2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

Name: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review
Brand: Volkswagen

Price Range: $19,998 - $44,474

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

The 2021 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 $37,190 for a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas 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.

Price & Payment

55 cars

$26,469 avg. price

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Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport model years

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport for Sale

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

by the Edmunds Experts

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

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Washington

$272/mo

$305/mo

Avg. Large SUV

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Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Owner Reviews

3.6

37 reviews

5(49%)

4(16%)

3(5%)

2(11%)

1(19%)

See all 37 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner 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	$272/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

Price & Payment

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

What's new

Cost to Drive

Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Trending topics

I got a Lemon

Mixed feelings

Spacious Vehicle with Beautiful Unique Styling

Love this car

2021 Atlas Cross Sport Highlights

Safety

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