2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

　　

2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　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.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE 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 $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$207/mo  for Atlas Cross Sport SE

　　Atlas Cross Sport SE

　　SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $34,460 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $36,360 MSRPSE w/Technology 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,630 MSRPSE w/Technology 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,380 MSRPSE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,530 MSRPSE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $42,280 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,230 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $45,980 MSRPSEL R-Line Black 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $46,180 MSRPSEL R-Line Black 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $47,930 MSRPSEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $51,625 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　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.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar 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

　　zzdcar 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 minimal, so you and your passengers can hold a conversation without much trouble.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below