2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Ever since it replaced the pricey Touareg in 2018, the Volkswagen Atlas has been one of the company’s best-selling models. It’s that success, and German Automakers’ fondness for “crossover coupes” that spawned the Atlas Cross Sport, a sleeker and more cosmopolitan two-row version of the family-friendly three-row Atlas. It shares all of its mechanical pieces and most of its configuration options with the three-row version, but like the BMW X6 relative to the X5, it looks sportier. Unlike the space-sacrificing X6 though, it keeps the Atlas’ roomy back seat and cargo hold largely intact.

The 2023 Atlas Cross Sport is available in several configurations, including SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black and SEL Premium R-Line. The Cross Sport competes against a who’s-who of family SUVs, including the Buick Envision, Chevrolet Blazer, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda Passport. It’s not as plush as the Envision or Santa Fe and lacks the trail-friendly capability of the Passport. That said, it’s undeniably stylish and offers both good tech and safety equipment. A major update will soon arrive for 2024 though, which might be worth waiting for.

At the bottom of the lineup is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while an optional 3.6-liter V6 produces 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Neither of these powertrain options are particularly energetic, and neither delivers all that much “sport” to this Cross. The four-cylinder does fine around town, but its fizz fizzles at highway speeds. The V6 is slightly better, but again, it’s still no hot rod and also uses plenty of fuel. The Atlas Cross Sport is a pleasant driver, but not a remarkable one.

While the Atlas Cross Sport looks fantastic on the outside, the inside is much closer to its three-row sibling, which is a mixed bag. Cabin finishes look and feel dated, and VW employed a bit too many hard plastics for the Atlas Cross Sport to feel properly deluxe. Despite that, it’s a nice place to spend time, and the front seats offer plenty of space and comfort. Tall people get lots of leg and head room in both rows and there’s good padding and support in all seating positions. The standard synthetic leather feels nice, and heated front seats come by default. 

The Atlas Cross Sport also keeps one of the three-row Atlas’ other good attributes: lots of cargo space. Behind the second row are 40.3 cubic-feet of cargo room, truly huge and only bested by the Passport among similar two-row SUVs. VW equips a too-small 6.5-inch touchscreen by default, but it does bundle Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An eight-inch display and 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster are available that bring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Volkswagen’s tech isn’t as flashy as others, but it’s reliable and easy to use while driving. 

Volkswagen also makes lots of good safety gear available. SEL and higher models bring a raft of active safety gear, the Atlas Cross Sport also takes after BMW in this area, essentially making the best gear optional by reserving it for higher trims. The base-model SE includes forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts, but nothing else. If the styling captivates you, the Atlas Sport Cross isn’t a terrible value, and model-for-model it actually costs a little less than the three-row Atlas, but it’s still pricier than alternatives from GM or Hyundai.

Performance: 11/15

Neither powertrain delivers the grunt needed to make the Atlas Cross Sport live up to the “sport” portion of its name. Both are fine at lower speeds, but they take too much effort to reach higher speeds and passing on the highway can feel like a chore, nor is the V6 notably faster than the base four, though it does have to work a little less hard. Though the eight-speed automatic transmission is a nice change from the sea of continuously variable units around, it can be slow to downshift. 

At the same time, the SUV offers decent handling and a smooth ride in most situations, and reasonably good traction with the available 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). The Atlas Cross Sport is front-wheel drive by default but SEL and higher trims get 4Motion standard.

Compared to rivals like the Passport, Santa Fe and Blazer, the Atlas Cross Sport feels less of an eager performer, though it matches up well against the Buick Envision. The available hybrid Santa Fe (and Kia Sorento) models improve fuel economy and off-the-line acceleration, and the Honda Passport’s standard V6 is more than muscular enough to get it moving with gusto. The Blazer is the athlete of this group in four- or six-cylinder form.

Equipped with the VR6, the Atlas Cross Sport’s maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds (it’s only 2,000 with the turbo four). 

That’s about what most midsize crossovers max out at, and it’s better than others, like the Nissan Murano’s 1,500 pounds and the Chevrolet Blazer’s 1,500 (standard engine) and 4,500 (optional V6). Still, it’s far behind the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s range of 6,000 to 7,200 (depending on the engine and number of wheels driven). Impressively, the Hyundai Santa Fe can tug up to 3,500 pounds, and the Honda Passport up to 5,000.

Fuel Economy: 8/15

With 4,300 pounds of weight to haul around in four-cylinder form, the Atlas Cross Sport just isn’t very fuel efficient, and the same is true of the three-row Atlas. With front-wheel drive, the Atlas Cross Sport returns 23 mpg combined (21 city, 25 highway), but it loses 1 mpg in every measure with AWD. The Blazer, Nissan Murano and Envision have better average fuel economy across their lineups, at 23 mpg, and with their available hybrids the Santa Fe and Sorento do much better. The Passport will do 24, but the Envision is about even with the Cross Sport at 21 and so is the (non plug-in hybrid) Grand Cherokee.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 8/15

The Atlas Cross Sport earned “Good” marks across the board in crash testing from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but it missed out on a Top Safety Pick with mixed crash prevention scores. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it a five-star overall rating. 

Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic emergency braking and forward collision warnings come standard, but Volkswagen’s other features, including adaptive cruise control with lane keeping, are optional or reserved for SEL and higher trims. The SE with the Technology package gets adaptive cruise but not some of the other systems included in Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive suite.

The IIHS updated its crash testing criteria for 2023 with harsher standards for the side-impact test. It now uses more force, and the shift knocked several previously-qualified vehicles off the Top Safety Pick list. The Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento performed admirably in the new tests, earning Top Safety Pick awards. The 2023 Passport earned mixed results in crash testing, including a “Marginal” score in the new side test.

Comfort & Room: 15/15

Though it’s down a row of seats from the standard Atlas, the Cross Sport’s two rows are comfortable and spacious, and because there’s no need to make way for the wayback, the Cross Sport’s second row is appreciably roomier than that of the Atlas. It’s advertised as a five-seater, and five people can legitimately ride in decent comfort. And there’s plenty of room for kids and kid seats. 

The front buckets are deep and supportive, and they offer good outward visibility. Second-row passengers have a little less headroom than in the regular Atlas (37.8 to 40.4 inches) but the inverse is true of legroom, with 40.6 inches in the Atlas Cross Sport to 37.6 in the three-row Atlas. Only the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have more. The Cross Sport’s back seat also has a more human-friendly shape and better support than many rivals. 

Infotainment: 11/15

With a 6.5-inch display standard, the Atlas Cross Sport is woefully under-equipped compared to its closest rivals. An eight-inch display, on the SE W/Technology and higher trims makes things considerably more tolerable, but the base screen is way behind the times and slated for replacement in 2024. Even so, Volkswagen’s infotainment software is responsive, and it runs well on both displays. The screens are bright and easy to view, and the easy interface makes the system less distracting to use when driving.

The Kia and Hyundai come with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard kit, and their software is even easier to use than VW’s. Honda equips the Passport with an eight-inch display, and its software is one of the simplest on the market today. 

Cargo Space & Storage: 15/15

With the back seats upright, the Atlas Cross Sport offers 40.3 cubic feet of space, a number that only the Honda Passport can match among similar two-row models (with 41.2 cubes). The hold expands to 77.8 with the seats folded flat, which just pips the Passport (77.7), the Sorento (75.5) and Santa Fe (72.1) but is quite a bit shy of the three-row Atlas (96.8). Still, the Cross Sport is 5.2 inches shorter than the three-row Atlas on the outside, which also makes it a little more maneuverable.

That’s way above average for the segment (the Blazer has only 64.2), and VW offers a hands-free power liftgate to make accessing the space even easier. The wide cargo floor and friendly ride height make loading and unloading a breeze, and it’s tall enough to accommodate larger items. 

Style & Design: 8/10

The Atlas Cross Sport makes up for its lack of three-row utility with a very attractive exterior design. VW nailed the proportions, avoiding what could’ve been an awkward shortening of a decent-looking three-row SUV. It’s got the right wheel sizes and stance, giving it a beefy, muscular look, and there’s just enough chrome to make it look fancy without going over the top. The same can’t be said inside, where the design is dated and materials somewhat cheap, but it’s not a bad place to spend time.

The latest Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento are both sleek and modern looking, inside and out, but not as memorable looking as the Cross Sport. They picked up their respective automakers’ signature front-end style, with unique grilles and lighting elements. The Passport recently got a rugged Trailsport trim that gives it a more hardcore off-road look, but it’s not a vehicle people buy for beauty.

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Worth it? Which Atlas Cross Sport is the Best Value? 

While most midsize popular-brand SUVs are family-focused three-rows, there’s a thriving crop of more specialized two-row “tweeners” out there at the Atlas Sport Cross is among the most stylish of them. We’d skip the base model SE ($35,755 including a  $1,295 destination fee) simply because of it skimpy equipment, but the front-drive SE W/Technology Package ($39,925) represents a reasonable compromise between equipment and value.

The midrange SEL trims ($45,525 to start, including destination) offer the best value and features without driving the price too far upward. That includes the IQ.Drive suite, 4Motion AWD, navigation, automatic high beams and upgraded infotainment systems. The SEL R-Line models, especially the Premium, add nicer materials and more gear, but they also sail over $50,000. At that price point, there are fancier choices with better performance.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport?

Insurance costs for the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are similar to or slightly lower than its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $2,115 for an Atlas Cross Sport SEL, though these numbers average all 50 states. That compares to about $2,121 for a Ford Explorer Timberline, $1,882 for the Honda Passport and $2,155 for a Nissan Murano and $2,310 for a Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.