The 2023 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.
Starting MSRP of $38,300 for a 2026 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.
The VW Atlas is a midsize three-row SUV that's a solid choice for growing families, but what if you don't need quite that much space? The answer is its smaller two-row sibling: the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Atlas Cross Sport measures 5.2 inches shorter in length and 2.3 inches shorter in height but gives the impression of an even smaller SUV with its sporty tapering rear roofline.
CARFAX One-Owner. This 2023 Deep Black Pearl Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport 2.0T SE AWD is well equipped and includes these features and benefits:. Od...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (20 City/24 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 1V2LC2CA8PC215685 Stock: BV2537 Certified Pre-Owned: No Listed since: 04-10-2026
The Atlas Cross Sport is a solid choice in the midsize SUV class, but we'd also suggest checking out the Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Venza. While we like the Cross Sport for a lot of reasons, there are some driving and efficiency drawbacks that keep it from the top spot. We cover all the details in our Expert Rating below.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Good
7.9
out of 10
We drove the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance: Agility wins, highway power lags
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: Comfortable, but not class-leading
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: Comfortable access and roomier feel
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.
Up front, 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: Smartphone integration plus smart assists
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: Big space, zero cargo security
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: Atlas numbers fall behind rivals
6.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates the all-wheel-drive Atlas Cross Sport gets 20 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 Verdict: Cabin trim feels inconsistent
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: Atlas Cross Sport ditches fun for grip
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.
Starting MSRP of $38,300 for a 2026 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.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport trim level differences
The Atlas Cross Sport is a midsize crossover SUV with seating for up to five passengers. For 2023, the model is available in five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black and SEL Premium R-Line. It's a somewhat confusing lineup so make sure you read through our descriptions below to understand what you're getting. Compare the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport trim levels in-depth.
Which Atlas Cross Sport trim does Edmunds recommend?
The SE with Technology trim adds a lot of features to the base SE model at a sensible markup. It's also eligible for the V6 engine and adds several useful upgrades such as a larger touchscreen, adaptive cruise control and a wireless charging pad.
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic warranty and 6 recalls. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.
Recalls
6 recalls found
Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.
If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).
Recall Number:
25V434000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
42HX
Manufactured from:
2023-05-20 to 2023-06-12
Number of vehicles affected:
546
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier, etc.) of affected vehicles may not have been correctly tightened during the manufacturing process.
Defect Consequence:
A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42HX.
Recall Number:
24V464000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
69PZ
Manufactured from:
2020-10-01 to 2024-06-17
Number of vehicles affected:
271330
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Atlas and 2020-2024 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The passenger occupant detection system (PODS) may experience a fault in the wiring and deactivate the front passenger air bag when the seat is occupied.
Defect Consequence:
A deactivated passenger air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the PODS sensor mat and wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 30, 2024. Owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, on October 18, 2024, December 10, 2024, December 20, 2024, and January 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69PZ.
Recall Number:
22V807000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
42M2
Number of vehicles affected:
33
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2022 Volkswagen Atlas FL and 2022-2023 Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The driver-side rear trailing arm bolts may not have been tightened properly, allowing them to loosen and fall out.
Defect Consequence:
Unsecured bolts may cause the trailing arm to fracture, resulting in a sudden loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the driver side rear trailing arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 25, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42M2.
Recall Number:
22V753000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
VW: 13i4,
Number of vehicles affected:
74071
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Audi Q5 Sportback, Q5, 2022-2023 Volkswagen Atlas FL, and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine connecting rod bearings may become damaged, which can result in engine failure.
Defect Consequence:
A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash. If the engine failure causes an oil leak, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace an affected engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 6, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi's customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 13i4 (VW) and 13i5 (Audi).
Recall Number:
22V718000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
47T2
Number of vehicles affected:
555
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023 model year Atlas FL and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. Certain brake lines may leak at the threaded connections.
Defect Consequence:
A brake fluid leak may increase the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will replace the affected brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on November 23, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47T2.
Recall Number:
22V152000
Manufacturer Recall Number:
97GF
Number of vehicles affected:
222892
Defect Description:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Atlas, 2020-2023 Atlas Cross Sport, and 2021-2023 Atlas FL vehicles. The door wiring harness electrical contacts may corrode, disrupting the electrical connection and delaying the deployment of the driver or passenger front side air bag during a side impact crash.
Defect Consequence:
A delayed air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:
Dealers will secure and, as necessary, replace any the front door wiring harnesses showing a fault code, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 20, 2022. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 97GF.
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, … they said they couldn't find anything wrong. I persisted with another visit and they had to replace a part of the strut, which fixed the rattle.
