2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received a styling refresh that included new front and rear bumpers, standard LED headlights and taillights, and a new grille. These changes added 2.4 inches to its length, giving it a more extroverted look compared to the 2020 model. The R-Line trim package added sportier-looking front and rear bumpers, as well as side skirts. Despite these updates, the Atlas still rode on the same MQB platform as before, which is used by most current VW models. The interior of the Atlas took a minimalist approach, with a standard seating configuration of seven seats across three rows. However, the material quality in the mid-level SE with Technology trim was below average, with cheap-feeling plastics and simulated wood and metal trim.

The 2022 GMC Terrain featured updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level included a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels, and AT4 badges, along with a steel skid plate for off-road protection. Our test vehicle came with extra-cost Ebony Twilight metallic paint and a black leather interior. The Terrain offered a range of trim levels, from the more affordable SLE and SLT to the luxurious Denali. However, the quality of materials and execution of details reflected its status as GMC’s entry-level model. The Terrain’s optional head-up display projected data onto a clear plastic panel, and the pushbutton transmission controls were not particularly intuitive to use.

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 rated at 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). The driving experience with the base 2.0-liter engine and AWD was underwhelming, with adequate acceleration but rough shifts. The Atlas had a truck-like handling and poor ride quality, with every pavement imperfection felt in the cabin. AWD models featured an Active Control system with different drive modes, but it did not improve on-road handling. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were rated to tow 2,000 pounds. Fuel economy for the four-cylinder models was 22 mpg combined with FWD and 21 mpg combined with AWD, while the VR6 models were rated at 19 mpg combined with FWD and 18 mpg combined with AWD.

The 2022 GMC Terrain was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine was no longer offered. The 1.5-liter engine could handle a trailer weighing up to 1,500 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the Terrain in the torque band once the SUV was rolling. The Terrain AT4 could be run in FWD mode to conserve fuel, switched to AWD mode when necessary, and had an Off-Road mode and Hill Descent Control system. The Terrain had a four-wheel independent suspension and offered 7.9 inches of ground clearance. The ride quality was good on pavement, but the Terrain AT4 struggled off-road, with the front end scraping the ground. The sport-terrain tires did not offer much grip when taking curves or corners with speed. The Terrain AT4’s powertrain met expectations with a fuel economy rating of 26 mpg, and we saw 26.2 mpg on the evaluation loop.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas was designed as a family hauler with three rows of seats. It offered 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The Atlas provided more third-row legroom than most competitors, but at the expense of second-row legroom, which was the worst among its competitive set. The second-row bench seat was uncomfortable with thin, flat cushions. Folding and raising the second- and third-row seats was straightforward, and third-row access was easy thanks to a sliding second-row bench. The Atlas had a tall driving position, but forward visibility was less than optimal. It featured up to five USB ports, an optional wireless charging pad, and up to 17 cupholders.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered a roomy interior for a compact crossover, with numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. Our Terrain AT4 included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was roomy with proper support, plenty of legroom, and softly padded front seatbacks. The Terrain had a rear USB charging port and various storage slots and spots throughout the interior. Cargo space measured 29.6 cubic feet behind the back seat, with a large storage bin underneath the trunk floor. Folding the rear seat down created 63.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and the front passenger seat could be folded down for longer items.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas came with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility. The base S trim level had a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, while other models had an 8-inch screen. Higher trim levels featured Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, a 10.3-inch reconfigurable digital display. The Atlas was set to receive VW’s new MIBIII infotainment system later in the 2021 model year, which added multi-phone pairing capability, improved voice recognition, and a redesigned navigation system. Our SE with Technology test car had the 8-inch screen without Digital Cockpit, and while the menus were easy to navigate, the displays were plain and text-heavy. The base six-speaker audio system sounded decent, and a 12-speaker Fender audio system was available on higher trim levels. The Atlas also featured a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot.

The 2022 GMC Terrain offered two different infotainment systems. The SLE trim had a 7-inch touchscreen display, while the SLT, AT4, and Denali trims came with a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen. Both systems included Bluetooth smartphone connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. Our test vehicle had the larger screen and the Infotainment Package II upgrade, which included connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a new head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Tire Fill Alert system. The remote engine starting system was also appreciated.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas received the top “good” rating in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, but with a “marginal” rating for child-seat anchors and mixed headlight ratings. The standard headlights were rated “marginal,” while the headlights on higher trim levels were rated “good.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published ratings for the 2021 Atlas, but the similar 2020 model received a five-star overall rating. Every 2021 Atlas trim level came with standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trim levels offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a traffic-jam assist feature. Later in the model year, the Atlas was set to receive Travel Assist and Emergency Assist on higher trim levels.

The 2022 GMC Terrain came with a GMC Pro Safety Package as standard equipment, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The GMC Pro Safety Plus Package was available on SLE, SLT, and AT4 trims and standard on Denali trim. It added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Terrain mostly “Good” crash-test scores, with a “Marginal” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness at the time of this review.