This up to date pair of SUVs gives much more for model loyalists however nonetheless is not on the prime of its class
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The Volkswagen Atlas debuted in 2018 as an oblique alternative for the Touareg within the US. It confirmed up as the primary VW ever particularly designed for the US market. At this time, roughly half a decade later, it’s getting its second main refresh and the marginally smaller Atlas Cross Sport is getting its first.
After spending a few days within the Catskills with each the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport, we’ve a greater understanding of what they’re and what they aren’t, so right here’s a full breakdown of what it is advisable to find out about them.
LED Lighting All over the place
For the common Atlas, that is the second time in about 5 years that Volkswagen has given it a facelift. Aesthetically, that’s an applicable time period for the outside too as that is an evolutionary step ahead relatively than a dramatic shift.
The entrance fascia will get new LED headlights and a redesigned bumper cowl. Most trim ranges can be found with an illuminated VW badge and an LED gentle bar on the entrance of the hood. The rear of the Atlas additionally will get LED lighting together with a heckblende strip connecting both sides with a single strip throughout the tailgate.
Learn: What Do You Need To Know About The 2024 VW Atlas And Atlas Cross Sport?
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The Atlas Cross Sport advantages from the identical changes in order that now each SUVs look virtually an identical. The truth is, with out them parked subsequent to at least one one other we wager many non-automotive fanatics would battle to inform them aside. The Atlas Cross Sport has a sharper rear roofline and sits decrease to the bottom than the Atlas, which is the one one of many two to supply a 3rd seating row. The 2 automobiles share a wheelbase and observe so the one adjustments come within the type of that further area.
Notably, the 2 fashions share the identical 5 foremost trim ranges: SE, SE with Expertise, SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL-Premium R-Line. The Atlas advantages from two new trims that it introduced final 12 months referred to as the Peak Version SE with Expertise, and the Peak Version SEL.
The Peak variations add all-terrain tires after which nothing greater than aesthetic adjustments to point further off-road readiness. For a deeper dive into every trim see our explainer right here. Pricing begins at $38,065 MSRP for the Atlas Cross Sport and at $39,075 MSRP for the bigger Atlas. VW says the Atlas is their most worthwhile mannequin in America.
Updating The Entrance Row
All the greatest adjustments for the 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport come underneath the sheet metallic. For example, there’s a model new dashboard with a bigger and extra prominently featured 12-inch infotainment system, extra soft-touch surfaces, and fewer plastic than earlier than. Each Atlas no matter trim stage additionally comes with a ten.25-inch digital gauge cluster. It’s extremely configurable and labored flawlessly for us. A heads-up show can be accessible as is a 30-color ambient inside lighting function.
The infotainment system was a little bit of a blended bag although. Gone are the bodily buttons and knobs of yesteryear. Now Atlas house owners will make do with a touchscreen and capacitive buttons solely. The truth is, even these capacitive buttons are stored to a stark minimal.
Need to change the fan pace whereas another person inputs navigation instructions? No. How about altering the radio station whereas another person activates the AC? Additionally no. Principally, the system permits one foremost perform at a time besides in uncommon circumstances the place it’ll show a number of capabilities.
The middle console additionally options an all-new design with shift-by-wire expertise that gives area for a brand new storage cubby beneath the higher stage of the console. Heated and ventilated entrance seats are customary throughout the lineup. Past these very particular adjustments, the remainder of the inside is sort of the identical because the outgoing mannequin.
The door playing cards function very barely totally different styling however don’t lose any of the good storage that was accessible within the 2023 mannequin. We particularly love the three cubby bins on the again doorways as there’s an area particularly for a drink, some stuff, after which a telephone. It’s value noting that it’s within the second row that the large variations between the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport begin to actually present up. For starters, the telephone holder within the door is greater within the Atlas however that’s solely the start of the additional area.
I’m 6 foot 6 and had no difficulty in anyway using round within the second row of the Atlas. The Atlas Cross Sport was one other story although. There may be half an inch much less headroom within the Cross Sport’s second row and I observed it right away as my head hit the roof. The seats are reclinable although and that fastened my drawback, albeit with no headroom to spare. Legroom is okay in each autos, and every one is accessible with heated second-row seats.
The captain’s chairs within the Atlas nonetheless include wonderful armrests they usually have two methods of folding so you may sandwich them and kick your toes up from the third row or you may merely have the entire seat kneel and slide ahead to offer easy accessibility to the third row. The third row itself has a number of good options like multi-sized cupholders and two USB-C ports. Have in mind although that each energy retailers are on the motive force’s aspect. Children don’t argue about who has entry to these, do they?
