2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line
Class: Midsize Crossover
Color: Silver Mist Metallic
Seating Capacity: 5
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | A- |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. « Big » rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, « Tall » rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 269-horsepower 2.0-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged Four |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Miles driven: 201
Observed fuel economy: 25.8 mpg
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/26/22 (mpg city/highway/combined)
Snow Performance: N/A
Base price: $51,445 (not including $1350 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: N/A
Price as tested: $52,795
Quick Hits
The great: Spacious and premium-feeling cabin, excellent road manners
The good: Easy on the gas, plenty of power
The not so good: Slow and glitchy digital interface, too much engine noise
Tom Appel:
It may feel a little strange to contemplate the current Volkswagen U.S. lineup. American VW Showrooms are now comprised of five crossovers, and just three cars. Now, those three cars, the Golf, Jetta, and Arteon, are split by WV into a number of models, but they no longer account for much in terms of sales volume. And—sad news—the likable midsize Arteon is being killed off after the 2024 model year.
The reality is, if a carmaker is going to sell vehicles in the U.S., it needs a robust crossover lineup, and Volkswagen has done a decent job covering all the bases. The VW “truck” lineup starts with the small Taos, and includes the compact Tiguan, and the largish midsize Atlas. All are offered with AWD, and all are arguably styled in the European idiom. Also available is the compact ID.4 electric crossover, and the subject of today’s missive, the “tweener” Atlas Cross Sport.
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Excluding the ID.4, the Cross Sport is something of an odd duck categorically, slotting beneath the 3-row Atlas and above the compact Tiguan in the lineup. That said, there’s nothing odd about the Sport’s appeal. Compared to the standard Atlas, the 2-row Cross Sport is about 5 inches shorter in overall length, and weighs about 150 pounds less. It’s also priced about $1000 lower, as well.
This means that, if you don’t need the third seating row, you can enjoy all of the Atlas amenities in a slightly tidier package that is easier to park, a little quicker, a little more fuel efficient, costs less, and is arguably better looking. What’s not to love? And, as an added benefit, VW does not refer to the Cross Sport as a “coupe,” a term frustratingly applied by some brands to describe shorter, fastback version of their standard crossovers.
For 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport underwent minor cosmetic surgery, all for the better we’d argue, and had the two-drivetrain bill of fare trimmed to a single offering. The most significant update, however, comes inside. The cabin has been retrimmed as part of a luxury-themed makeover, and the new Atlases come off as legitimately premium, especially for the price.
The ’24 Cross Sport lineup starts with the entry-level SE (about $38,000), and ascends through SE with Technology ($42,000), SEL ($50,000), SEL R-Line ($51,000), and SEL Premium R-Line ($53,000). R-Line models include sporty design flourishes and unique front-end and grille treatments.
Possibly to the chagrin of some returning Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport shoppers, the super-smooth 3.6-liter V6 has been retired for 2024, replaced in all models by an up-power 2.0-turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, the “EVO4.”
Volkswagen code EA888, the new 4-cylinder engine produces a reported 269 horsepower, that’s substantially more than the previous generation four (235), and just shy of the retired V6 (276). And, per VW, the new four cranks out more torque than either of the old engines. Both Atlases come exclusively with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week with a Cross Sport in topline SEL Premium R-Line trim, in Silver Mist Metallic with Titan Black leather cabin trim. All told, including destination, our test vehicle came to $52,795. Sadly, as much as we appreciate the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, both suffer from a pair of issues we’d like to cover up front: The infotainment interface, and the powertrain.
First Spin: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport
First, the infotainment system is among the worst in the industry. The touchscreen is slow to respond to inputs, the menu system is confusing and illogically organized, and the information displayed regarding content being accessed via Bluetooth is usually incorrect and from a song or podcast previously played. It is confounding how bad this system is. That said, routing phone calls through the system works just fine, which is a bit of good news. And, despite the terrible interface, the Harman Kardon sound system is excellent, especially when tasked with reproducing the mid-century American jazz favored by this author.
As for the drivetrain, though it delivers plenty of useful power, the small 4-cylinder engine sounds as if its straining to keep up with driver demands. Frequent transmission shifts and the relatively loud engine combine for what is perceived by Consumer Guide editors to be “sporty,” or “unrefined”–there is no middle ground. As for this author, the engine noise and responsive transmission felt athletic, and added to the Cross Sport’s generally nimble character. You can read more about our take on the Atlas/Atlas Cross Sport infotainment system and drivetrain here.
Moving beyond those issues, the Atlas Cross Sport shines as a luxurious, sporty crossover with plenty of people space and a refined dynamic character. The cabin is roomy and well appointed, and entering an exiting either seating row is easy thanks to large door openings and an easy step-in.
And, say what you want about engine refinement, the new Atlas powertrain is easy on the gas. Over 200 miles of mostly city driving we averaged 25.8 mpg, excellent given the size of the vehicle and the available power.
Ultimately, the Atlas Cross Sport, even in top-trim SEL Premium R-Line guise, is a mixed bag. It looks and feels like a luxury vehicle, but the digital interface is frustratingly cranky, and the engine may sound and feel crude to some crossover shoppers. If the Atlas Cross Sport is on your test-drive short list, be sure and spend a healthy amount of time with the vehicle before committing to a purchase. If you can live with the Sport’s faults, there’s a lot here to love.
Coming Soon: 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe
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2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line Gallery
(Click below for enlarged images)
