2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Road Test and Review

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Introduced in 2018, the mid-size Volkswagen Atlas offered generous space for seven passengers and near full-size SUV cargo space. The Atlas Cross Sport version with its sporty fastback “coupe” roofline and five-passenger seating was added in 2020. By 2023, the combined sales of Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport topped Volkswagen’s sales charts in the U.S.

For 2024, a mid-cycle refresh of both Atlas models endows the Atlas Cross Sport with a taller grille in gloss black that dips deeper into the revised front lower fascia, more prominent C-shaped LED running lamps, and new, smaller, vertically stacked LED headlamps. All but the base SE trim include a grille-topping light bar and an illuminated Volkswagen emblem. At the rear of the 2024 model, higher trims feature an illuminated VW emblem plus LED tail lamps that are connected via a full-width cross-car light bar.

Available trims this year include the SE, SE with Technology, both with a choice of front- or 4Motion all-wheel drive, and SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line with standard all-wheel drive. Including the $1,425 destination fee, prices range from $38,410 to $53,305. 

Roomy and Coupe-like

The generously proportioned Atlas Cross Sport is Volkswagen’s largest five-passenger crossover SUV. With just two rows of seats seating up to five and a steeper sloping coupe-like roof line, the Cross Sport sits more than 2 inches lower and spans 5.2 inches shorter than the regular-issue seven-passenger Atlas. The abbreviated length of the Cross Sport means it is easier to fit into the garage or tight parking spaces than the almost full-size three-row standard Atlas.

Compared to other mid-size two-row SUVs, the Atlas Cross Sport offers more rear seat legroom than the Chevrolet Blazer, Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Nissan Murano. When it comes to maximum cargo space, the Cross Sport again tops rivals such as the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Nissan Murano.

Practical considerations aside, the result is a bold and stylish mid-size five-passenger utility that offers a sporty look akin to SUV coupes from premium German brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but at a lower price. 

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

New 4-Cylinder Delivers V6-like Power

Looking a bit lost in the Atlas Cross Sport’s huge engine compartment is a new-for-2024 Evo4 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo, which brings improved low-end torque and acceleration. With 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque on tap, the new engine replaces both last year’s base 2.0-liter four-cylinder and optional 3.6-liter V6 powerplants, The new four-cylinder offers similar horsepower and torque as last year’s V6 but develops peak torque at just 1600 rpm, making for noticeably snappier around-town response while delivering much better fuel economy than the V6. 

EPA fuel economy estimates for combined city/highway driving remain at 23 mpg for front-drive models and 22 mpg with 4Motion all-wheel drive despite the improved performance with the same combined EPA fuel economy rating as the 2023 model’s base four-cylinder. In a week of driving over a mix of city, freeway, and rural two-lane highways, the Atlas Cross Sport test vehicle averaged an indicated 24.7 mpg.

As on last year’s model, the four-cylinder turbo is teamed with a seamless-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission. 4Motion all-wheel drive is a $1,900 option on SE and SE with Technology trims and standard with all other Cross Sport models. Properly equipped, the Atlas Cross Sport can tow up to 5,000 pounds. According to my stop watch, the roomy Volkswagen SUV can accelerate from rest to 60 mph in the low 7-second range. 

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Upscale Cabin Materials and Finishes Plus Improved Storage

Volkswagen upgraded both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport this year with richer-looking interior materials and textures. It moved away from what was previously a cabin decked out in durable but plain-looking hard plastic to one that’s markedly more upscale, with a healthy dose of soft-touch and wrapped surfaces that wouldn’t look out of place in a product from Volkswagen’s luxury division, Audi. This includes stitched and padded vinyl edges along the dash top and door armrest sides and knee-comforting, foam-backed sections of it along the sides of the newly reconfigured center console.

There is also a preponderance of Piano Black trim inside. This looks great when clean but is quick to collect dust and fingerprints. 

On SEL and higher trims, visual appeal is enhanced especially when driving at night with selectable 30-color ambient lighting accents on the dash and door trim.

Functionality gets a boost this year as well. A smaller, digital “stubby” short-throw shifter takes up less center console space, opening more room for stowage cubbies and a standard wireless phone charger up top as well as a large, floor-level shelf under the console that’s ideal for stashing a purse, tablet, or lunch bag within easy reach.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Laggy Screen and Challenging Switchgear

Taking a step back in user-friendliness, the new Atlas Cross Sport would make a less-than-optimal airport rental vehicle because its new switchgear and digital user interface are not intuitive to operate. What was easily handled in last year’s model with rotary knobs for climate control, audio volume, audio tuning, exterior lighting, and drive mode selection is now a distracting eyes-off-the-road exercise with tiny touch controls and sliders scattered across the dash, many of them unlit and lacking tactile feedback. Usability improves with familiarity, but there’s a lot of menu-diving to find and access some functions on the infotainment display and it’s still challenging to get the response you want on the first try, especially using the sliders under the infotainment display. At least the redundant audio volume and tuning controls on the steering wheel are easy to find.

That said, the standard, free-standing 12-inch infotainment display is bright and colorful. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as is access to the myriad Volkswagen Car-Net suite of connected services, some of which are free and others available by subscription. Voice control is standard, but the really advanced system that responds to natural language is an extra-cost service. Embedded navigation is included with SEL and higher trims and its maps can also be displayed on the standard, configurable 10.3-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen in front of the driver.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Comfortable and Supportive Front Buckets

The new Atlas Cross Sport’s front bucket seats are German-car firm, yet nicely contoured and comfortable for extended slogs behind the wheel. Their ample size accepts even the stoutest of body types, and generous bolstering helps deliver confidence-building lateral support for thighs, lower torsos, and shoulders in curves and on twisty sections of road. The seating position is elevated but not so much that shorter-statured passengers will need running boards to aid ingress and egress.

