Overview
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport gets a thorough refresh for 2024 but it’s still little more than a conventional-looking Atlas SUV dressed in sporty athletic wear. The Cross Sport foregoes the standard Atlas’ third-row seating in favor of a sleeker, sloping roofline. Beyond the differences in styling and seating configuration, though, the two models are virtually identical. They offer the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission, and they’re both available in front- or all-wheel drive. While the Cross Sport’s muscular haunches and aggressive stance promise an athletic driving personality, in reality this big SUV is far happier cruising than spearing down two-lane roads. In isolation, the Cross Sport is a stylish, comfortable, and perfectly pleasant two-row SUV but it isn’t as compelling as alternatives such as the Kia Telluride , Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Honda Passport.
What’s New for 2024?
Volkswagen has given the Atlas Cross Sport a major refresh for its fifth model year. Changes include revised front and rear ends with updated headlights and taillights; an updated 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with more power; newly standard safety tech such as adaptive cruise with a lane-centering feature; and more upscale interior materials. The 2024 Atlas Cross Sport is expected to launch at the start of the third quarter of 2023.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Prior to the 2024 refresh, we recommended the base SE model as it offered the strongest value. This is even more true now that VW has graced the Atlas Cross Sport with more standard content, including heated and ventilated front seats; a heated steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles; a standard 12-inch infotainment display along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; wireless charging; and six USB-C ports with fast charging capability. This year, the V-6 engine has been dropped, and all Cross Sports are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. We’d tick the box for the factory-installed tow hitch and source a trail brake controller so that we could fully exploit the Cross Sport’s towing capability, which tops out at 5000 pounds.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For 2024 the Atlas Cross Sport gets a new turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that pumps out 34 more ponies than the previous in-line four-cylinder and 7 more pound-feet of torque than the previous VR6 six-cylinder engine for a total output of 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of twist. It’s also the only engine offered for 2024. We won’t know if the changes result in quicker acceleration times and livelier around-town performance until we run the refreshed Atlas Cross Sport through our instrumented testing regimen. With no significant changes to the chassis, we expect the Cross Sport’s road manners to remain competent and benign but far from exciting. Notably, towing capacity is still 5000 pounds, which is respectable for a unibody crossover that weighs less than 4500 pounds.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Since the 2024 Atlas Cross Sport has a new engine, we’ll have to run it on our 75-mph highway loop in order to assess its fuel economy. EPA ratings are not yet available, but Volkswagen says the new powertrain is more efficient than the engines it replaces. For more information about the Atlas Cross Sport’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2024 Atlas Cross Sport should provide occupants with more upscale interior ambiance than before, thanks to improved cabin materials. Newly standard features include heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering-wheel, tri-zone climate control, a leatherette-trimmed dash with soft-touch material, and adjustable ambient lighting. Heated rear seats are available for higher trims, and range-topping models will also feature fancy quilted leather seats with diamond stitching. It should still be as spacious as ever and offer the same 112 cubic-feet of passenger volume and 40 cubic-feet of cargo volume.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every Atlas Cross Sport is equipped with a configurable 10.3-inch digital display. It also is fitted out with a 12.0-inch infotainment display. Other standard gizmos include six USB-C ports with fast-charge capability, wireless charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. And if six USB ports aren’t enough for you, an optional eight-port configuration is also available. Beyond that, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot lets occupants remain connected to the internet while on the go.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Volkswagen is equipping all Atlas Cross Sports with its suite of IQ.Drive driver assistance tech, which provides features like lane-keep assist and forward-collision warning. Other safety features include automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, but if you want more advanced driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control or a head-up display, then you’ll have to go with one of the higher trim levels. For more information about the Atlas’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with forward-collision warning
- Standard adaptive cruise control with lane-centering
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
While most mainstream brands start with a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, Volkswagen offers a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper policy. The powertrain warranty falls behind others, which stretch to five or even 10 years. As some consolation, VW covers the first two years of scheduled maintenance.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles
