How they differ!

A look at the exterior, and the differences are evident. In essence, the Cross Sport is a truncated Atlas. VW chopped 5.2 inches from the length of the Atlas to make the Cross Sport, outfitting it with a lower and more graceful roofline as well as a more steeply raked back window. The wheelbase of the model remains unchanged at 117.3 inches, with both the Atlas and the Cross Sport built on the same line at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga, Tenn. plant.

While the front and rear fascias differ in the 2020 models, VW refreshed the Atlas in 2021, with updated styling that looks more like the Cross Sport.

Within the Cross Sport, there is appeal for either the younger or older-than-family oriented, with a jazzed up look featuring nicer door-panel stitching and two-tone color schemes, including a sharp red and black combo. By eliminating the third row, more cargo space is opened up, although lowering the roofline has the potential to lessen back-seat headroom.

For the Cross Sport, the back seat has been moved slightly rearward compared to the Atlas, adding nearly three inches of rear seat legroom. Headroom shrinks by 2.6 inches, yet is still spacious enough for most adults.

Cargo space is also lessened in the Cross Sport with the shifted rear seat and sloped roofline, compared to an Atlas with the third row folded. At 40.3 cubic feet, the Cross Sport’s trunk is 15 cubes smaller than an Atlas in two-row mode, but still large, with the Cross Sport offering more luggage room compared to its competitors.

In the area of mechanics, the Atlas and the Cross Sport have little differences, or at least that is the case once the 2021 Atlas went on sale and added the Cross Sport’s four cylinder/all-wheel-drive powertrain to the options list.

With both the Atlas and the Cross Sport comes the choice between the VW’s 235 hp 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and its 276 hp 3.6 liter V6. The Cross Sport is a couple hundred pounds lighter than the Atlas, but both accelerate the same and their handling is also nearly identical.

When it comes to cost, the slightly-smaller Cross Sport carries a slightly smaller price tag than the Atlas, at least for the 2020 model year. The basic front-wheel-drive Atlas Cross Sport S with 2.0T engine and front-wheel-drive, starts at $31,565 while the low-end Atlas S with the same

powertrain is listed for $32,565. At the top end, the Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line with V-6 engine in 2020 was $50,815.

Despite being so close in scope, these vehicles appeal to different buyers, with families desiring the third-row seat, thus choosing the seven-seat Atlas, while the empty-nesters or younger set desire a more sportier five-seat version.

In all, the Atlas does a great job of giving people the space they need, as well as practical towing capacity and a helpful warranty. With its sleek styling and total sportiness, the Cross Sport delivers when it comes to plenty of standard tech and both competence and comfort.

The choice is yours, with each model offering their own pluses. Whether it’s spaciousness or price, or even the availability of leading technology, take a moment to see which model suits you best. You choose! Take a test drive today