2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Chevrolet Trax

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax was based on the same vehicle introduced in 2015, with design updates from 2017 carrying over. In 2020, the infotainment system was updated, and the Premier trim was dropped for 2021, leaving LS and LT trims. The LS trim featured 16-inch painted aluminum wheels, remote keyless entry, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, dual front USB ports, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The LT trim added heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, rear window tint, roof rails, LED head- and taillights, remote start, cruise control, chrome belt-line moldings, and silver-painted skid plates. It also included upgraded cloth and leatherette seats, a cargo security cover, and a 120-volt AC power outlet.

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. It was 5.2 inches shorter and 2.2 inches lower than the seven-seat Atlas, with the same 117.3-inch wheelbase. All Cross Sport models had standard LED exterior lighting, with wheel sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches depending on the trim. The interior had a minimalist design but was let down by subpar materials. Even with leather upholstery and contrast stitching in the SEL Premium model, the interior felt cheap, with hard and shiny plastics that were prone to fingerprint smudges. The flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place for a non-performance model.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered a single engine option: a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder producing 138 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). While the engine sufficed for city driving, it struggled to provide additional power for highway speeds and passing, making plenty of noise in the process. The Trax had a firm ride that could be harsh over potholes and bumps, but its tight turning radius provided solid maneuverability in tight spaces. Rivals like the Hyundai Kona and Mazda CX-30 offered more comfortable rides and were more fun to drive.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas, including a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and an optional naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6 engine. The turbo-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the V6 delivered 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 engine and AWD provided livelier acceleration compared to the four-cylinder Atlas, but midrange acceleration felt less robust than expected. The ride quality was among the worst in modern crossovers, with noticeable bumps and potholes, and the cabin let in plenty of wind and tire noise. The Cross Sport had a 5,000-pound towing capacity with the VR6 engine and AWD, while four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax offered respectable headroom and legroom in both rows, with supportive front seats but poorly bolstered rear seats. The front featured multiple storage trays in each door and low cupholder placement for large water bottles. The Trax provided 18.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The front passenger seat also folded flat for larger items. These cargo figures were mid-pack for the subcompact SUV segment, and there was no option for a power liftgate.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport had competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover, with near top-class front and rear legroom. However, rear headroom was limited due to the steeply-sloping roofline. Cargo space was 40.3 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 77.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was above average for the segment. The second-row seats had a 60/40 split-fold and 14-degree backrest recline. SE with Technology trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate. The Cross Sport featured various cargo nets, cupholders, and storage bins, including a large center console and a second-row armrest with integrated cupholders.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system, which was a highlight of the vehicle. It featured easy-to-follow menus, vivid graphics, and hard buttons and dials surrounding the screen. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control, and an available WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems. The base S trim had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while all other trims had the new MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included two USB-C ports, pinch-to-zoom screens, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. MIB3 added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims added more USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, and 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 allowed for customizable gauge configurations, and analog controls made basic functions easy to use.

The 2021 Chevrolet Trax received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but did not earn a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included an array of airbags and a backup camera. The LT Convenience Package added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors. However, the Trax lacked advanced safety features like forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-departure warning, which were standard on many rivals.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests, 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, which provided automated lane centering and emergency stopping capabilities.