2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

Name: 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 21349 USD

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4MOTION 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+286

The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is one of the few non-luxury SUVs that has a sense of style. VW basically took a regular Atlas, yanked out the third-row seat and added a sleeker roofline. Acceleration is underwhelming, but otherwise the Cross Sport is a smart pick if you're looking for a five-seat SUV with ample accommodations.

Used Atlas Cross Sport for sale

$21,349 - $34,998

49 listings

See Cars for Online Purchase See All for Sale

Appraise This Car

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport model years

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport for Sale

2022
2021
2020

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Spacious interior with straightforward cabin design
Good combination of athletic handling and everyday comfort
Easy-to-use infotainment system

Cons

Not very quick to accelerate, even with the optional V6
Lower fuel economy than some competitors

What's new

All-new two-row midsize SUV based on the popular three-row Atlas
Introduces the first generation of the Atlas Cross Sport

Overview

Looking for an SUV that's roomy but also stylish? Volkswagen might just have what you need with its all-new 2020 Atlas Cross Sport. To make the Cross Sport, VW took its three-row Atlas SUV, ditched the third-row seating and added a more rakish roofline. It seats five but otherwise has the same general interior and engine lineup as the regular Atlas.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.02 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$225/mo

$232/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

The key differences between the Atlas and the Cross Sport, other than the lack of a third row, are design and overall length — the Cross Sport is 2.8 inches shorter. Rear passengers lose a bit of headroom, and the sloping rear hatch steals away some cargo capacity, but the Cross Sport retains most of the Atlas' practicality. It competes against other midsize five-passenger SUVs such as the Chevrolet Blazer, Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

8.0/10

How does the Atlas Cross Sport drive? The Cross Sport is a pleasant-driving midsize SUV. Its surprisingly agile handling and accurate steering belie the size of this large people-mover. Our test model had the V6 engine. It's responsive and it seems pretty strong at low speeds but starts to get winded at highway speeds. In our testing, our Cross Sport needed 8.4 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is more than a second slower than the Honda Passport. Braking performance in the Cross Sport, however, is smooth and confident.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Atlas Cross Sport? The Atlas Cross Sport trades a bit of comfort for its agility. It isn't rough-riding, but there are cushier SUVs in this class. On the other hand, it does feel more buttoned-down at higher cruise speeds. The front seats are decently comfortable but don't have a whole lot of extra adjustability or bolstering. The rear seatbacks recline a generous amount, which can help your rear passengers get comfortable on long trips.

The climate control system works effectively but is dual-zone only, so the rear passengers can't control what comes out of their vents. Wind and road noise on the highway is low, and you and your passengers can hold a conversation without too much trouble.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? This is where the Atlas Cross Sport rises above the fold. A perfect step-in height with wide squared-off doors makes climbing in and out effortless. Once inside, you'll be impressed by the roomy interior. Dimensionally, the Honda Passport and Cross Sport are pretty comparable, but the Atlas feels just incrementally roomier despite its slightly coupe-like rear roofline.

Upfront, the user interface looks a bit more sophisticated than most of the other class offerings yet remains pretty simple to use. Even the instrument cluster menu is simple to navigate and functionally useful. There's plenty of seat and steering-wheel adjustment range to suit a wide variety of drivers. The view outward is pretty expansive all around. The big side mirrors are good for giving you a clear view back, but their bulky housings can obstruct your vision a little when you need to make a turn. The rear window is a bit smaller than the one in the regular Atlas.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The base audio system in our midtrim SE w/Technology Atlas produced decent sound quality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration comes standard. There are two USB ports up front and two more charge-only USB ports in back for rear passengers. The Cross Sport's native voice controls are basic but work as long as you follow the VW's syntax prompts.

The Atlas Cross Sport comes with many advanced driving aids. Most work quite well, from the well-tuned adaptive cruise control that can slow to a complete stop to useful front and rear parking sensors. But we found the blind-spot monitoring system overly conservative, warning us of vehicles that were outside the impact zone.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? Cargo space behind the rear seats is a big 40.3 cubic feet, which is just shy of the Honda Passport's 41.2 cubic feet. We love all the space. But it lacks any helpful means for securing bags or cargo, and consequently this wide and flat area can end up being a roller derby for your groceries. Cargo liftover height is also a bit high. The 60/40-split folding seats lie mostly flat. The seatback releases are only accessible from the rear seating area and not from the cargo area.

The cupholders up front can accommodate 32-ounce bottles, and they have a good anti-tip design so smaller drinks won't go flopping around. The overall storage isn't quite as clever as Honda's, but it's better than most others. Got small kids? There's plenty of space for any child safety seat, though the anchors are surprisingly difficult to access behind the slits in the seatback. Unlike the Passport, there are only two sets of anchors.

The Atlas can tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, which is an average amount for a midsize crossover SUV.

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the all-wheel-drive Atlas Cross Sport gets 19 mpg combined (16 city/22 highway), which is thirstier than most V6 competitors. Our test vehicle managed 22.1 mpg on our highway-heavy 115-mile evaluation route, so at least it seems the EPA's numbers are realistic. You can get a turbocharged four-cylinder in the Atlas, but its fuel economy is also subpar relative to rivals.

Value

7.0/10

Is the Atlas Cross Sport a good value? The front of the cabin looks upscale in certain areas thanks to trim such as faux wood trim and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift. But other areas have really cheap-looking textured black plastic. It's not nearly as luxury-looking inside as something like the Honda Passport.

The Atlas Cross Sport is also a bit more expensive than many of its rivals. Some players such as the Honda Passport come standard with a V6 engine, while the Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback offer more features with their upgraded engines for the same price of the Cross Sport.

But VW does provide two years/20,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance, something most manufacturers in this class don't offer. The warranty coverage is four years/50,000 miles for both basic and powertrain coverage.

