2021 Audi Q5 vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Audi Q5 was a sharp-looking crossover SUV that carried the Audi design language well while maintaining its individual character within the lineup. It had an expressive face with LED headlights beside the big Audi Singleframe grille, emphasizing width. The body featured crisp character lines, and the rear had bold, large taillights. The plug-in Q5 wore S-Line trim pieces and enhancements, including standard 19-inch wheels or optional 20-inch wheels, giving it a classy, modern appearance with exceptional fit and finish.

Inside, the Q5 was equally classy and modern. It was packed with technology but maintained an uncluttered appearance. Buttons, switches, and knobs were smartly grouped, and the material selection was high-quality, with real wood, metal, and honed surfaces. The 10.1-inch touchscreen was positioned at the top of the center stack, and the second row was nicely appointed with standard leather seating surfaces.

Volkswagen made the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport by removing the standard seven-passenger Atlas model’s third row, dropping the roofline by 2.3 inches for a more rakish appearance, and chopping the SUV’s length by 5.2 inches. The wheelbase remained the same, ensuring an exceptionally roomy interior for five people, but the Cross Sport’s stubby butt and angled rear window shrank cargo space to 40.3 cubic feet behind the second-row seat and a maximum of 77.8 cubic feet.

These changes resulted in a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, especially in SEL Premium R-Line trim with the newly standard 21-inch machined-finish wheels. The chunky, five-split-spoke design emphasized the Atlas Cross Sport’s broad-shouldered stance. However, the other wheel choices weren’t as appealing, with the base SE trim’s 18-inch alloy wheels looking too small for the Cross Sport’s blistered fenders. The test vehicle in Pure Gray looked fantastic with the Dark Burgundy over Titan Black interior, conveying an upscale appearance despite the hard, glossy plastic that dulled the impression of quality.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV took a good thing and made it better. The Q5 was already a fun crossover to drive in its standard gasoline-only form (badged as Q5 45), and adding an additional 114 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque with a 14.1-kWh battery made it genuine adult entertainment. The total combined output for the PHEV was 362 hp and 373 lb-ft of torque, a good match with the crossover’s 4,665-lb curb weight. The electric motor worked with the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder gasoline engine in a boost function, providing convincing acceleration (0 – 60 mph in 5.0 seconds) and impressive fuel-economy figures of 65 MPGe combined. In gasoline-only mode, the Q5 PHEV was rated at 27 mpg combined.

The Q5 PHEV used a seven-speed S Tronic automatic transmission with full-time Quattro all-wheel drive and could be switched into modes to drive for a limited range on available battery power only (up to 20 miles), to reserve battery power for later, or to automatically drive in hybrid mode. The speed-sensitive electromechanical power steering had a wider-than-expected turning radius of 38.4 feet, and the four-wheel independent suspension with five-link setups front and rear provided good handling with minimal body roll and powerful, predictable braking.

Volkswagen offered two engines in the 2022 Atlas Cross Sport. The standard engine was a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder supplying 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, but only with premium fuel. The Atlas Cross Sport weighed more than two tons, making the turbo-four less ideal. The available 3.6-liter V6 had an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving and didn’t require premium gas to make its 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine also towed more, with a 5,000-pound towing capacity compared to the turbo-four’s 2,000 pounds.

Both engines employed an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and VW’s 4Motion AWD system available. The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line we test drove had the V6 engine and 4Motion as standard equipment. The V6 felt more energetic in the two-row version, though it averaged just 19.2 mpg on our testing loop. The 21-inch wheels and 265/45 Pirelli Scorpion Zero all-season tires looked great but didn’t help with urban and suburban ride quality, transferring too much impact harshness at lower city speeds and feeling too soft and compliant at higher speeds.

Highway driving was where the Atlas Cross Sport shone brightest, with agreeable ride quality and efficient V6 performance. However, road noise was more intrusive than expected. The suspension kept body roll in check, and the light-effort steering and brakes exhibited hints of German engineering, though the float and wallow were unwelcome.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV managed to carry its battery pack under the luggage compartment floor, so it didn’t eat up cargo space. There were 25.1 cubic feet of space behind the second row, and folding down the second row allowed for up to 53.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The second row had a reasonable amount of legroom (37.8 inches), plenty of headroom (37.7 inches), and shoulder room (56.5 inches). The driver and front-seat passenger enjoyed super-comfortable and supportive seats with a wide range of adjustment, heating, and ventilation on the Prestige trim. The front row had a pair of cupholders, several cubbies, and a small storage bin under the center-console armrest.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase, track width, and interior with the larger seven-passenger model, making it exceptionally roomy inside. It could carry five adults comfortably, with generous rear legroom. Our test vehicle had 10-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, heated rear outboard seating positions, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. A panoramic sunroof made the Atlas Cross Sport feel even bigger inside, and rear side-window sunshades helped prevent sunlight from shining into kids’ faces.

Comfort was king in both the front and rear, with no shortage of storage space thanks to roomy door panel bins, a large glove compartment, a sizable bin under the front armrest, and other nooks and crannies. However, VW didn’t take its usual care in lining many of these locations with rubber or fabric, so items could rattle or scrape as they slid. The cargo area had plenty of load-floor real estate with deep wells to either side for carrying things that required some restraint, and there was some storage underneath the load floor.

The 2021 Audi Q5 PHEV featured Audi’s latest MMI 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was impressive and easy to use. The Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus 12.3-inch HD instrument cluster offered three views: classic, sport, and dynamic, elevating the cabin to a futuristic level. The Prestige Package included the Navigation Package, which optimized fuel consumption and battery usage based on route data. The Integrated Toll Module (ITM) was standard on all Q5 models, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D audio system with 19 speakers was available on Premium Plus models and standard on the Prestige trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay was included and worked seamlessly.

The base Atlas Cross Sport SE came standard with Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch display, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB-C ports. Higher trims had a 10.25-inch version of Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen with proximity-sensing display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, wireless smartphone charging, and more USB ports. The upgraded infotainment system provided access to three Car-Net connected service subscription plans, including remote-start, emergency assistance, WiFi hotspot, and more. Our SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had a 12-speaker Fender premium sound system, which was sensationally good for the price point.

The 2021 Q5 PHEV hadn’t been rated by the IIHS yet, but the 2020 Q5 (gasoline-only) received top “good” ratings in every category except headlights, where it received a “marginal” rating. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Audi Q5 gasoline model five stars but hadn’t yet rated the PHEV. Safety features included six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with brake assist, Audi Pre Sense basic preventative occupant protection, low-speed collision assist, power child safety locks, electronic stability control, electronic vehicle immobilization, anti-theft alarm, interior motion sensor, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, LATCH connectors, a rearview camera, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Available driver-assistance features included Audi Advanced Key, Audi Pre Sense rear, Audi Side Assist with rear cross-traffic alert, Parking System Plus, adaptive cruise control, park steering assist, traffic-sign recognition, and a top-view camera system.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and an automatic post-collision braking system as standard. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and IQ Drive. IQ Drive included Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Our SEL Premium R-Line test vehicle had a semi-autonomous Parking Steering Assistant system and an Area View 360-degree surround-view camera system. The Atlas Cross Sport received decent crash-test ratings but didn’t earn the highest accolades from the IIHS or NHTSA.