- Volkswagen unveiled refreshed 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs at the 2023 Chicago auto show.
- The five- and seven-seater crossovers have been given a styling makeover that includes updated exterior designs, new wheels, and a more upscale cabin.
- Gone is the optional 3.6-liter V-6 engine. In its place is a 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which will be the only powertrain available.
Volkswagen’s three-row Atlas SUV has been refreshed before. It debuted for the 2018 model year and was given a light restyling in 2021 to align its appearance with the two-row Atlas Cross Sport that bowed for the 2020 model year. But this time around, VW’s designers have used a much heavier hand in updating the company’s largest SUV.
Check the ‘fit. Both the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport wear more modern looks, with updated grilles, C-shaped headlamps, and full-width taillamps. All but the base models come with an illuminated front VW logo and a light bar that stretches across the top of the grille. New wheel designs—in sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches—grace all four corners of the SUV, and a larger rear spoiler has been added to help give the Atlas a more swept-back roofline.
But bigger changes await inside, where Volkswagen has improved the passenger experience with nicer materials and more convenience features. The dashboard and center console are wrapped in faux-leather upholstery, and wide swaths of decorative plastic or wood trim extend all the way onto the door panels. A new ambient lighting system is added to the options sheet, including a cool backlit portion of the dashboard.
A larger 12.0-inch infotainment display is standard across the lineup, and all models also come with a 10.3-inch digital gauge display; a head-up display is optional. The infotainment system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and all Atlases feature a wireless smartphone charging pad and at least six fast-charging USB-C ports.
Climate Control by Voice
A heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and a height-adjustable passenger seat are all standard now. And the automatic climate control system is voice activated, a feature that surely makes for great Super Bowl commercial fodder, but that has proven finicky and cringe-inducing in other vehicles with similar functionality.
While the outgoing models were available with either a 235-hp turbo four or a 276-hp 3.6-liter V-6, the 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport can be had with just one engine: a new 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four. Front-wheel drive is still standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims.
While the EPA has yet to weigh in on the turbo four’s fuel efficiency, VW says it should be improved over the outgoing model. Towing capacity is unchanged and the Atlas is rated to pull up to 5000 pounds.
On Sale Later in the Year
Volkswagen says the handsome 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will go on sale in the third quarter of 2023, but hasn’t announced pricing just yet. Given the upgrades, we’d reckon a slightly increased base price from the 2023 Atlas Cross Sport’s $35,755 entry price. The same goes for the three-row Atlas, which should start a bit higher than the 2023 model’s $36,455.
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