The new interior boasts a 12-inch display with VW's latest infotainment technology.
Volkswagen has introduced a range of substantial updates to its Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs for the 2024 model year, and the changes go beyond just a few styling upgrades as VW has overhauled the interiors of both models and replaced both previous engine options with an all-new one.
The 2024 model's updates come just days after the Atlas Cross Sport was found to be the least satisfying new car to own, so VW will be hoping that the upgrades put the Atlas on a more positive trajectory.
One notable weakness of the older Atlas was its rather underpowered base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but a more powerful turbo-four replaces both that and the previously optional VR6. Six-cylinder engines continue to be phased out in modern crossovers in favor of turbo-fours, with the same applying to the latest Toyota Highlander and Jeep Cherokee.
Every model in the Atlas family now makes 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque from a four-cylinder turbo direct-injection TSI engine, a welcome improvement over the previous four-cylinder's 235 hp and 258 lb-ft. The new engine is nearly as powerful as the previous VR6 but crucially much torquier, with the torque also available over a broader rev range. VW claims that fuel efficiency is improved, a weakness of the 2023 model, but no specific figures have yet been published.
As before, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available, while the maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds still applies. Based on its outputs, we expect the new Atlas to hit 60 in around seven seconds.
VW has left the MQB underpinnings of the SUV untouched, and the eight-speed automatic transmission also remains. We have found the Atlas to have a comfortable ride and a smooth transmission, so it's no surprise that VW hasn't messed with aspects of the SUV that were already good.
More significant changes await in the cabins of the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. In what VW says is a major upgrade, the interior benefits from premium materials throughout, including a dash and center console trimmed in leatherette. A redesigned center console with a lower storage cubby, a new design for the ventilation outlets, and door trim that flows more seamlessly into the dash are all visible.
Not everyone will love the replacement of the chunky climate controls with what appear to be haptic buttons and sliders; in the Golf, we found these controls annoying, and Volkswagen is already taking steps to move back to physical buttons in some cases. This likely doesn't apply to the 2024 Atlas, as its development was probably at too advanced of a stage when this decision was made.
An ambient lighting system with 30 color choices and new backlit dash decor with the model name adds more pizzazz, and upper trims have diamond-quilted leather seats. Every trim enjoys a standard heated steering wheel with shift paddles, ventilated front seats, and a height-adjustable front passenger seat. Heated rear seats and leather upholstery are now available one trim line lower than before.
Whereas the outgoing Atlas cabin was sturdy but bland, the new one definitely has a more upmarket ambiance.
Besides the improvement in creature comforts and materials, the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport have a more modern infotainment system. Gone is the tiny 6.5-inch touchscreen equipped to base models previously, and in its place is a new 12-inch floating display. Every model also gets the 10.25-inch configurable Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro.
Wireless App-Connect is standard, making it simpler to connect devices, while wireless charging, 45-watt fast charging, and six USB-C ports are standard, with up to eight ports being available. IQ.DRIVE driver-assistance tech is now standard; this system allows for hands-on semi-autonomous capability and makes highway driving less taxing thanks to lane centering and a capacitive steering wheel. A head-up display and adaptive cruise control are available.
That brings us to the exterior, where VW has sought to differentiate the Atlas and sportier Atlas Cross Sport more than was the case previously. To that end, the Cross Sport comes with gloss-black grille details and a gloss-black X design element on the lower fascia, a feature that echoes the smaller Taos. This five-seater model also comes with a bolder rear diffuser than before. LED headlights are complemented by a newly standard adaptive front-lighting system, and only the base model misses out on daytime running lights with a full-width lightbar.
New wheel designs have been introduced across the range, with sizes varying between 18 and 20 inches. Machined alloy and black finishes are available, and R-line models come with 21-inch alloy wheels. The R-lines also have a gloss-black grille and R-line badging.
A larger rear spoiler is common to both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, and here we can again see an illuminated lightbar and VW logo between the taillights. If you see an Atlas without this feature, it's the base model.
“The Atlas was the first modern Volkswagen designed, engineered, and produced specifically for American buyers, and since its debut, it has become a major player in the US market,” said president and CEO of Volkswagen of America, Pablo Di Si, who took over the role from Scott Keogh last year. “The refreshed Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport continue to build on that success, with an elegant new interior and a sophisticated turbocharged engine that improves both performance and the driving experience.”
For now, VW is remaining tight-lipped on pricing, but the 2023 Atlas starts at $35,150 and the 2023 Atlas Cross Sport begins at $34,460. It's reasonable to expect these prices to increase, and we'll know for sure when final pricing is announced before the 2024 models launch early in the third quarter.
Keyword: 2024 VW Atlas And Atlas Cross Sport Facelift Ditches The VR6 For New High-Power Turbo-Four