© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
What Is It?
Up until 10 years ago, Volkswagen mainly sold passenger cars in America, with SUVs making up less than 10 percent of the company’s annual sales. This balance has basically reversed, with more than 80 percent of VW sales coming from SUVs, and leading that charge is the Atlas crossover. Volkswagen’s largest SUV, the 3-row Atlas arrived for the 2018 model year, followed in 2020 by the sleeker 2-row Atlas Cross Sport. For 2024, both variants get a significant update with a fresh exterior design, upgraded interior and new engine. Read on for in-depth deets on the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Designed for America
“The Atlas was the first modern Volkswagen designed, engineered, and produced specifically for American buyers, and since its debut, it has become a major player in the U.S. market,” said Pablo Di Si, president and CEO of Volkswagen of America. “The refreshed Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport continue to build on that success, with an elegant new interior and a sophisticated turbocharged engine that improves both performance and the driving experience,” noted Di Si.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
New Look
Both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport get fresh front-end styling for the 2024 model year that clearly separates the big SUV from the previous version. The grille is wider than before, with a stylish pattern and four bars that span its width. The grille gets flanked by new LED headlights with signature LED running lights that give the Atlas a unique look in the dark. Adding to this illuminated appearance is an LED lightbar that connects the lights, offering the appearance of a wide stance, as well as an illuminated VW logo at the center.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rear View
The back of the Atlas also has new styling with redesigned taillights that mimic the lights up front. A red light bar spans the Atlas’s tailgate, and like the front, the VW logo is lighted. The Atlas also gets the appearance of quad exhaust, but the outlets aren’t real — they’re show only.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Different Silhouettes
The silhouette of the Atlas Cross Sport is a bit sleeker than the standard Atlas, with a roofline that slopes at a steeper angle from the top of the windshield to a new rear spoiler at the top of the rear hatch. The rear window is angled on the Cross Sport and more traditional on the 3-row Atlas. Both variants get the new spoiler, which effectively extends the roofline for a sportier appearance for both versions. New wheels are available for all trim levels, with sizes ranging from 18 inches to 21 inches on top-level trims.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Model Lineup
Volkswagen offers the 2024 Atlas in multiple trim levels that range from the base-level SE with a starting price of $36,715 for the Cross Sport and $37,725 for the standard Atlas, to the top-level SEL-Premium R-Line that carries a price of $51,445 for Cross Sport and a sticker $1,000 higher for Atlas. All-wheel drive is optional for SE trims and standard for the rest of the lineup.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
New Peak Edition
For the 2024 model year, Volkswagen is offering the 3-row Atlas with a new trim level — the Peak Edition (not available on Cross Sport). This new Peak Edition comes with 4Motion all-wheel drive and gets a unique front fascia and silver underbody cladding that looks like a skidplate. The blacked-out grille features two chrome bars that intersect the illuminated VW logo. The mirrors, window surrounds and roof rack are all black, and the Atlas name is displayed in black chrome at the rear. Doors get a black and orange Peak Edition badge, and completing the rugged look are 18-inch black alloy wheels fitted with all-terrain tires.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Interior
The Peak Edition Atlas has a unique seat treatment featuring black leatherette with gray accents and orange stitching. The Peak Edition badge on the steering wheel matches the exterior badging. The doors and dashboard get trimmed in metallic black for a special look.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Under the Hood
The Atlas used to be offered with a choice of two engines; for the 2024 model year, the previous 4-cylinder and V6 are replaced by a new powerplant. A 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivers 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The new engine produces similar horsepower to the outgoing V6, and torque has increased by 28 percent. With the added torque, the new engine will move the Atlas to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds — not lightning fast, but almost one second quicker than the outgoing model.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Fuel Efficiency
in terms of fuel efficiency, both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport are rated identically by the U.S. EPA. The 2024 model is rated at 20 mpg city / 27 mpg highway / 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive variants drop by one mpg. The Atlas Peak Edition is heavier and has different tires, so its numbers are slightly lower at 18 mpg city / 24 mpg highway / 20 mpg combined. We drove the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line (with 4Motion all-wheel drive standard) on mostly back roads, and the trip computer did not quite reach the EPA rating, displaying only 16 mpg.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Inner Space
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas gets an extensive makeover in the cabin that features soft-touch materials for a more premium look. Leatherette trims the lower dash and center console with stylish contrasting stitching, and the door trim now flows into the dash, providing a spacious cabin feeling.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Storage
Thanks to Atlas’s shift-by-wire gear selector, Volkswagen was able to free up additional space in the center console, which now features a sizable storage area below the console that can easily handle a large bag or purse. The center console bin has additional space, as well as space ahead of the shifter containing a wireless charger and dual USB ports. The Atlas even has a USB port next to the rearview mirror — ideal for powering a dash cam or GoPro camera.
