The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. |
The Cross Sport takes the Atlas down from a three-row to a two-row configuration. It's 2.8 inches shorter than the standard Atlas and the payoff stylistically is a swoopy new roofline to emphasize the "Sport" in the name.
Under the hood, it's a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 235 horsepower (a 276 horsepower V6 is optional), mated to an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and VW's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. EPA fuel economy estimate: 18 city/23 highway.
We'd probably opt for the V6, not only for the extra 41 horsepower, but because the fuel economy penalty is next to nothing---the V6 EPA estimate is 17 city/23 highway.
There are eight (eight!) trim lines of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Our tester, the SEL, is third from the top. Base price is $41,445, which includes a long list of standard features:
- Engine stop/start system
- Four-wheel independent suspension
- Anti-lock disc brakes
- Anti-slip regulation
- Engine brake assist
- Electronic brake pressure distribution
- Hydraulic brake assist
- Electronic stability control
- Electronic differential lock
- Rear view camera system
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- 20-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires
- Automatic LED headlights with LED daytime running lights
- LED taillights
- Adaptive front lighting system
- Integrated fog and cornering lights
- Heated, foldable side mirrors with position memory, integrated turn signals and passenger side auto-tilt
- Rain-sensing variable intermittent wipers with heated washer nozzles
- Rear wiper/washer
- Panoramic sunroof
- Silver roof rails
- Climatronic dual-zone automatic climate control with second-row air vents
- Heated, leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel with multifunction
- Tilting and telescoping adjustable steering column
- Heated, ten-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar and memory
- Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- 60/40 split folding rear seat; folds flat and reclines with center armrest
- V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces
- Center console with dual USB charging ports, cupholders, armrest and storage
- USB charging-only ports in first and second rows
- Second-row 115V power outlet
- Illuminated, carpeted cargo area with tie-down hooks and 12V power port
- Auto-dimming interior rearview mirror
- Front footwell lights
- Reading lights (first and second rows)
- Illuminated vanity mirrors
- Digital instrument display
- Dynamic road sign display
- Park distance control, front and rear
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- Forward collision warning
- Autonomous Emergency Braking with pedestrian monitoring (front assist)
- Active blind spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert
- Lane keeping system (lane assist) and traffic jam assist
- High beam control
- Hill hold control
- Hill descent control
- Remote engine start
- Keyless entry
- Pushbutton start
- Hands-free liftgate
- Discover Media eight-inch color touchscreen navigation system
- AM/FM/HD Radio with USB inputs, voice control and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (limited trial subscription)
- Eight-speaker sound system
- Bluetooth
- VW App-Connect
- Wireless charging
There were only a couple of extra-cost options on our tester, $395 for the Pure Gray paint and $235 for Monster Mat floor mats and a heavy-duty trunk liner with VW's CarGo Blocks.
So, with $1,020 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker reads $43,095.
That's a reasonable price for a well-equipped five-seat crossover with all-wheel drive and more than a dash of style. Again, we'd pad the price a bit by opting for the V6 and getting more power for roughly the same gas mileage, but apart from that, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a very solid choice.