2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was introduced as a smaller sibling to the anticipated Bronco, capturing some of the rugged styling cues of its larger counterpart. It was designed as a unibody crossover, focusing more on everyday driving with the capability for weekend adventures. The Bronco Sport featured a modern retro aesthetic, reminiscent of Land Rover designs, with short front and rear overhangs for better off-road angles. Its exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with minimal Ford branding. The SUV offered various wheel options across its trims, enhancing both its look and off-road capability. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a rugged yet tasteful interior, with a unique design for HVAC vents and a well-placed 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, offering a step-up from cloth to leather seats and practical flooring options.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared much of its design with the regular Atlas but featured a lower roofline and a more aggressive rear hatch, giving it a crossover coupe-like appearance. However, the styling was a mix of SUV ruggedness and car-like features, with some elements like fake exhaust tips appearing tacky. The Cross Sport was shorter and lower than the seven-seat Atlas, maintaining the same wheelbase. It came standard with LED lighting and offered various wheel sizes across trims, with the R-Line adding sportier styling features. Inside, the Cross Sport had a minimalist design typical of VW, but the materials felt subpar, even in higher trims. The interior featured a mix of hard and shiny plastics, with dark colors that didn't create a welcoming feel. The flat-bottom steering wheel seemed out of place for a non-performance model.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options tied to its trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were equipped with a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition trims featured a more powerful 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. All models came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, along with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and decent ground clearance. On-road, it was a capable commuter, with the 2.0-liter engine better suited to its character.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport shared its powertrain options with the seven-seat Atlas, offering a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine and an optional 3.6-liter VR6 engine. The turbo-four produced 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the VR6 delivered 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 engine provided lively acceleration from a stop but lacked midrange power. The ride quality was among the worst for a modern crossover, with noticeable bumps and noise. The Cross Sport's handling was truck-like, with significant body roll and loose steering. The VR6 models had a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, while the four-cylinder models were rated for 2,000 pounds. AWD versions featured Active Control with multiple drive modes and 8 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was designed with active buyers in mind, offering features like cargo space engineered to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford provided a catalog of over 100 accessories for transporting outdoor gear. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle could tow up to 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine. The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table and other features. The front cabin offered ample storage compartments, though visibility issues were noted for taller drivers.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered competitive interior space for a two-row midsize crossover, with top-class front and rear legroom. However, rear headroom was limited due to the sloping roofline. Cargo space was above average, with 40.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 77.8 cubic feet with them folded. The second-row seats featured a 60/40 split-fold and a 14-degree recline. The interior included various storage solutions, such as cargo nets, cupholders, and a large center console. SE with Technology trims added a foot-activated tailgate.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured the latest infotainment systems, with an 8-inch touchscreen running SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. Higher trims offered a Bang & Olufsen sound system and a 360-degree camera. The terrain management system included multiple G.O.A.T. modes, with additional off-road tech like trail control. Intelligent access with push-button start was available on all trims except the Base, and higher trims featured a digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered two infotainment systems. The base S trim had the MIB2 system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while other trims featured the new MIB3 system with an 8-inch screen. Both systems supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with MIB3 adding multiple-device pairing and updated voice recognition. Higher trims included the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit and a Fender premium audio system. The MIB3 system was slow to load, and the voice recognition required specific prompts. The Digital Cockpit allowed for customizable displays, and analog controls were available for basic functions.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including features like pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was available on most trims, adding adaptive cruise control and other advanced features. All models had AWD and a terrain management system with built-in safety features. Crash ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received top scores in IIHS crash tests, with mixed headlight ratings. NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring, with optional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. Unique to VW were the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Intelligent Crash Response System. New for 2021 were Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, available on higher trims.