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Pros
- Spacious second row
- Massive cargo area
- Wide range of trim levels and options
- Sleek, coupe-inspired styling
Cons
- Higher trim levels get pricey
- So-so fuel economy
- Could use more styling differentiation from the Atlas
What’s new this year?
The 2020 Atlas Cross Sport is an all-new 2-row midsize SUV, based on the 3-row Atlas
People also ask:
What is the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is the first 2-row midsize SUV from Volkswagen VWAGY, -14.27% . It’s based on the same platform as the 3-row midsize Atlas SUV. While the Atlas can seat up to seven people, the Atlas Cross Sport is a 5-passenger SUV that offers a large cargo area instead of the third row. The Cross Sport is smaller, sits lower and has a lower, coupe-like roofline. That combination gives the all-new Atlas Cross Sport a sportier look.
How much is the VW Atlas Cross Sport?
The base price of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is $31,565 (including $1,020 destination charges). Trim levels start with the S, which comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. If you want all-wheel drive, that brings the cost to $33,465. Additional trim levels include SE, SEL and SEL Premium, plus Tech and R-Line models, for a total of eight models. There’s also a V6 engine available, starting with SE w/Tech models. All prices include a $1,020 destination charge.
Volkswagen The VW Atlas Cross Sport
Does it come with all-wheel drive?
Yes. The base model S comes standard with front-wheel drive, but for an additional $1,900, you can add all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available with both engines and all trim levels, and comes standard on SEL Premium models.
How much can you tow with the Atlas Cross Sport?
Whether you choose the 4- or 6-cylinder engine, you can tow 2,000 pounds with the Atlas Cross Sport. If you get the V6 model with the tow package, towing capacity goes up to 5,000 pounds.
Where are 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sports built?
The Cross Sport is built in America, at Volkswagen’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
KBB editors’ overview
With the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, VW enters the 2-row midsize SUV segment for the first time. This SUV is built on the same strong foundation as the 3-row Volkswagen Atlas, but the Cross Sport adds more to the equation. There’s the sportier styling, thanks to its raked, coupe-inspired roofline. Also, in addition to the large cargo area that the 2-row layout allows, the Atlas Cross Sport offers significantly more legroom in the second row than its 3-row sibling. And the Cross Sport’s lighter weight and smaller dimensions give this SUV a sporty demeanor.
All of that, plus a range of advanced safety features and choice of engines and trim levels make it a strong competitor for the Honda Passport, Ford Edge and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Driving the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Even though the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is based on the Atlas, it doesn’t feel the same on the road. Its lighter weight and slightly smaller dimensions give the Cross Sport a sportier personality. The Atlas Cross Sport comes with a choice of engines: a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 3.6-liter V6.
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The 2.0-liter is surprisingly responsive, accelerating quickly from a stop with little to no turbo lag. It’s clear it is the less powerful engine in the lineup, and it’s noticeably noisier and coarser than the V6 under hard acceleration, but the 8-speed automatic transmission’s quick reaction time gives this engine a sprightly demeanor. Most drivers will find this engine plenty satisfying, and we don’t think you’ll need to spend the extra money for the V6, unless you plan on towing.
However, it doesn’t have the same punch as the V6, which gets going right off the bat and offers terrific power throughout the powerband. Its biggest weaknesses are worse fuel economy than the 4-cylinder, the higher cost to buy the Cross Sport with this engine, and slow transmission response when downshifting.
Whichever engine you choose, the ride is comfortable and compliant, and handling is good for a vehicle this size. Steering feel is a little light and artificial, but low-speed assist is excellent. We were also impressed with the Cross Sport’s relatively tight turning radius. If you want to tighten up the Cross Sport’s throttle response, steering feel, and the speed of transmission shifts, selecting Sport Mode makes driving this VW a lot more fun.
Favorite features
Spacious Interior: Not only can the cargo area carry up to 40.3 cubic feet of gear behind the second row, but that row is quite spacious, too, with almost 3 inches more legroom than in the 3-row Atlas. Fold down the second row and the cargo area becomes a cavernous 77.8 cubic feet.