Heated and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel, are standard on all models. The base SE and SE with Technology get an eight-way power driver’s seat and a manual front passenger seat with height adjustment. SEL and higher trims bring full power adjustment for the passenger seat, driver’s seat memory, and upgrade from V-Tex leatherette to real leather seat coverings. Massaging front seats, however, are not available.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Adult-size Rear Seat

The rear seat offers spread-out room for three adults with generous headroom and legroom in all three positions thanks to a nearly flat rear floor with minimal driveshaft tunnel intrusion. The fold-flat rear bench seat reclines up to 14 degrees, handy when enjoying the Vitamin D provided by the panoramic power tilt-and-slide sunroof that’s standard in SEL and higher trims. The rear seat is split 60/40 for flexibility when usage calls for carrying a rear passenger or two along with extra space for long or bulky cargo. The seat offers a fold-down center armrest and a pair of cup holders as well. All but the base SE trims includes standard pull-up rear door window shades. On SEL and higher trims, the perforated leather-trimmed outboard seating positions are heated. Rear seat passengers get their own air vents as well.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cavernous Cargo Hold

Go ahead. Bring your love seat and mountain bikes. The five-passenger Atlas Cross Sport may have a sporty coupe-like flavor but it can still do what the longer, taller seven-passenger version of the Atlas can: stash cargo. There’s a generous 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a whopping 77.6 cubic feet of it with the rear seat folded flat.

Deep wells at the rear corners of the cargo compartment accommodate gallon size jugs for milk, juice, and such, keeping them from rolling around. Also, under the cargo floor in the spare tire well is a large space that can be used to stash small items such as a camera bag, purse, backpack, or tablet away from larcenous eyes.

On all but the base SE trim, the lift back door is power-operated with hands-free operation, both for opening and closing. 

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Extensive Array of Advanced Driver Assistance Tech

Staying competitive with a mid-size SUV segment packed with scores of established players, the 2024 Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with a long list of safety and driver-assistance tech. In addition to six airbags and a backup camera, this includes forward collision warning with automatic braking, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping, adaptive cruise control with lane centering, Emergency Assist which brings the SUV to a safe stop if the driver becomes incapacitated, and Travel Assist which is a hands-on semi-autonomous system combining adaptive cruise control and lane keeping.

The SEL test vehicle was also equipped with park distance control that beeps with greater intensity the closer the front or rear bumper gets to an obstacle, which was very helpful defining the edges of a large vehicle with a tall hood, a high belt line, and a steep sloping rear window, thick rear roof pillars, and tall rear seat headrests. Other helpful tech installed on the SEL Cross Sport included automatic high beams, a road sign display system for speed-limit signs, and predictive adaptive cruise control which worked with the SUV’s navigation system to slow down for curves.

A surround-view camera that gives an overhead view of the SUV and its surroundings would have been nice to have as well, but that bit of tech is currently limited to the range-topping SEL Premium R-Line only.

The 2024 Atlas Cross Sport rates a full five stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a 2024 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Cross Sport Dynamics

The Atlas Cross Sport is stable and quiet with comfortable ride motions on the highway. There is little wind or road noise at speed, although the SEL-trimmed test vehicle’s 20-inch all-season tires tended to thump over highway pavement seams. The big four-wheel disc brakes could offer crisper top-of-pedal response, but deliver impressive, Autobahn-quality
stopping power when called upon. It is agile around town with precise, light-effort steering. Pushed harder on back roads, the suspension can get a bit boundy, and the body leans a bit in hard turns. But for a comfortable, roomy vehicle with lots of space for five passengers and their duffel, the Atlas Cross Sport is easy to live with.

The Cross Sport SEL test vehicle comes standard with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. The weather was dry during my week with the vehicle in Arizona, but an hour-long trek along dirt trails provided an opportunity to try out the AWD system through sandy washes and over rocks and gravel. The system operates in front-wheel drive most of the time to save fuel, but can send up to 50 percent of the drive torque to the rear wheels as required to maintain
traction. 

4Motion adds an extra Offroad setting to the Cross Sport’s standard selectable Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow driving modes. In the Offroad setting, traction control limits power if slippage is detected, manual transmission shift control via steering wheel paddles is enabled, and Hill Descent Control is activated on steeper downgrades, among other enhancements. Long story short, the Cross Sport handled the off-pavement trails with zero fuss.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the word Sport attached to this version of the Volkswagen Atlas fool you. The Cross Sport is a competent cruiser and a sensible everyday driver, but it’s not a high-performance Teuton looking for apexes to clip. Its abbreviated length and fastback body shape add a note of stylish sportiness, but underneath it all, this is a mainstream midsize workhorse. Power under the hood is competitive in the segment but if you want to get a jump to the next stoplight, the Honda Passport or Jeep Grand Cherokee may be more satisfying.

Although its modern-looking switchgear is unnecessarily obtuse and challenging to navigate, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a sensible and roomy mid-size SUV with comfortable accommodations for adults in both the front and rear seats. Cargo space is generous. Materials have a sturdy look and feel and standard equipment such as heated and ventilated front seats, a wireless phone charger, and dual-zone automatic climate control is generous. Overall, it’s a broad-shouldered design with a stylish twist.

2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport ・ Photo by Ron Sessions