Used 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

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 wide 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.

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.

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.

We recently took a V6 SEL model on a 1,000-mile trip from Orange County to Salt Lake and back. The V6 was responsive and returned good fuel economy numbers for a vehicle this size, averaging just over 26 mpg. The basic roominess of the 3-row Atlas is retained in the 2-row layout and while the Cross Sport has a sleek coupe-like roofline, rear cargo space is still generous and easily accommodated our luggage as well as some pottery we acquired along the way.

However, the Atlas Cross Sport’s driver assists proved to be a bit much. The lane-keeping assist would occasionally tell us to put our hands back on the wheel and take over steering even when we had our hands on the wheel and were steering with few corrections. The same is true for the gentle nudge back into the lane in lane-change maneuvers when we had the turn signal activated. It also seemed to hunt for lane markers in places where none existed. Some more fine-tuning of the tech is in order. As is fine-tuning of the proximity sensor in the infotainment system. At times when reaching for the volume knob, the system would sense approaching fingers and change channels. Still, these are minor nits in a vehicle that was generally comfortable to drive over long distances.

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.

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 three 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.

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.

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 three 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.

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, 6-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.

More features become available — and become standard equipment in some cases — as you move up the model line. The V6 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.

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 V6 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 V6
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)