Sport Mode: For day-to-day driving around town, the driving dynamics are relaxed and well-composed. But put the Atlas Cross Sport in Sport mode, and steering, throttle and transmission response sharpen up nicely.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport interior
The Atlas Cross Sport’s interior reflects some of the best advantages of getting a midsize SUV with two rows instead of three: People who don’t need that extra row for passengers benefit from a flat, gap-free cargo floor, plus a huge cargo area, without the need to fold down seats.
Also see: 8 new luxury SUVs for under $50,000
But Volkswagen’s 2-row midsize has an extra bonus, in the form of a roomier second row. Even though the Atlas has a spacious second row that can slide fore and aft to accommodate passengers in the third row, the Cross Sport instead adds nearly 3 inches of extra legroom in the second row. There’s generous headroom in both rows, despite the sloping roofline.
Interior design is simple yet elegant, with high-quality materials and attractive, crisp design. Controls are easy to reach, and features like the Digital Cockpit (VW’s optional fully digital gauge cluster) add an element of upscale tech. The coupe-like roof does cut into the cargo area a little, but there’s still 40.3 cubic feet of cargo area behind the second row, which expands to an impressive maximum of 77.8 cubic feet, which is about the same as the Honda Passport.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport exterior
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport bears more than a slight similarity to its 3-row kin the Atlas. But look a little longer and you’ll notice some distinct differences. Both SUVs have the same length wheelbase, yet the Cross Sport is 5.2 inches shorter and sits 2.2 inches lower than the Atlas, giving the Cross Sport tidier dimensions and a sportier profile.
Unlike the Atlas’s flat roofline, the Cross Sport’s roof slopes downward, for a sportier, more youthful look. It also helps contribute to the vehicle’s impressive aerodynamics. Up front, there’s a sharp 3-bar grille and LED lighting, and silver roof rails are standard on every model. Eighteen-inch wheels come standard, but 20- and 21-inch alloys are available on higher trim levels. There’s also LED lighting in back.
If you choose one of the R-Line models, the Atlas Cross Sport gets an R-Line exclusive front bumper with air intakes, a unique-to R-Line rear bumper with a black diffuser, side skirts, and R-Line badging. R-Line models are also the only way you can get 21-inch wheels.
Standard features
The base model of the Atlas Cross Sport, the S, comes nicely equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, as well as a solid list of safety features that includes forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitor and rear-traffic alert. It also comes with rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, power heated side mirrors, roof rails, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility.
Also standard are 18-inch wheels, six-speaker audio, and cloth manually-adjusted seats. A 6.5-inch infotainment touch screen comes standard, as do two USB ports. But you have to step up to an SE model to get keyless entry and push-button start, a power driver’s seat and a power liftgate.
Options
More features become available — and become standard equipment in some cases — as you move up the model line. The V-6 engine is offered starting with the SE w/Tech model. All-wheel drive is an option on all trim levels except the SEL Premium, where it’s standard. Twenty- and 21-inch wheels are available, as are power-folding side mirrors and a power liftgate with the Easy Open (foot motion) feature.
Interior amenities include leather seats, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled power front seats, and 2-zone climate control. Cool tech is available, such as the Digital Cockpit, an 8-inch touch screen and 12-speaker Fender audio. Rounding out the optional safety features are lane-keep assist, park-distance control, adaptive cruise control, intelligent high beams, and an overhead-view camera. You can also get a panoramic sunroof as a stand-alone option. The R-Line also adds different bumpers, wheels and badges.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport engine
The Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with a 235-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, and with SE w/Tech models, a 276-horsepower V-6 is available. Both engines use an 8-speed automatic transmission, and buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive (FWD, AWD) with both engines.
