2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

Name: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 19940 USD

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4MOTION 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+268

The 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.

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*Starting MSRP of $36,715 for a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas X Cross Sport SE 2.0L TSI® with 8-speed automatic transmission. Prices exclude destination, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport model years

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

byRyan ZumMallen^{Contributor
Ryan ZumMallen has worked in the automotive industry since 2012. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Ryan has also contributed to Road & Track, Autoweek, Trucks.com and more. In 2019, Ryan published his first book, Slow Car Fast, on the millennial generation and its unique take on modern car culture.}

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

Volkswagen's latest infotainment system is now standard on most trims
New driver aids available
Part of the Atlas Cross Sport first generation introduced for 2020

Overview

Now in its second year of existence, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is part of the automaker's growing portfolio of crossover SUVs. The Atlas Cross Sport is, as you can probably guess, related to the regular Atlas. The main difference between them is size: The Atlas is longer and has three rows of seating, while the Cross Sport is shorter and doesn't have a third row. It's also more stylish with its coupe-like sloping rear roofline.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 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 $3.89 per gallon for premium unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$218/mo

$223/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

With a focus on interior space and comfort, plus an eye toward splashy technology features on some trims, the Atlas Cross Sport is one of the more upscale offerings in its class. It won't do as much off-roading as the Honda Passport, Grand Cherokee and Subaru Outback. Instead, it's at home on tight urban streets or long sweeping roads thanks to a comfortable ride and impressive responsiveness when it comes to steering and handling. Interested? Check out the categories of our Expert Review to learn more.

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

8/10

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 minimal, so you and your passengers can hold a conversation without 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. Cross Sports with the 8-inch screen also have wireless capability, which means you can activate these integration systems without having to use a USB cord.

The Atlas Cross Sport comes with many advanced driver assist 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

8/10

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 in combined city/highway driving, 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

7/10

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 as 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 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?

While the tech-heavy higher trims are tempting, the SE with Technology model is our choice. Volkswagen packaged several desirable features including adaptive cruise control and parking sensors with pricing that's more to our liking for a midsize crossover. We would stick with the 2.0-liter turbo engine instead of the more costly V6 — that still leaves room to add all-wheel drive or a panoramic sunroof if you so choose.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models

The Atlas Cross Sport is a midsize crossover SUV with seating for up to five passengers. It comes in your choice of eight trim levels: S, SE, SE with Technology, SE with Technology R-Line, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium and SEL Premium R-Line. It's a somewhat confusing lineup so make sure you read through our descriptions below to help you understand what you're getting.

The Cross Sport offers two available engines: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (235 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) and a 3.6-liter V6 (276 hp, 266 lb-ft). Both are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available depending on the trim.

S
The base Atlas Cross Sport starts off with:

LED headlights
Power-adjustable, heated side mirrors
Roof rails
18-inch alloy wheels
6.5-inch touchscreen
Six-speaker sound system
App-Connect (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration)
Two USB ports
VW's Car-Net remote services

Standard safety features on all Atlas Cross Sport models include:

Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)

SE
Gains upgrades to technology and comfort such as:

Keyless entry and push-button start
Power liftgate
Simulated leather upholstery
8-inch touchscreen
Wireless connectivity for App-Connect
Five USB ports
Wireless charging pad
Voice-activated controls
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats

SE with Technology
This trim elevates several previous features and introduces some new ones:

V6 engine becomes available
20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
Remote start
Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Cross Sport and the car in front)
115-volt household-style power outlet
Power liftgate with hands-free operation
Front and rear parking sensors
Trailer hitch (optional on V6 FWD models, standard on V6 AWD)

SE with Technology R-Line
The first R-Line trim is notable mostly for its sporty design and includes the following:

V6 engine comes standard
Unique exterior styling

SEL
A more tech-savvy trim level that makes the Atlas Cross Sport a borderline luxury vehicle:

Adaptive front lighting (provides better illumination in curves)
Panoramic sunroof
Ambient interior lighting
Heated steering wheel
Digital instrument display
Integrated navigation system
Power-adjustable front passenger seat
Trailer hitch (standard on V6 models)

The SEL also comes with more advanced safety features, including:

Lane keeping assist (steers the Atlas Cross Sport back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot)
Road sign display (reads road signs such as speed limits and displays them to the driver)

SEL R-Line
Takes the features from the SEL and adds R-Line design:

R-Line exterior styling
21-inch alloy wheels

SEL Premium
Includes several optional features as standard and adds new ones too:

Standard all-wheel drive
20-inch wheels from SEL
Power-folding side mirrors with puddle lights
12-speaker Fender sound system
Leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Heated rear seats
Rear side window sunshades
Leather upholstery
Park assist (automatic steering system allowing the Atlas Cross Sport to fit into tight parallel parking spaces)
Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the Atlas Cross Sport and its surroundings for tight parking situations)

