Cross Sport featured VW’s typical minimalist design, which was both nice to look at and functional. However, the design was let down by subpar materials, even in the SEL Premium model with leather upholstery and contrast stitching. The interior felt cheap, with hard plastic and shiny plastic vulnerable to fingerprint smudges. Multiple colors blended together, making it hard to distinguish between different elements, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place in a non-performance model.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode. FWD was standard, with AWD optional. The Grand Touring Reserve and Signature trims featured a turbocharged version of the engine, generating 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel. The turbocharged engine, paired with AWD, provided a healthy amount of power for a compact crossover SUV, though it was less efficient, rated at 24 mpg combined. The CX-5 Signature was engaging to drive, thanks to its G-Vectoring Control Plus technology, but excessive body motions and a high center of gravity detracted from the driving experience.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two powertrain options: a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel, and a naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and start-stop systems for better fuel economy. The VR6 engine and AWD made the Cross Sport feel livelier when accelerating, but midrange acceleration was lacking, and the transmission was slow to react. The ride quality was poor, with every bump and pothole making its presence felt, and the cabin let in plenty of wind and tire noise. The Cross Sport handled like a truck, with lots of body roll and loose steering.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5's interior was more cramped than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, making it less competitive in terms of practicality and utility. However, Mazda focused on the CX-5’s upscale cabin and generous list of standard equipment to de-emphasize this drawback. The interior reflected style and good taste, with features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and rear air conditioning vents in Touring trim. Grand Touring trim added a power height-adjustable front passenger seat, while Grand Touring Reserve included ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature trim added Nappa leather, genuine wood trim, and more. Cargo space measured 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 59.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover, with front-seat and rear-seat legroom near the top of the class. However, rear headroom was limited due to the steeply-sloping roofline. Cargo space was above average, with 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The second-row seats featured a 60/40 split-fold and 14-degree backrest recline. SE with Technology trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate. The Cross Sport included various storage solutions, such as cargo nets, cupholders, and storage bins, making it practical for everyday use.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 featured the Mazda Connect infotainment system, which aimed to convey an upscale impression but could be frustrating to use. The Sport trim had a 7-inch touchscreen that responded to touch only when the vehicle wasn’t moving. Bluetooth, HD Radio, text messaging support, integrated internet radio apps, and E911 emergency notification were standard. The Touring trim added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Grand Touring trim included a color 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. Signature trim added a navigation system, a surround-view camera system, and a SiriusXM data subscription. Interacting with Mazda Connect could be challenging, and the voice-recognition technology was unreliable.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems: the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base S trim, and the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen on all other trims. 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. SE models and above included additional USB ports and SiriusXM satellite radio. SEL models and above featured the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, while SEL Premium models added a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system. The MIB3 system was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts. The Digital Cockpit display was a valuable feature, allowing for customizable gauge configurations.

The 2020 Mazda CX-5 excelled in safety, with standard advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) under the i-Activsense banner. These included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. The CX-5 also had standard LED headlights and rain-sensing wipers, with adaptive headlights available on higher trims. The CX-5 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with high marks in individual testing parameters.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, but 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.