2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SUV

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is available in six trim levels and comes in two powertrain and drivetrain options. The base engine unit is a 2.0 L Turbocharged Inline-4 engine unit, while the larger engine unit is a 3.6 L naturally aspirated V6 unit. It also has two drivetrain unit options that you can choose as per your requirement. There is an FWD system as well as Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD system on offer. There is also a host of other optional extras and standard features that you can select as per your requirements and budget. The complete distribution of features across the trim lineup is in the table below.

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Which trim should you buy?

The SEL R-Line with a V6 engine and 4Motion AWD system would be a great option to go with as it combines some premium features from Volkswagen along with a really capable V6 engine unit and AWD drivetrain unit at a price tag below the $50,000 mark. If you wish to add some sharp and dark exterior accents, then the new SEL R-Line Black trim level would also be a great choice to go for.

Release Date

Volkswagen has not put out an official date regarding the release of the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport but we can expect to arrive before the end of 2021.

There are two engine options as far as the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is concerned. The first one is the base 2.0 L Turbocharged Inline-4 engine that puts out a good 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque. The larger 3.6 L Naturally Aspirated V6 engine, on the other hand, produces 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque. Now when it comes to choosing between these two engines, it all depends on the kind of engine response and fuel economy that you expect from the Atlas Cross Sport.

The base engine certainly seems underpowered when compared to its rivals, but it’s quick on its feet when you need it to and makes the drive feel nimble and responsive due to the fact that its peak torque lies in the lower rev range. The V6, on the other hand, has more power on offer and seems like a good engine to choose if you will spend most of your time in the Atlas Cross Sport on highways or long journeys. The V6 engine doesn’t feel stressed when cruising at higher speeds, which makes us prefer it more over the Inline-4 config.

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When it comes to driving dynamics, the Atlas Cross Sport’s suspension system is tuned to be on the stiffer side, and it proves to be a great thing on smooth roads as there’s enough traction and stability. But when it comes to rough terrains, the stiff suspension might prove to be a bit hard to live with as there isn’t enough shock absorption on offer compared to its rivals. While cornering and braking, the Atlas Cross Sport seems confident and takes on the road ahead with adequate traction and confidence.

In its real-world performance, the base Inline-4 engine can help the Atlas Cross Sport accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds and cover a quarter-mile distance in 15.6 seconds. It has a top speed of 135 mph, which is close to the rivals in the competition. The Ford Edge’s engine seems to offer the best torque output in the segment, while the Honda Passport has the best power output on offer. The V6 engine unit in the Atlas Cross Sport might reduce the acceleration timings to a certain extent.

When it comes to fuel economy, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport takes a back seat as its fuel economy isn’t as good as it’s supposed to be. It offers a combined fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon and has a maximum fuel economy of 25 MPG on the highway, which is lesser than what most of its rivals have on offer. The only good thing seems to be the fact that it offers 21 MPG in the city. With an 18.6-gallon fuel tank, it manages to offer a combined range of 427.8 miles and a maximum range of 465 miles on the highway, which seems mediocre when compared to what some of its rivals have on offer.

The Ford Edge and Nissan Murano seem to offer the best in class range in the segment with their maximum range being above the 500-mile range. The Atlas Cross Sport certainly offers the best in class range for city driving conditions, but having a bigger tank would have helped it get better range. Despite holding a Naturally Aspirated in comparison to a Turbocharger Inline-4 of Atlas, both Nissan and Honda manage to offer a fuel economy which is very similar to the rivals in the comparison.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has a very elegant yet robust interior design with signature Volkswagen elements throughout. The interior feels nice with some premium quality features here and there along with adequate space inside. The dashboard gets metal as well as wood trim inserts along with a very classy and modern approach when it comes to the design. You can choose from various optional extras for your interior, including a dual-tone design as well as various other features to match your taste and needs inside.

The front bucket seats are heated seats with 10-way power adjustability right from the base trim level itself. The seats are very comfortable and also come with power lumbar control to add confidence especially while cornering. The base trim level gets manual air conditioning, while the upper trim levels get dual-zone automatic climate control units and lots of other features which add comfort, practicality, and ambiance to the whole interior.

The rear seats are spacious and comfortable as it offers a 60-40 split-bench seat that can also be fully folded to make space for some extra cargo when needed. The rear seat also gets an arrest concealed in the middle seat’s backrest as well as power outlets and more. The standard cargo capacity inside is 40.3 cubic feet, which is a very impressive number for a compact SUV. You can also increase it to a maximum cargo capacity of 77.8 cubic feet by simply folding the second-row seats completely. It also gets power trunk access for added convenience.

