2027 VW Atlas Cross Sport Gets a Factory ChopVolkswagenThe Volkswagen Atlas entered the US market in 2017 as the relatively affordable German answer to all those mid-sized crossover utility vehicles flooding the market. They were flooding the market because America wanted mid-sized crossover utility vehicles. Still does. It was the right size and the right shape for conservative suburban buyers trying to fit all the kids from the carpool into its seven seats arranged nicely in three rows.But not all Americans carpooled, it seems, nor had five kids, so in 2020 Volkswagen introduced the two-row, five-seat Atlas Cross Sport, and the rearmost seat became 40 cubic feet of handy cargo space. The Atlas Cross Sport rode on the same wheelbase as the Atlas but offered a sportier body.Starting in early 2027 the two-row Cross Sport will get barely a little more hp (13) and some undetermined improvement in fuel efficiency, as well as an even sportier greenhouse with a more reclined windshield and lower roof height. It will thus be cooler, the kustom kreation of Volkswagen.AdvertisementAdvertisementYou used to be able to get an Atlas with a VR6, but VW dropped that option and left both Atlas and Atlass Cross Sport with the 2.0-liter four only, which was okay because they cranked the turbo boost up to more or less match the output of the six.Note the raked roof pillars.VolkswagenWhen VW introduced the Cross Sport it was aimed at couples with no kids, but the five-seat configuration might have accommodated most families well while leaving space to haul things in the increased cargo area. In any case it worked, as Volkswagen has sold over 220,000 Cross Sports so far.That's a lot of historical detail but there's not very much new about the coming 2027 Atlas Sport Cross, though the rnew exterior and interior do look nice, if not downright sporty, for a mid-size crossover.Taillights go across the rear end.VolkswagenThe biggest news for '27 is the look. Though it rides on an upgraded MQB Evo architecture, compared with the 2027 Atlas seven-seater, the five-seat Cross Sport is 5.4 inches shorter, though the wheelbase remains the same. Again, notice the dramatically raked "coupe-like" rear roof pillars and the roof lowered by a stylistically significant 2.1 inches. Those proportional changes are the same thing car customizers do, I swear.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Because the cabin is low and the rear overhang short, it gives the car a really sporty stance," said exterior designer William Lee. "Both the proportions and the use of body color trim elevate its look to the premium class. These chunkier proportions make it look really planted."At the front, double-stacked LED headlights, a masked upper grille, and a powerful hood combine for what VW says is "a bold and striking face." In the rear, the tailgate lies flush with the rear bumper while the taillight spreads across the bumper in one big celebration of red light.Inside, "a bold loop unifies the cockpit with one strong, architectural statement," Volkswagen says. "All aspects of the interior have been reimagined to enhance the experience for drivers and passengers."Big 15-inch infotainment screen will be in 90 percent of Cross Sports.VolkswagenMost Cross Sports will get a 15-inch infotainment screen, though a 12.9-inch screen will go in the base model. Beneath the screen, all models of Cross Sport get two inductive cell phone chargers and five USB-C ports throughout the interior to keep occupants glued to their cell phones.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe engine in the Atlas Cross Sport is the most powerful ever fitted to the model, VW boasts. The latest evo5 version of the EA888 turbocharged and direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder TSI powerplant is essentially an all-new engine employing a variable geometry turbocharger. It now makes 282 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque yet is anticipated to provide better fuel economy. We'll know the exact EPA figure closer to the launch in early 2027.As it has since it was introduced, the four-cylinder is paired with an eight-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shifting. Front-wheel drive is standard, and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is available across the lineup. A hybrid variant is planned to arrive with the midcycle refresh. Towing capacity remains at 5,000 pounds for models with a factory-installed trailer hitch.So, if you have three or fewer kids and want to appear sporty, get the 2027 Crossover, available in early '27.
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