2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE, despite its lineage, did not quite capture the visual allure expected from a luxury SUV. Its exterior design, while featuring an aggressive nose and sloping hood, seemed to lose its distinctiveness past the A-pillar, resembling its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear attempted to mitigate its minivan-like appearance, but it still fell short of the aesthetic appeal seen in competitors like the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. However, the interior of the GLE was a different story. It was a masterpiece of quality and design, with a bold red and black colour scheme that exuded luxury. The interior featured a mix of wood, metal, leather, and suede, creating a tactile delight, although some controls felt flimsy. Overall, the GLE's interior offered a sense of opulence, albeit at a high price point.

In contrast, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport adopted a more rugged yet car-like design, with a low roofline and aggressively raked rear hatch. While it aimed to emulate the crossover coupes of luxury brands, the styling was 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. Despite leather upholstery and contrast stitching, the interior felt cheap, with hard and shiny plastics dominating the cabin. The colour choices blended together, creating a less welcoming atmosphere, and the flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place in a non-performance model.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a versatile SUV, offering a range of advanced suspension and engine configurations. The base GLE 350 featured a reliable coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 introduced AIRMATIC air springs with adaptive dampers. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe took performance further with an electric supercharger, delivering 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. The GLE's hybrid system, EQ Boost, provided additional power and seamless engine start-stop functionality. Despite its hybrid setup, the GLE's fuel efficiency was average, with the AMG GLE 53 Coupe averaging 14.7 L/100 km. All GLE models came with standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and the vehicle's towing capacity was impressive at 3,500 kilograms. The driving experience was exceptional, with the GLE handling like a smaller sedan, offering a perfect balance of ride quality and steering precision.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas, featuring a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine and an optional 3.6-litre V6. The turbo-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the V6 delivered 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. The VR6 engine provided lively acceleration from a stop, but midrange performance was lacking. The eight-speed automatic transmission was slow to react, although manual shifting was possible. Ride quality was a weak point, with the Cross Sport feeling harsh over bumps and potholes. The vehicle's handling was truck-like, with significant body roll and loose steering. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, while the four-cylinder models were limited to 907 kilograms. The Cross Sport's off-road capabilities were limited compared to competitors like the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models accommodating five passengers, while an optional third row allowed seating for seven. The second-row seats featured power controls for added comfort, and cargo capacity was generous, with 630 litres behind the second row and 2,055 litres with all rows folded. The Coupe body style, however, was more limited, with 655 litres behind the second row and 1,790 litres behind the first. The sloping roofline and large rear tires made rear passenger space feel smaller, and the rear doors had narrow openings. The GLE's usability was enhanced by the MBUX infotainment system, which simplified controls and offered intuitive features like seat controls on the doors and rocker switches for suspension settings.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport boasted a competitive interior space, with ample front-seat and rear-seat legroom. However, rear headroom was compromised by the sloping roofline, making it less accommodating for taller passengers. Cargo space was above average, with 1,141 litres behind the rear seats and 2,203 litres with the seats folded. The second-row seats featured a 60/40 split-fold and a 14-degree backrest recline. Higher trim levels added a foot-activated tailgate for convenience. The Cross Sport offered a range of storage solutions, including cargo nets, cupholders, and storage bins, making it practical for everyday use.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen with Interior Assistant, allowing for gesture-based controls. The system offered a range of features, including seat massage settings, navigation with augmented reality, and a natural voice assistant. The AMG models included a Track Pace app for performance enthusiasts. The GLE's infotainment system was highly customizable, with a reconfigurable head-up display and ambient lighting with 64 colours. The vehicle also offered advanced driver assistance features, including semi-automated functionality for lane changes and curve navigation.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was equipped with two infotainment systems. The base Trendline trim featured the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while higher trims received the MIB3 system with an 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included USB-C ports, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The MIB3 system added multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. The Execline trim featured the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, a 10-inch reconfigurable display, and a 12-speaker Fender audio system. While the MIB3 system offered some improvements, it was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts. The Digital Cockpit display provided a modern touch, allowing drivers to switch between traditional gauges and text-based configurations.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned top safety ratings, including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It featured a range of safety and driver assistance technologies, such as blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and evasive steering assist. The GLE also offered unique features like Pre-Safe Sound and Pre-Safe Impulse Side for enhanced protection in a crash. The vehicle's stability control and braking systems were designed to enhance safety in various driving conditions.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received top "Good" scores in IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. It earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with strong side crash test results. 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, and parking assist. The Cross Sport also offered unique features like the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021, the Execline trim added Travel Assist and Emergency Assist for enhanced driver assistance.