SEL Premium R-Line
The top-of-the-line Atlas Cross Sport is fully loaded:

V6 engine and all-wheel drive are standard
21-inch wheels from SEL R-Line

Build Your Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

At a Glance:

4 Colors
5 Trims
1 Package
$36,715*starting MSRP

Build & Price vw.com

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

5 (47%)

4 (17%)

3 (6%)

2 (11%)

1 (19%)

3.6

36 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

I got a Lemon

Amy Murphy, 08/14/2021

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I had my 2021 Cross Sport SE Premium 14 months before I traded it in. I love the Cross Sport, I miss it, but I think my particular vehicle was a lemon not necessarily all Cross Sports. I love driving it. It was comfortable, and I personally think it is the most gorgeous car on the road, but the issues... The first issue I had was the strut rattle. When I took it to the dealership, …

Mixed feelings

Tray, 09/18/2021

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I just bout an r-line Volkswagen cross sport atlas v6 with front wheel drive. I test drove both the 4 motion and front wheel drive but honestly for the large price increase I couldn’t justify the large price increase especially with the extra mark ups Volkswagen has added on top of the window sticker price tag due to the chip shortage. I ended up paying an extra 2400.00 on top of the … 43,000 window sticker tag price which I think is ludicrous. The color combination and looks of the interior of my vehicle are very unique and beautiful. The exterior is very Audi inspired. The cabin is the largest suv that I’ve ever sat foot into including the front seats , rear seats and especially the large trunk. People who are 6’5 and taller will have no problems at all with leg room when compared to any other suv on the market. If you need a large trunk for luggage the cross sport is very large in fact I cannot fully reach all of the trunk even at 6 feet tall. Some negatives are why make such a sporty vehicle design with such a horrible sluggish v6 engine. I test drove the v6 with 4 motion and the acceleration was even worse from a dead stop. My prior vehicle was a grand Cherokee v8 and a 2016 Kia cardenza v6 both which much stronger acceleration. The acceleration does greatly improve in sport mode at least which is the only way I drive this vehicle daily. The other biggest negative that I have is the horrible sound system for a 43,000 suv. It has no bass and the volume even at the max setting doesn’t compare at all to the Kia product or jeep products. The sound even on my r-line upgraded model was so bad that I literally just added an after market subwoofer with all new door speakers and amplifier. So for me to spend an additional $1,000.00 should help you to understand just how horrible the system is especially if you listen to rap music or heavy metal music or r&b. The ride in the vehicle is great especially considering that the vehicle doesn’t come with air suspension. The seats are very large and provide great comfort for all sizes including larger frame occupants. The entertainment console particular the wireless apple car play and wireless phone charging is a positive game changer. It’s so nice to have all the features mirroring from your phone to the vehicle without the clutter of phone cords. Believe me once you experience the wireless apple CarPlay you will never ever go back to the old cord method. The panoramic large sunroof is large and to my surprise is tinted to provide the right mix of sunlight into the cabin. One thing you will notice immediately is just how quiet this vehicle is. I have gotten out of the vehicle a few times and forgot that the vehicle was still running , thankfully the dashboard alerted me to turn off the ignition. Overall this is a lot that you get for the money regardless of whether you get the 7 seater atlas or the 5 seater cross sport atlas. I reviewed several vehicles from the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander , Toyota 4 runner , Kia telluride and non had the upscale looks and fee as the vw cross sport. I added the 5 year 150,000 bumper to bumper extended warranty since I drive around 30,000 miles a year just in case I run into any mechanical issues down the road. My prior vehicle was a 2018 jeep v8 grand Cherokee summit which was a wonderful vehicle even at 70,000 miles. So just to recap the highlights are great Audi inspired exterior views, great ride, largest in my opinion deep trunk space, most leg room in all rows vs anything priced under $60,000.00, great technology and safety features. The negatives are very sluggish v6 engine, and the worse sound system I’ve ever heard in my 23 years of driving. Even my old Buick’s from the 90s Honestly sounded better this.

Spacious Vehicle with Beautiful Unique Styling

Carlo, 05/28/2021

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I purchased this vehicle in November 2020 and I am very happy with my decision. I have the 2.0T AWD engine which drives very smooth and has enough power for driving around town. Great SUV for big and tall people or anyone would prefer a spacious cabin.

Love this car

ibb2002, 01/18/2021

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)

I got the top of the line model and I love it. The driving experience is luxurious and similar to Audi (which I normally buy/lease). The design of the car is very thoughtful and while the car is big, it drives small and relatively quick, note I do own the 3.6 V6 and didn’t test drive the smaller engine. The other car in the house is an Audi Q5 and I always choose to drive the VW Atlas …

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2021 Atlas Cross Sport Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$30,855
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$218/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	40.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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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
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
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
Good

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

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