Volkswagen’s Atlas Cross Sport Enhances Its Image for 2024

Three-row SUVs may not have quite the same parental stigma as minivans in our society, but they’re getting close. If you don’t have kids to cart around, you can always buy a three-row model and just keep the seats folded. But many of us are more image-conscious than that, so that’s where two-row SUVs like the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport come in.

Tweaks outside

Although it’s pretty much the same vehicle underneath, the Cross Sport undoubtedly looks cooler than the big-sibling Atlas—even more so for 2024 thanks to styling updates to the front and rear ends that emphasize its swoopier shape. We’ve compared the Cross Sport’s aggressive stance to that of the Audi Q8 and even the Lamborghini Urus’s before; while its overall look is more Big Lots than Balenciaga, it’s definitely distinctive, especially in the striking new Kingfisher Blue paint pictured here.

There’s not much to set the Cross Sport apart from the Atlas from behind the wheel, however. Although the Cross Sport is slightly smaller and weighs a tad less, it still drives big. It’s less sporty than competitors such as the Chevy Blazer and the Honda Passport, but it does have a comfortable ride and a quiet cabin.

Revised interior

Improving that cabin was a big focus for the 2024 refresh, and it looks and feels a lot nicer than the outgoing Atlas’s plasticky interior. The dashboard features more soft-touch materials, the upper trim levels are available with quilted leather seats, and there are metal and faux-carbon-fiber trim pieces that add visual interest to the center console and door panels. The rear seat remains huge and, despite the sloping roofline, there’s 40 cubic feet of space in the cargo area even with the seats up.

The downside to these upgraded interior environs is that VW has also integrated its annoying new infotainment system and touch-sensitive controls. We don’t like having to go into various screen menus to adjust things like the climate control and the driver-assistance systems, and we preferred the old setup with more physical knobs and buttons.

Just one engine choice

The Atlas Cross Sport was previously available with either a V-6 or a turbocharged four-cylinder, but a turbo 2.0-liter four is now the only option. VW has revised this engine in comparison to the old 235-hp 2.0T; the 2024 Atlas now has 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, slightly less power but more torque than the previous 3.6-liter V-6. VW still claims a towing capacity of 5000 pounds, and the turbo four moves the big Atlas Cross Sport more than adequately. The transmission downshifts promptly and the throttle response is good, so while the Cross Sport might not be the quickest SUV in the segment, it gets an appropriate amount of power for this kind of vehicle. Plus, the new four-cylinder has better fuel economy. It’s EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 mpg with the optional all-wheel-drive system.

If you like what the Atlas offers and don’t want the third row, you might as well save a bit of money and go for the Cross Sport, which starts at $38,065. Its character is similar to its big sibling, but it has its own vibe and still offers lots of space for rear-seat passengers and cargo. While its new touch-sensitive interfaces aren’t an improvement from before, the upgraded powertrain is, and the 2024 model looks better inside and out. We wouldn’t call it our favorite mid-size two-row SUV, but at least there’s no danger of it being mistaken for a minivan.