2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review: New Face, Better Engine, Same Practicality

The Atlas Cross Sport suffers from many of my automotive pet peeves — but has some undeniable virtues as a family SUV.

volkswagen atlas cross sport from the front

Published August 31, 2023

Volkswagen has pivoted hard toward SUVs in America in recent years, and the segment now makes up 83 percent of its sales. The midsize Atlas — designed for, built by and sold to Americans — has become the brand’s most profitable vehicle. Most buyers prefer the traditional three-row model. But for those seeking something a smidgen sexier, VW also offers the Atlas Cross Sport, which has trendy coupe-like roofline, more aggressive styling and two rows instead of three.

VW refreshed the Atlas Cross Sport for the 2024 model year. It receives a more modern, LED-lit face and a new four-cylinder engine, standard across the lineup. I had the chance to test it twice, on the initial press launch in Upstate New York and using it at home for a week with my family in Southeast Michigan.

The Atlas Cross Sport irks me in conception as a Volkswagen enthusiast. But in practice, it was hard not to appreciate.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: What We Think

The Atlas Cross Sport contains many of my automotive pet peeves: sporty SUV roof, faux exhaust tips, vital functions on the touchscreen. It proliferates at the expense of some of my favorite cars. I’d love to fulminate against it, but I can’t.

The Atlas Cross Sport grew on me, especially after a week using it with kids. It offers a ton of space. It looks decently fancy. And it delivers a smooth, comfortable ride. And that — not precision German driving dynamics — is what American crossover buyers want. If not the best choice in a competitive midsize SUV class, the VW Atlas Cross Sport is at the very least a solid option.

The Atlas Cross Sport isn’t any sportier than an Atlas

The Atlas Cross Sport looks sportier than the Atlas, in a contrived way. It features a sloping roof, a faux quad exhaust and what looks like functional aero elements. But it’s not set up any differently than the standard Atlas apart from that roofline. And the Atlas is not particularly sporty for a midsize crossover.

The updated Atlas Cross Sport handles competently, and the steering is reasonably direct. But Sport Mode doesn’t do much beyond enhancing the noise and the graphics. The 7.5-second 0 to 60 mph time, while improved, is tepid. And when I did try to get zesty on backroads, a twitchy lane departure nanny curbed my enthusiasm.

But the Atlas Cross Sport remains super practical

Normally, that coupe SUV roof impinges on cargo space. But VW counters that in the Atlas Cross Sport by ditching the third row. The result is a cavernous, 40.3 cubic feet of space behind the second row — about as big of a cargo compartment as you’ll find in an SUV.

Pool gear? Strollers? Groceries? Sports equipment? I threw it all in at the same time, without a second thought. And when you’re a parent, the last thing you want is additional thinking.

And the standard 2.0-liter turbo engine is a major upgrade

The Atlas Cross Sport ditched its V6 for the sole choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine pushing out 269 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque. It’s not world-beating. It’s down seven horsepower from the V6. It sounds grainy when pushed. And it exhibits a bit of turbo lag. But it is smooth, linear and predictable when you press the throttle, which is a definite upgrade over the previous model.

The new standard inline-four is also more efficient than the outgoing V6, earning 23 mpg combined vs. 20 mpg. But that’s less efficient than hybrids offered by competitors.

The new VW digital cockpit disappoints

The Atlas cabin has a lot of space — so much horizontally that my arms didn’t naturally land on the armrests. It also feels premium-ish. But the new model upgrades to VW’s digital cockpit, which can be annoying. Haptic sliders in place of buttons or knobs make the temperature and volume controls tough to see and use while driving. The infotainment setup is also complex, and not particularly intuitive; my drive partner and I had to ask for help to adjust the fan.

The good thing is that unlike the Golf GTI, VW did not place haptic buttons (which are easy to inadvertently press) on the steering wheel.

What are some VW Atlas Cross Sport alternatives?

Three-row SUVs are hot right now. The large two-row segment is dwindling. But there are a few options offering similar sizes in two-row form at this price point.

The VW Atlas Cross Sport buyer could go body-on-frame with a Toyota 4Runner. Another large two-row option — for 2023 at least — could be the Hyundai Santa Fe, which offers multiple hybrid powertrains. The 2024 Santa Fe is going three-row. One might also throw a Jeep Grand Cherokee in base Laredo spec in there as an alternative. And the Honda Passport remains a compelling choice.