All-wheel drive is optional on every trim level except the top-of-the-line SEL models, where AWD comes standard. The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system comes with modes that are designed to work in specific weather and terrain. All Cross Sport models come with Eco, Normal and Sport driving modes. With the 4-cylinder engine, the Cross Sport’s fuel-economy ratings are competitive, but with the V6, the VW’s fuel economy is nearly worst in class.
2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
- 235 horsepower @ 4,500 rpm
- 258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm
- EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/24 mpg (FWD), 18/23 mpg (AWD)
3.6-liter V-6
- 276 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
- 266 lb-ft of torque @ 2,750 rpm
- EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/23 mpg (FWD), 16/22 mpg (AWD)
How much does it cost?
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is $31,565 (including $1,020 destination charges). Trim levels start with the S, which comes with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. If you want all-wheel drive, that brings the cost to $33,465. Additional trim levels include SE, SEL and SEL Premium, plus Tech and R-Line models, for a total of eight models. There’s also a V6 engine available, starting with SE w/Tech models. You can expect a fully loaded Atlas Cross Sport in the top-line SEL Premium to cost a hair over $50,000. All prices include a $1,020 destination charge.
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Keep in mind that the R-Line models add only styling features, so if you don’t need those, you can save some money by looking at other trim levels instead. To get the most safety equipment and features without spending too much, we’d recommend looking at the Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Tech, with the 2.0-liter engine, which will run about $37,000 with FWD and $39,000 with AWD.
The Atlas Cross Sport’s base price is about the same as that of the Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Edge, but as you approach the higher trim levels, pricing isn’t as close. The Passport tops out at about $45,000, as does the Ford Edge, and the Grand Cherokee nears $60,000 before you get into the high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models.
While this model is too new for us to determine resale value, you can check out KBB.com’s Fair Purchase Price to see what other buyers in your area are paying for their new Atlas Cross Sport.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport S
- 235-horsepower engine
- LED headlights, taillights, daytime running lights
- Power heated side mirrors
- Cruise control
- Apple Car Play/Android Auto integration, 2 USB ports
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE
- 190-horsepower engine
- Keyless entry, push-button start
- Power driver’s seat, power liftgate
- Heated front seats
- 8.0-inch touch screen, five USB ports
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Tech
- 20-inch wheels
- Power liftgate w/Easy Open function
- Adaptive cruise control
- Park-distance control
- 235-horsepower engine available
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Tech R-Line
- 20-inch wheels
- Power liftgate w/Easy Open function
- Adaptive cruise control
- Park-distance control
- 235-horsepower engine available
- Stainless-steel pedal caps
- R-Line front and rear bumpers w/air intakes and diffuser
- R-Line badges
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL
- Heated steering wheel
- Power driver’s seat w/memory
- Power passenger seat
- Digital Cockpit
- High-beam control, traffic-jam assist, dynamic road-sign display
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line
- Heated steering wheel
- Power driver’s seat w/memory
- Power passenger seat
- Digital Cockpit
- High-beam control, traffic-jam assist, dynamic road-sign display
- 21-inch wheels
- Stainless-steel pedal caps
- R-Line front and rear bumpers w/air intakes and diffuser
- R-Line badges
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium
- 235-horsepower engine
- All-wheel drive
- Leather seating surfaces
- Heated, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats
- Overhead-view camera
Related: How to choose trim levels and options when buying a new car
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line
- 235-horsepower engine
- All-wheel drive
- Leather seating surfaces
- Heated, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats
- Overhead-view camera
- 21-inch wheels
- Stainless-steel pedal caps
- R-Line front and rear bumpers w/air intakes and diffuser
- R-Line badges
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport safety technology
Forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking and pedestrian detection (aka Front Assist): Standard equipment in every Atlas Cross Sport. In an ideal world, we shouldn’t be distracted drivers, but with a vehicle full of family, we need all the help we can get.
Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert: Again, standard throughout the Cross Sport range. See above about family distractions. Also, any help with blind spots is welcome.
Adaptive cruise control: This doesn’t become available until the SE w/Tech trim. For those long freeway stretches, this really does help. And it doesn’t take long to start trusting it.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
