2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The “S” in the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS name is meant to connect the SUV to the S-Class flagship sedan. In this sense, the GLS is the S-Class of SUVs, and it delivers on that positioning. The 2021 GLS-Class has three rows of spacious seating, and puts comfort above all else. The GLS can hold groceries, weekend bags, antique desks purchased from a roadside consignment shop—all things that would require a lot of negotiating in the S-Class sedan.

The GLS is one member of a growing fraternity of full-size, three-row, luxury SUVs. Their ranks include the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Infiniti QX80, and the more recent BMW X7. The GLS sets itself apart with a higher standard of luxury, and impressive performance… if you’re willing to shell out the cash.

Launched for the 2020 model year, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a two-row, five-seat version of the Volkswagen Atlas family crossover, itself a fairly new model, having launched for the 2018 model year.

The two-row midsize crossover segment is experiencing a resurgence, with newer models like the Cross Sport, Toyota Venza, Honda Passport, and Chevrolet Blazer joining the aging Ford Edge and Nissan Murano. VW also named the Jeep Grand Cherokee as a competitor to the Cross Sport, but the Jeep is a more traditional SUV.

Typically for a model entering its sophomore year, the Cross Sport doesn’t get many updates for 2021. The only change is VW’s new MIB3 infotainment system for most trim levels, and two new driver-assist features: Travel Assist and Emergency Assist.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is available in four trim levels: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and Execline. In Canada, 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard while front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered. The option to choose between the four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines is available on all trims but the base model. Our test car was a U.S. model, the approximate Canadian equivalent being the Execline grade with the six-cylinder engine.