Behind the third row within the Atlas, you’ll get simply over 20 cubic toes of storage whereas the Atlas Cross Sport gives double that at 40.3. With the second- and third-row folded, the Atlas takes the lead with as much as 96.8 cubic toes whereas the smaller Cross Sport will get by with simply 77.8 cubic toes.
A Single Powertrain To Rule Them All
The opposite huge shift is underneath the hood within the type of a brand new era 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It makes 269 hp (198 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque and now serves as the one powertrain accessible in both Atlas. That’s 34 extra ponies (25 kW) than from the outgoing 2.0-liter and solely 7 fewer (5 kW) than within the now-gone VR6 V6.
This new engine sends that energy to both the entrance wheels or all 4 via an eight-speed automated gearbox. Regardless of shedding a little bit of top-end horsepower over the outdated V6, this new 2.0-liter engine truly makes a bit extra torque which in flip has helped the Atlas preserve its 5,000-pound towing capability. Although perhaps don’t attempt to tow the Airstreamer Caravel that they had hooked as much as the one under. Its GVWR is precisely 5,000 kilos so if my understanding is right, you’d must journey with precisely nothing in it.
Based on the EPA, the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport stand up to twenty mpg within the metropolis and 27 on the freeway when correctly geared up. That’s 23 mpg mixed, which is precisely 1 mpg higher than the outgoing 2.0-liter whereas additionally providing extra energy. In our testing, gas economic system figures for every Atlas variant noticed mixed scores of slightly below 20 mpg.
Piloting The Pilot Rival
Over the course of our time within the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, it felt completely ample. Physique roll was noticeable however not egregious. Volkswagen didn’t add any particular new suspension bits or tuning so when you’ve pushed the outdated Atlas this may really feel comparable. The shocks don’t take in bumps and bruises within the highway as properly as you would possibly discover in some rivals. As such, the second and third rows can get a bit bumpy at occasions.
The steering suggestions and pedal enter necessities are properly refined however under no circumstances athletic. The engine does a fantastic job of getting the Atlas as much as on a regular basis visitors speeds however passing on the freeway felt like critical labor. There’s merely no getting round the truth that this can be a car that weighs effectively in extra of two tons and that’s simply the two-row model. What is going to it really feel like when loaded down with a household of 5 and all of their stuff? What would the three-row Atlas really feel like with seven folks and their gear?
On the constructive aspect, the cabin in all fairness quiet save for a loud local weather management system and the visibility out of the entrance and thru the wing mirrors is nice. The transmission is easy and the motive force aids provide above-average help. The lane-keeping system can lose its means very simply however the adaptive cruise and ahead collision warning each function at a excessive stage that feels pure and intuitive.
Does It Compete?
On paper, the Atlas appears similar to the Honda Pilot. It makes barely much less horsepower however extra torque. The Peak Version doesn’t match the off-road adjustments to the Pilot TrailSport however the Atlas does really feel nicer inside. And eventually, it gives a bit extra restricted guarantee protection however a bit much less powertrain protection. That final level is vital too as a result of there’s no option to know simply how dependable this new powertrain or the remainder of the automobile will probably be.
For instance, the 2021 Honda Pilot at the moment has been topic to 6 remembers and 106 complaints with the NHTSA. The 2021 VW Atlas has 185 complaints and a whopping 16 remembers already. That’s under no circumstances an ideal or scientific measure but it surely’s indicative of an actual long-term issue for these cross-shopping these autos.
Take a broader look across the section and different rivals appear to supply different aspects that the Atlas is lacking as effectively. The Mazda CX-9 drives higher and is as good if not nicer on the within. We have now little doubt that the all-new CX-90 will elevate that bar even greater. The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L each provide extra accessible energy and critical off-road functionality. Lastly, the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade each off equally good non-minivan minivan experiences with way more guarantee protection.
It’s Advantageous
As a sum of its components, the up to date Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport look like two SUVs that merely goal to be good, not wonderful. That’s not a knock to the workforce that made these updates both. However, since that is VW’s most worthwhile car within the USA, somebody might argue that VW might use a few of that juicy revenue in direction of crafting a extra engaging providing with extra efficiency, higher supplies, or extra off-road functionality.
Don’t get us fallacious concerning the Atlas. This can be a first rate SUV. It drives completely fantastic. It appears completely okay. The inside is an actual step ahead, and the outside lighting updates are good too. On the identical time, we are able to’t image this factor actually snagging too many gross sales from manufacturers like Kia, Hyundai, Jeep, and Mazda as every of them provide extra worth for cash. On the identical time, VW followers will love these updates and sure be prepared to lose a little bit of that worth per greenback to stay loyal to the model. It’s a Volkswagen factor… these of us who don’t get it don’t have to know.