With shorter proportions than its larger Atlas counterpart, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport distills the winning traits of its namesake — stylish, Audi-esque looks, ample cabin space, generous bundle of standard features — into a tidy footprint for buyers who don’t need three rows or massive cargo space. The Cross Sport measures 5.2 inches shorter in length and more than 2 inches shorter in height and genuinely looks like a smaller SUV thanks to its sporty tapering roofline. This year brings significant updates inside the cabin, under the hood, and within its tech bundle, making the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport an even more compelling pick among its midsize rivals.
Upon settling into the SEL Premium R-Line’s quilted leather seats – they’re really quite nice and classy looking – the focal point is the widescreen 12-inch infotainment system perched on and virtually floating on the dash. Unlike the earliest versions of this system, it is quick to boot up and react. It does not, however, get the new software, home screen and permanently docked band of climate controls at the bottom and customizable menu shortcuts on the top that you’ll find in the ID.4. You can see the difference between the two below, with the Atlas on the left and 2024 ID.4 on the right.
I would argue, however, that the greatest sin was the darned climate and radio controls integrated into the panel below that screen of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport . They are not illuminated, meaning you can’t actually see what you’re supposed to run your finger over at night. The ID.4, updated 2025 GTI and new ID.7 get those illuminated, but that doesn’t change the fact that trying to change the temperature cabin or quickly use the slider volume is a huge pain even if you can see them. It’s still rather hostile to the user to make them slide their finger back and forth on a small touch target, especially while moving.
You’ll quickly find accidental inputs happen far more often than they should. Even the heated and cooled seat controls aren’t great, as they’re tucked into the bottom-left portion of the touchscreen (not helpful for the passenger) at all times and tend to lag when you initially start the car up. This was corrected with the updated system, but again, the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t have that.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a midsize crossover SUV that seats five. It’s available in five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line. All are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (269 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque) joined to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard on the first two trim levels, but all-wheel drive is optional. All-wheel drive is standard on SEL and above trims.
SE – 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The base model SE starts off with:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
- Proximity keyless entry and push-button start
- Synthetic leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Heated steering wheel with paddle shifters
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- 10.25-inch digital instrument display
- 12-inch touchscreen
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
- Wireless charging pad
- Six-speaker sound system
- VW’s Car-Net connected services including Wi-Fi access (requires enrollment and/or subscription)
Standard driver assist features on all Atlas Cross Sport models include:
- Forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
- Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)
- Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle’s blind spot)
- Lane keeping assistance (steers the Atlas Cross Sport back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
- Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Cross Sport and the car in front)
- Emergency assist (with adaptive cruise control and lane keeping system active, can detect an unresponsive driver and bring the Tiguan to a safe stop)
- Safe exit alert (can prevent a passenger from opening a door into traffic approaching from behind)
SE with Technology
Adds a few extra conveniences and dash of style with:
- 20-inch wheels
- Hands-free liftgate
- Remote start
- 115-volt household-style power outlet
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Manual rear seat sunshades
SEL
A more tech-savvy trim level that pushes the Atlas Cross Sport into borderline luxury territory. It adds:
- All-wheel drive
- Hill descent control (controls vehicle speed on steep downhill surfaces)
- Upgraded dual-projector headlights
- Automatic high beams
- Panoramic sunroof
- Heated nozzles for windshield fluid
- Leather upholstery
- Driver’s seat memory settings
- Power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Ambient interior lighting
- Integrated navigation system
- Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
- Predictive adaptive cruise control (works with navigation system to adjust speed for bends, curves or fluctuating speed limits)
SEL R-Line
Takes features from the SEL and adds:
- Sportier exterior styling
- 20-inch alloy wheels in silver finish
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Heated rear seat
- Stainless steel pedals
SEL Premium R-Line
The top-trim Atlas Cross Sport comes fully loaded with:
- 21-inch wheels
- Power-folding side mirrors
- Upgraded diamond-quilted leather upholstery
- Heated rear seats
- 12-speaker premium Harman Kardon sound system
- Park Assist (automatic steering system allowing the Atlas Cross Sport to fit into tight parallel parking spaces)
- Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the Atlas Cross Sport and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
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