2022 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with the new signature look of the Nissan brand. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional beefy and athletic body styling, featuring a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights. The SUV was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the Platinum 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, appeared dated, with design choices that seemed past their prime.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas carried over with minor modifications after significant updates in 2021. The Atlas was available in four trims in Canada: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and Execline. The Execline trim featured R-Line design elements and 21-inch alloy wheels, enhancing its upscale look. The interior was praised for its simplicity and premium flair, though some materials were crafted to a low cost point, leading to a less refined feel. The Atlas offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample storage areas, though many were unlined, causing unwanted noise from items sliding around.

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 and was a capable off-roader, despite its hefty weight of over 2,700 kilograms. It boasted a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,856 kilograms. However, its fuel efficiency was on the lower end, with a combined rating of 15.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The Armada's handling improved with each revision, though maneuvering in tight spaces remained challenging.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive. The turbo-four's towing capacity was limited to 907 kilograms, but it offered better fuel efficiency at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres combined. The optional 3.6-litre V6 engine, standard on the Execline trim, provided 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Atlas featured various driving modes and an Active Control system for different conditions, though its ride quality was mixed, with some road noise and a lack of refinement in the V6 engine.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality for families, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior featured a new 12.3-inch touchscreen, though some controls were distant from the driver. The Platinum trim offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. Cargo space was 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with seats folded. However, the high load floor made loading challenging for petite individuals, and small-item storage was limited.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas excelled in interior space and comfort, seating seven with ample head and legroom, even in the third row. The step-in height was low, and rear side-window sunshades were available. The Atlas offered numerous storage areas, though many were unlined, causing noise. Cargo space was exceptional, with 583 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,741 litres with seats folded. The power liftgate and easy access to cargo space were highlights.

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

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas included the Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, with an 8-inch display standard and a 10.25-inch display on higher trims. The Trendline had a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless connectivity, and Car-Net services. The user experience had some drawbacks, with a slow-loading system and cumbersome radio tuning. Voice recognition was hit-and-miss, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were recommended for navigation.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating. It came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and a rear camera mirror, though advanced driving assist technologies were not available.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas offered a comprehensive list of safety features, including automatic post-collision braking, Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. However, the Lane Assist technology had issues with old construction markings, and crash-test ratings were decent but not class-leading.