The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport carves out a unique space in the SUV market, blending style and practicality. For families and individuals prioritizing safety, understanding its performance in crash tests is crucial. This detailed analysis delves into the safety ratings of the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport, drawing from rigorous evaluations to provide a comprehensive overview of its protective capabilities.
This report consolidates findings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), offering insights into how the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport holds up in various simulated accident scenarios. We’ll explore its performance in small overlap front crashes, moderate overlap front impacts, side collisions, and more, providing you with the data needed to make informed decisions.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Assessment
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end hits a barrier. In the driver-side small overlap test, the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport demonstrated robust protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The “Good” rating across all categories indicates a strong structural performance and effective occupant protection. The vehicle maintained its structural integrity, and the driver dummy measurements suggest a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type.
The image above captures the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, illustrating the forces involved.
)
Post-crash analysis of the driver’s survival space, as shown in the image, confirms that the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport effectively protected the occupant compartment.
)
The frontal and side curtain airbags played a crucial role in safeguarding the driver’s head, preventing contact with hard surfaces, as depicted in this image.
)
Data from the crash test indicates a low risk of injuries to the legs and feet, further highlighting the comprehensive protection offered by the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
Extending the small overlap assessment to the passenger side, the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport continued to perform admirably.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/thigh | G |
| Driver injury measures – Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Again, a clean sweep of “Good” ratings demonstrates consistent safety performance for both driver and passenger in this challenging crash scenario.
)
This image captures the intense moment of impact during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport.
)
The structural integrity of the passenger compartment was maintained, ensuring good survival space for occupants, as evidenced in the post-crash image.
)
The airbags effectively deployed to protect the passenger’s head from injury, a critical safety feature highlighted in this image.
)
Similar to the driver’s side, the passenger side also showed a low risk of leg and foot injuries, reinforcing the vehicle’s overall safety design.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts the barrier. The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport achieved top marks in this assessment as well.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, left | G |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The “Good” rating across the board confirms the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport’s ability to protect occupants in a more common type of frontal collision.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated Assessments
Side impact crashes pose significant risks. The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport underwent both the original and updated side impact tests. In the updated, more stringent side test, it still achieved a “Good” overall rating, though with a “Marginal” rating for driver pelvis injury measures.
Side: Updated Test Ratings (Most Stringent)
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | M |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/neck | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
While mostly “Good,” the “Marginal” pelvis rating for the driver in the updated side test is worth noting. However, the vehicle still provides good protection overall in side impacts, especially for head and torso injuries.
)
This image shows the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport after the updated side crash test, highlighting the impact zone.
)
The image reveals the deployment of side airbags and the extent of damage to the occupant compartment after the updated side impact.
)
Greasepaint on the driver dummy indicates effective head protection from the side airbags during the crash.
)
Similarly, greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy shows the side airbag’s role in protecting the rear occupant’s head.
Head Restraints and Seats
Whiplash protection is also a key safety consideration. The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport’s head restraints and seats earned a “Good” rating in dynamic testing and geometry.
| Overall evaluation | G |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating suggests effective protection against whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
Headlight Performance
Visibility at night is crucial for accident prevention. Headlight ratings for the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport vary by trim level.
SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium, SEL Premium R-Line Trims:
| Overall rating | G |
These trims, equipped with LED projector headlights, achieved a “Good” rating, offering superior nighttime visibility.
S, SE, SE with Technology, SE with Technology R-Line Trims:
| Overall rating | M |
Other trims with LED projector headlights received a “Marginal” rating, indicating adequate but not optimal headlight performance.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Advanced safety features play a vital role in preventing accidents. The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport’s front crash prevention system earned a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios.
| Overall evaluation | Superior |
In tests, the system avoided collisions at both 12 mph and 25 mph, showcasing its effectiveness in preventing or mitigating front-end collisions with other vehicles.
For pedestrian detection in daylight conditions, the system received a “Basic” rating.
| Overall evaluation | Basic |
The system showed some effectiveness in pedestrian detection, particularly for crossing adults, but performance was less consistent in other scenarios, such as with crossing children or parallel adults.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use for child seat anchors is important for families. The 2021 Atlas Cross Sport received a “Marginal” rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall evaluation | M |
While the vehicle has LATCH hardware in multiple rear seating positions, some anchors were noted as being too deep in the seat and requiring excessive force to attach to.
Conclusion: 2021 Atlas Cross Sport Safety Performance
Overall, the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport demonstrates a strong safety profile, achieving mostly “Good” ratings in IIHS crash tests. It excels in front and side crash protection, providing robust occupant safety. Areas for potential improvement include pedestrian front crash prevention and child seat anchor ease of use. However, for those prioritizing crashworthiness, the 2021 Atlas Cross Sport stands as a safe and reliable SUV choice.