The Honda Passport probably has the most impressive interior and cargo volume in the segment with a standard cargo capacity of more than 50 cubic feet. All the other SUVs in the segment seem to have similar interior volume and features as the segment seems to be a very competitive one. All the SUVs in the competition offer a seating capacity of 5, which is the segment's standard. Some of the standout interior features are:

• Optional dual-zone automatic front climate control unit 
• 10-way heated power-adjustable front seats
• Front and rear cup holders
• Leather steering wheel
• Sunroof
• Dual-tone interior
• Metal and wood trim inserts

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport gets the latest and updated MIB3 Discover Media infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display unit as standard. You can also get an 8-inch infotainment screen as an optional extra. The standard audio system is a 6-speaker audio system, while you can also opt for a Fender premium surround sound system with 12 speakers and a 480w amplifier.

The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport does get features like 4G WiFi internet access, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity as standard and has more on offer as you go up the trim levels. Features like wireless charging, remote start, USB-C ports, voice commands, SiriusXM (3-month all-access subscription) with wireless smartphone integration are also part of this SUV. Some of the standout infotainment features are:

• In-built navigation
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• MIB3 Discover Media infotainment system
• 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display 
• Optional 8-inch touchscreen infotainment screen
• 6-speaker audio system as standard
• Optional Fender premium surround sound system with 12 speakers and a 480w amplifier
• Bluetooth phone connectivity 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• 4G internet access WiFi hotspot

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport surely is the best-looking SUV in the segment with a bold and tall stance with muscular lines which are derived from its bigger sibling, the Atlas. The Atlas Cross Sport is exactly a smaller version of the Atlas by all means, and hence it shares a lot of its components with the full-size SUV.

Features like the LED DRLs and the projector beam headlights along with sharp LED taillights all remind you of the bigger Atlas. You also get a wide range of wheel options, starting with 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. The SUV has a curb weight of 4,098 lbs, which makes it the heaviest option in the competition.

Since the Atlas Cross Sport is derived from the larger Atlas and it carries most of the components from its elder sibling, Volkswagen did a clever job by keeping the wheelbase quite large compared to the rest of the SUVs in the segment, due to which the Atlas Cross Sport does look stylish and not disproportionate. The Honda Passport, on the other hand, with the shorter wheelbase manages to handle in a better way and has adequate cabin and cargo space inside. Some of the key exterior features are:

• 18-inch 5-spoke 2-tone alloy wheels 
• Auto on/off LED projector headlamps 
• LED tail lamps
• LED Daytime Running Lights
• Black grille with chrome surrounds
• Cornering lights

The 2022 Atlas Cross Sport has not been tested either NHTSA or IIHS, however, the 2021 model received impressive safety from both organizations. The Atlas Cross Sport also seems to have a host of safety features on board to further add to the safety quotient. The standard safety features include some advanced features such as Active Side Blind-Spot Assist, Front Collision Mitigation, and Autonomous Emergency Braking. Opting for the upper trim levels will go on to offer you Front and Rear Parking Sensors, Lane Keep Assist, Lane Departure Warning, and a lot more features. Some of the notable safety features include:

• Low Tire Pressure Warning 
• Side Impact beams
• Active Side Blind-Spot Assist
• Autonomous Emergency Braking
• Front and Rear Parking Sensors
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Lane Keep Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Backup Camera

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. 2022 Ford Edge

The Ford Edge probably is the strongest competitor to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport as it offers a better powertrain unit, better fuel economy, and a lot more features at the same price as that of the Atlas Cross Sport.

Volkswagen, on the other hand, has an excellent safety quotient and ride quality along with more cargo capacity. Between the two, there is no straight winner of the battle, thus everything depends on what you want from your SUV.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. 2022 Honda Passport

The Honda Passport certainly is a better SUV compared to the Atlas Cross Sport when comparing the interior space, cargo capacity, and fuel economy and range.

The Atlas Cross Sport proves to be a better handling SUV, and the fact that it comes with so many trim level options helps you to configure an Atlas Cross Sport as per your needs and taste. Here again, choosing between the two boils down to what you expect from your Atlas Cross Sport.

2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. 2022 Nissan Murano

The Nissan Murano doesn’t have many advantages compared to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport apart from its good braking performance, fuel economy, and range. The Volkswagen proves to provide a better driving experience along with practical and useful features as standard.

The Murano does come with a CVT transmission, which is different than the rest of the SUVs in the segment, but the Atlas Cross Sport’s 8-speed automatic gearbox proves to be a better transmission unit as it offers more excitement to the drive.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a perfect SUV if you wish to have a practical, feature-loaded, and safe SUV. It does have its own set of drawbacks as far as the ride quality, engine performance, fuel economy, and range are concerned. Being priced the same as most of its rivals and offering a host of trim levels and optional extras surely helps the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport be a great alternative in the segment.