The second issue I had was with the crash avoidance system. The first time it engaged was not a situation as I was far enough back that I could have avoided the collision, but it engaged and almost killed the motorcycle cop behind me. One thing is for sure, this system defies the laws of physics! I turned the collision avoidance system off so it would not do that again. With the system off. It engaged twice in a 1 week period and immediately after the 2nd incidence the brakes were making a grinding noise. Before I could get it to the shop, the car turned itself completely off at a red light with the error that the door was open. It took opening and shutting the doors several times to get to where I could get the car in park to get it started again. Fortunately I had the oil changed with full point inspection to prove that I had not been riding the brakes. The service department refused to believe the anti collision system could cause the damage to the rotors and I had to fight to get VW to pay for replacing them. The only thing that saved me from having to pay for the replacement is that inspection 2 weeks prior. The electrical issue was a sensor.
I had to take it back to the shop a few months later because I was still having issues with the door sensor.
This last time, time number 4, was the same door sensor issue. Along with the door sensor replacement, the wiring harness in the door had to be replaces, which they now think was the issue causing the sensor to continue to fail.
4 times was enough for me to get out while the getting was good.
I do think the issues I was having was that particular car and I would have gotten another Cross Sport had they had the same or step up from mine but they didn't.
Oh, there is also the horrible gas mileage, but it's a V6 so I expected that.
Dont expect everything to work
3 out of 5 stars
Frustrated owner, 06/13/2022
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
I traded in my 2020 Silverado for the Cross Sport because it seemed like a nice vehicle and 5K lb towing capacity is standard (no extra package needed). The car drives will and has some nice features like digital cockpit, infotainment, wireless charging etc; and it does tow my 3,500 lb boat nicely. But, its a very frustrating vehicle....
three days after I picked it up the … infotainment system went dark. So many things are operated through that system, its a big deal. The dealer service team was no help (they are really bad) but I did my own research and found out how to do a soft reset; that worked.
Then, a week later (that car is now two weeks old) as I am pulling out of my driveway memorial day weekend, 5:30 am for a 350 mile holiday weekend, the engine lite comes on. the Manual says not to drive it but I am not canceling my vacation because of this brand new car so I departed. three days later the light went out on its own and has not come back on. Again the dealer is no help. they want to keep the car for a week, with no courtesy vehicle, just to see if there is an error code; unbelievable. I contacted VW, they are less help than the dealer.
some of the safety features dont work at they should, again, very frustrating...
So, its a nice car but I have zero confidence in it.
When its working, its a nice car. Proceed with caution if you are thinking of buying one. Or Buy two if you need reliable transportation.
Mixed feelings
3 out of 5 stars
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.
Update: it’s still not a Sports Car!
5 out of 5 stars
Ru2bsi, 12/05/2021
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
UPDATE: it’s been a year and I still love this car for its roominess and spunky attitude.
Now the dirty: it was annoying to learn of the wire harness recall of which my vehicle did not appear to have those issues after inspection and dealer fix (primarily due to the climate we live in). And another recall for yet another issue, that didn’t seem as urgent as the first. So, I’m … waiting for a push or my next service appointment.
2nd the only thing that is really annoying is the infotainment system. The User Interface is not as mature as one would expect. In fact, there are far more intelligent systems out there.
After 10 mos of ownership, the apple play bt would get confused and bounce pack and forth from the car to my AirPods (if they were not in the case). Or general radio/media controls would simply freeze up and I’d need to restart the entire vehicle. Strange little things. Or the BT would play in stereo one moment and simply switch to mono a few yards later and switch back. These are small annoying instances experienced in the last two months - simply annoying things that happen from time to time.
But overall not a deal breaker.
First, knowing this is NOT a Sports Car, it never claimed it was. I had no expectations for quick pick-up. But it does respond when it counts!! It drives as it should, a utility vehicle with sporty/stylish lines. I've read all many reviews claiming the disappointment in acceleration. And honestly, most suv's I've driven NEVER drove like sports cars. They are far too heavy and cumbersome to do so. It does have enough pick up where it matters.
Now, to the part I love - its roomy!! There is space for everything!! Carseats, strollers, and trips to Costco. AND ALL WHEEL DRIVE!!
We didn't go with the special badging option, that was to frivolous.
We could see where folks might have issues with the technology - frankly we figured it out quickly and it's actually very advanced for normal consumers.
We're impressed - So far, so good, we're grandparents who refuse to drive a minivan!
UPDATE: from my first review - we still love the car!! Despite the recall for the door harness that seems to effect those in “wetter” climates. We live in a dryer climate, and are less likely to have the issues in the recall, so we wait for a fix. Despite all of that - the car still is a favorite of ours. Spacious and Stylish, it can and does turn heads of the Audi Q8 owners. It reminds us of the less techie version without the high end finishes. And we’re actually ok with that.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, so we've included reviews for other years of the Atlas Cross Sport since its last redesign.