2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2021 Hyundai Venue

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh, featuring new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille design. These changes extended the Atlas by 2.4 inches, giving it a more extroverted appearance compared to the previous model. The R-Line trim added sportier bumpers and side skirts, while the overall design maintained a boxy, high-riding utility vehicle look. Despite the cosmetic updates, the Atlas continued to ride on the same MQB platform, offering flexibility across VW's lineup. The interior followed a minimalist approach, with a standard seven-seat configuration and available second-row captain’s chairs. However, material quality was below average, with cheap plastics and simulated trim.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, on the other hand, boasted a stylish design that seemed timeless. Its upright stance, horizontal roofline, and steep tailgate gave it a unique presence. The grille was appropriately sized, and the Venue's name was prominently displayed at the back. The exterior updates for 2021 included 15-inch alloy wheels on the base SE trim and 17-inch alloys on the SEL and Denim trims. The top-line Denim trim stood out with its white roof and unique paint job. Inside, the Venue offered a modern look despite its low-cost build, with plenty of light entering the cabin. While the materials were inexpensive, the Venue managed to avoid feeling spartan.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter VR6 engine with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive. The driving experience with the base engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts. Handling was truck-like, and ride quality was poor, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. The Atlas had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds with the VR6 engine, while the four-cylinder engine was limited to 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with the four-cylinder engine rated at 22 mpg combined with FWD and slightly lower with AWD.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue featured a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. While the Venue's powertrain didn't offer thrilling performance, its lightweight design allowed for a sprightly feel in lower-speed areas. The Venue's slim weight of 2,612 pounds made it feel lively when pulling away from a stoplight. However, the lack of all-wheel drive and limited power made it less suitable for highway driving.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, as a three-row crossover, offered average passenger and cargo space for its segment, with 96.8 cubic feet behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. It provided more third-row legroom than most competitors but sacrificed second-row legroom, which was the worst among its peers. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable, with thin cushions. The Atlas featured a tall driving position, but forward visibility was less than optimal. It offered up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue, despite its compact size, provided ample headroom and legroom in the front seats. Storage space was decent, with a handy tray ahead of the gear selector and a small center console bin. The Venue's back seat was tighter, with limited legroom for adults. Cargo space was limited, with 18.7 cubic feet with the back seat in place and 31.9 cubic feet with it down. The Venue lagged behind competitors like the Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR, and Ford EcoSport in cargo capacity. However, it offered a little extra ground clearance compared to hatchbacks.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came equipped with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The base S trim featured a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels offered Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, replacing analog gauges with a 10.3-inch digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW’s new MIBIII infotainment system later in the model year, adding multi-phone pairing and improved voice recognition. A 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trims, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was new for 2021.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue impressed with its tech features, including an 8-inch touchscreen with high resolution and swipe functionality. The interface was designed for easy use, with physical buttons for quick access to media sources and settings. The Venue's infotainment system allowed for driver profiles and included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. The base SE trim was set to receive wireless CarPlay in the future, while the SEL and Denim trims offered upgraded infotainment systems.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received top "good" ratings in all IIHS crash tests, with a "marginal" rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA had not published ratings for the 2021 model, but the 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, with adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist available on higher trims. The Atlas was set to receive more advanced driver aids later in the model year.

The 2021 Hyundai Venue offered standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and driver-attention warning. The SEL and Denim trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Venue's safety features were seamlessly integrated, avoiding distracting alerts. In NHTSA crash tests, the Venue received four out of five stars for driver-side and passenger-side front collisions and rollover.