2021 Nissan Armada vs 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with Nissan's new signature look. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional beefy and athletic styling, featuring a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights. The SUV was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the latter offering captain’s chairs as an option. The Armada's exterior updates included body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a power sliding sunroof, among other features. However, the interior, despite tech upgrades, felt dated due to certain design choices, such as rouched material on the door panels and abstract patterned hard plastic inlays.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport presented a bold, sporty, and upscale appearance, especially in the Execline trim with its 21-inch machined-finish wheels. By removing the third row and lowering the roofline, Volkswagen created a more rakish coupe-like design. The Atlas Cross Sport offered a roomy interior for five people, though the cargo space was reduced compared to the standard Atlas. The interior featured a combination of Pure Grey exterior with Dark Burgundy over Titan Black interior, exuding an upscale feel. However, the use of hard, glossy plastic in the interior detracted from the overall quality impression.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a robust 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the Armada offered automatic four-wheel drive as standard. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada was a capable off-roader with features like a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. However, its fuel efficiency was on the lower end, with a combined rating of 15.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The Armada excelled in towing capacity, offering a best-in-class 3,856-kilogram maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and an available 3.6-litre V6 producing 276 horsepower. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine, while more powerful, had a higher fuel consumption of 12.2 litres per 100 kilometres. The Atlas Cross Sport's ride quality varied, with the suspension feeling too firm at lower speeds and too soft at higher speeds. Despite this, the V6 engine provided a more energetic performance in the two-row version compared to the three-row Atlas.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior was spacious, with 10-way power-adjustable front seats and optional second-row captain’s chairs in the Platinum trim. However, the third-row seating was less comfortable for adults. The Armada provided 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with the second and third rows folded. The high load floor posed a challenge for loading and unloading, especially for petite individuals. Small-item storage was limited, with the exception of a deep centre console storage bin.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its wheelbase and track width with the larger Atlas, offering a roomy interior for five adults. The test vehicle featured 10-way power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and a dual-zone climate control system. The panoramic sunroof added to the spacious feel, while the cargo area provided ample load-floor real estate. However, the lack of lining in storage areas could lead to rattling noises. Despite the reduced cargo space compared to the seven-passenger model, the Atlas Cross Sport offered practical storage solutions.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, with standard features like navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and a rear-seat entertainment system. The analog tachometer and speedometer were complemented by a functional steering wheel, though it lacked the sophistication of other SUVs.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with a Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Execline trim included a 12-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the user experience with the infotainment system was often frustrating, with issues related to touchscreen interaction and voice recognition technology. Pairing a smartphone for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended for a smoother experience.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. However, it lacked advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist. The NHTSA gave the Armada a three-star rollover rating due to its 23.7-percent rollover risk.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The Execline trim added a semi-autonomous Park Assist system and an Area View 360-degree camera system. While the Travel Assist system was generally accurate, it occasionally made obvious steering inputs. The Atlas Cross Sport received favourable crash-test ratings, though not the highest accolades from safety organizations.