Wildcard

8.5/10

Volkswagen set out to make a slightly sleeker but still chiseled mass of an SUV, and it achieved that with the Atlas Cross Sport. It makes the Honda Passport look a bit doofy and the Chevrolet Blazer overstyled. It's a happy balance between the two. Is the Atlas Cross Sport fun to drive? Not really, but it does handle and stick to the road better than anything in the class.

Which Atlas Cross Sport does Edmunds recommend?

Our choice from the Atlas Cross Sport's significant range would be the SE with Technology. This midlevel trim will get you all of the Cross Sport's desirable features from the lower trim levels and adds on a few desirable extras, such as traffic-adaptive cruise control. Acceleration from the four-cylinder and V6 engines is similar, so there's little reason to pay more to get the V6.

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models

The 2020 Atlas Cross Sport is offered in a rather confusing array of trim levels. Essentially there are three main trim levels: S, SE and SEL. In addition to those, VW offers variants with the Technology, Premium and R-Line labels. Engine choices are either a 235-horsepower four-cylinder engine or a 276-hp V6. All-wheel drive (Volkswagen refers to it as 4Motion) is also an option. Feature highlights include:

S
Starts you off with:

18-inch wheels
LED headlights and taillights
Six-speaker sound system
6.5-inch touchscreen
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity

The S also comes with these safety features:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

SE
The SE adds a host of convenience features, including:

Keyless entry and ignition
Simulated leather upholstery
Heated front seats
8.0-inch touchscreen
Power liftgate

SE with Technology
Builds off the SE with:

Remote engine start
20-inch wheels
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Atlas and the car in front)
Parking sensors
Household-style power outlet in the second row

SEL
Adds a fair bit of standard equipment, including:

Adaptive headlights
Heated steering wheel
Digital instrument panel
Navigation system
Panoramic sunroof

SEL Premium
Adds extra luxury features such as:

Power-folding mirrors
Leather seating
Heated and ventilated front seats
Rear sunshades
Upgraded audio system

R-Line trims
Adds styling changes:

Specific black-accented bumpers
R-Line badging
Stainless steel pedal covers
SE with Technology gets unique 20-inch wheels
SEL and SEL Premium receive special 21-inch wheels

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

5 (64%)

4 (0%)

3 (12%)

2 (0%)

1 (24%)

3.8

25 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 25 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great SUV

Trident, 09/05/2020

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

Having been a Mercedes GL owner for years, it was a nice change to drive a vehicle that was half the price with more room than you can imagine. Thank god they finally built a SUV without the third row which gives you plenty of cargo space and extra room for the passengers in the back. With the R model you get 360 view camera's with over the top view. Heated/cooled seats and a very …

TOTAL SURPRISE - GR8 FOR TALL DRIVERS

TBH, 06/15/2020

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

Full disclosure - did copious research and this car wasn't even on my radar (I actually didn't know it existed) and came within literal minutes of buying a Hyundai Palisade when the dealer "forgot" 2000 worth of extra fees. Goodbye. Sat in a Lexus RX350 and it was tight but fine but still didn't feel comfortable. (I'm 6'5" 260) and it wasn't cheap by any means. Dejected I decided to …

Interior Space, Styling & Comfort Prevail!

C. Kreutzweiser, 07/17/2020

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

After researching SUVs for about year we decided on the Atlas Cross Sport. Here's the main reasons why, 1) Huge interior space (I'm 6'4" and have a tall family), 2) Rear legroom is 40.4" with rear heated seats, 3) We didn't need a 3 row, 4) Styling is unique & has a macho truck like appeal (people pause to look at this SUV), 5) Very quiet & smooth ride, super comfortable, 6) Engine has …

VW hit a homerun with this one!

Tyler , 10/19/2020

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

My wife and I have been shopping for a mid size SUV for the last 2-3 months. We test drove the new Toyota Highlander, Chevy Traverse, Subaru accent, and a Honda Pilot. Right away we both said the Chevy Traverse is out, and the Subaru accent. American cars are just lacking in so many way's these days. The cars do not feel tight, and in general feel cheap. The Subaru felt very top heavy, …

See all 25 reviews of the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Write a vehicle review

2020 Atlas Cross Sport Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,545
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$225/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	40.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Atlas Cross Sport models:

Blind-Spot Warning System: Alerts you with visual and audible warnings if other vehicles are in your blind spot.
Post-Collision Braking System: Applies the brakes once the airbags go off to reduce the possibility of further damage or injury after initial impact.
Lane Keeping Assist: Sounds an alert when you drift from your lane due to inattention and can automatically steer to help out.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.9%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Good
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

People who viewed this also viewed

Volkswagen Atlas
3.9 average Rating out of 11 reviews.
Starting at $37,995

See Volkswagen Atlas Inventory

Volkswagen Tiguan
4.8 average Rating out of 10 reviews.
Starting at $28,880

See Volkswagen Tiguan Inventory

Honda Passport
4.5 average Rating out of 6 reviews.
Starting at $41,900

See Honda Passport Inventory

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.02 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Atlas Cross Sport does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great SUV

TOTAL SURPRISE - GR8 FOR TALL DRIVERS

Interior Space, Styling & Comfort Prevail!

VW hit a homerun with this one!

2020 Atlas Cross Sport Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Consider these recommendations

Related Used 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Volkswagen

Research similar vehicles

Join Edmunds

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.02 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Atlas Cross Sport does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great SUV

TOTAL SURPRISE - GR8 FOR TALL DRIVERS

Interior Space, Styling & Comfort Prevail!

VW hit a homerun with this one!

2020 Atlas Cross Sport Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Consider these recommendations

Related Used 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Volkswagen

Research similar vehicles

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.02 per gallon for premium unleaded in Texas.}