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Infotainment
Volkswagen upgrades the 2024 Atlas with its all-new 12-inch infotainment display, which is standard equipment on all trims. The new large screen is clear and has large icons that are easy to read and navigate. A static home button remains on the left, with seat climate settings and cabin temperature settings shown below. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and hookup is a breeze thanks to a wireless connection. Setting up Android Auto is simple, and it displays on the entire screen. Thirty colors of ambient lighting are available, and the chosen color also becomes the theme for the infotainment system.
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No Buttons
The latest trend in new cars is to eliminate physical controls, instead relying on the touchscreen, voice interface and the occasional soft-touch button. Volkswagen has fully embraced this trend in the updated Atlas. At the base of the display screen, soft-touch controls adjust cabin temperature and there is a slider for volume control, but neither is very easy to use. On multiple occasions we raised the temperature rather than lowering, since it is difficult to tell exactly where to place a finger on the controls, and the volume slider is challenging to operate even when the vehicle is stopped. Both climate and audio functions require accessing a sub-menu — more effort than should be required to operate these oft-used features.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Driver Display
Adding to the modern, clean design of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is a new 10.25-inch driver display that is completely configurable for a range of information. The display can even be set to show the navigation map on the full screen with the speedometer overlayed on top. An optional head-up display can project speedometer and navigation instructions, even when directions are coming from Google Maps in Android Auto.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Front Seats
The front seats in the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas are both stylish and comfortable, with decent bolstering and adequate padding. During our press drive we spent time in the top-level SEL R-Line Premium, which features leather-trimmed seats with a new diamond pattern and a contrasting underlying color, giving the cabin a high-end look. Seats feature heating and ventilation as standard equipment, and they’re very comfortable, even after spending all day behind the wheel.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Second Row
The second row of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is available with a choice of a split-folding bench seat or dual captain’s chairs (the captain’s chairs are not an option on the Atlas Cross Sport). Rear-seat occupants will find comfortable surroundings with either seating configuration, enjoying plenty of legroom and headroom. Typically the case, the middle seating position is stiff and legroom is limited because of a center console that juts into the rear seat space. Dual USB ports and rear-seat climate controls offer a degree of comfort to those in the back seat.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Third Row
Passengers relegated to the rear-most row in the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas will be pleased to find a reasonable level of legroom and headroom, so the space doesn’t feel cramped. Access is easy; the second row folds and slides out of the way with a single release. The second-row seats can also slide forward to provide additional space for those in the third row. Dual USB ports and additional storage nooks further improve the space.
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Cargo Space
The VW Atlas offers a decent amount of cargo space, with just over 20 cubic feet behind the third row, which is enough for a few small bags. Folding the third row is easily accomplished with the pull of a strap, which increases space to 55 cubic feet. With no third row installed, the Atlas Cross Sport maximizes cargo space at 40 cubic feet behind its second row.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
On the Road
The updated Atlas gets more torque from its new turbocharged engine than the previous version, but it still feels sluggish off the line. Pulling into heavy traffic can be slightly stressful, since it takes much longer to get moving than expected. However, once underway the crossover’s performance improves dramatically. Punching the throttle from 40 mph provides a much better experience, with the transmission downshifting for strong acceleration. Passing vehicles on a two-lane road isn’t a problem for the Atlas.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Good Cruiser
As a family vehicle or daily driver, the Atlas works well. The cabin is quiet even at highway speeds, admitting very little road or wind noise. The ride is comfortable and the suspension does an excellent job absorbing road imperfections without feeling floaty or jouncy. The steering and brakes are commendable, but when pushing this big crossover on a twisty road, the vehicle’s mass really shows itself through considerable understeer. The Atlas is not a sporty vehicle, and it wasn’t designed to be; it serves its purpose as an excellent cargo and people hauler.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Advanced Safety
For the 2024 model year, Volkswagen has made IQ.Drive — the company’s suite of advanced safety features — standard on all Atlas versions. This includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Also standard is travel assist, which uses adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to provide a semi-autonomous driving system. Although travel assist will aid steering while maintaining a set distance from the vehicle ahead, it is not a hands-free system.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Right for You?
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is one of the larger 3-row crossovers available, providing a roomy cabin with notable utility. Although the Atlas wasn’t necessarily looking outdated, the updated exterior styling and fresh interior are certainly welcome changes, and these upgrades do make the vehicle more appealing. And even though there’s room for improvement around the infotainment interface, overall the Atlas has a premium vibe further enhanced by the comfortable, quiet, solid ride. Look for the new Atlas to continue its sales success in the VW lineup.
© Perry Stern, Automotive Content Experience
Rating: 8.5
Pros: Striking updated styling; comfortable interior; advanced safety features standard.
Cons: Challenging infotainment interface; slow acceleration from a stop; lane-keeping too aggressive.
Bottom Line: Model year updates should maintain Atlas’s popularity as a proper family-size crossover.
