- Volkswagen unveiled refreshed 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs at the 2023 Chicago auto show.
- The five- and seven-seat crossovers have received a styling overhaul that includes updated exterior designs, new wheels and a more luxurious cabin.
- Gone is the optional 3.6-liter V-6 engine. In its place is a 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which will be the only powertrain available.
Volkswagen’s three-row Atlas SUV has been refreshed before. It debuted for the 2018 model year and received a mild facelift in 2021 to bring its appearance in line with the two-row Atlas Cross Sport that bowed for the 2020 model year. But this time, VW’s designers used a much heavier hand to update the company’s largest SUV.
Check the fit. Both the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport carry more modern looks, with updated grilles, C-shaped headlamps and full-width taillights. All but the base models have an illuminated VW logo up front and a light bar that spans the top of the grille. New wheel designs—in sizes ranging from 18 to 21 inches—grace all four corners of the SUV, and a larger rear spoiler has been added to give the Atlas a more swept-back roofline.
But bigger changes await inside, where Volkswagen has improved the passenger experience with nicer materials and more convenience features. The dashboard and center console are wrapped in leatherette upholstery, and wide swathes of decorative plastic or wood trim extend to the door panels. A new ambient lighting system is added to the options sheet, including a cool backlit section of the dashboard.
A larger 12.0-inch infotainment screen is standard across the range, and all models also come with a 10.3-inch digital gauge display; a head-up display is optional. The infotainment system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and all Atlases feature a wireless smartphone charging pad and at least six fast-charging USB-C ports.
Climate control by voice
A heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and a height-adjustable passenger seat are now all standard. And the automatic climate control system is voice-activated, a feature that sure makes excellent Super Bowl commercial fodder but has proven finicky and cringe-worthy in other vehicles with similar functionality.
While the outgoing models were available with either a 235-hp turbo four or a 276-hp 3.6-liter V-6, the 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport can be had with just one engine: a new 269-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four. Front-wheel drive is still standard and all-wheel drive is optional on all trims.
While the EPA has yet to weigh in on the turbo four’s fuel efficiency, VW says it should be improved over the outgoing model. Towing capacity is unchanged and the Atlas is rated to tow up to 5000 pounds.
For sale later in the year
Volkswagen says the attractive 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will go on sale in the third quarter of 2023, but has not yet announced pricing. Given the upgrades, we’d expect a slightly increased base price from the 2023 Atlas Cross Sport’s $35,755 entry price. The same goes for the three-row Atlas, which should start a little higher than the 2023 model’s $36,455.
