Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport heavily refreshed for 2024

A majorly refreshed version of VW's largest SUVs will grace showrooms in the 2024 model year. On tap for the Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport are significant upgrades to their interiors, massaged fascias, and – most notably – a snazzy new powertrain.

We’ll start with the latter. Gone are the old four-banger and V6 options, replaced by a 2.0L turbocharged mill across the board. This direct injection mill makes 269 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic and standard all-wheel drive. This is slightly off the outgoing V6’s 276 ponies but a tad better than that engine in terms of torque. Being turbocharged, maximum grunt will probably appear lower down the rev range – great for towing. Speaking of, these 2024 models will be able to haul 5,000 pounds, just like their predecessors.



A new front design for 2024 will be easy to spy in traffic, and there will be more points of diversity between Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport for those who use these two in a game of spot-the-difference. LED headlamps bookend a four-bar grille in both cars, but Cross Sport features extra gloss-black details and an ‘X’ design element stretching across its lower fascia. On all but base trims, daytime running lamps wrap around the headlights and continue into an illuminated lightbar which sits atop an illuminated VW logo.



Open the doors and you’ll find a revamped interior for ’24 with more soft-touch materials than last year and trim which flows nicely from door to dash. An available 12-inch infotainment display is a cabin focal point in the redesigned cockpit, while every trim level gets the trick 10.25-inch gauge cluster the brand likes to call Digital Cockpit Pro. There will be up to 8 USB ports (thank you, VW) and all manner of wireless connectivity. Techies are going to enjoy the now-standard IQ.DRIVE, a driver assistance technology featuring hands-on driver aids like lane centring and alerts

For readers caught napping, the Atlas is VW’s largest SUV, offering three rows of seats and a bluff-like face which competes well with stern offerings from other brands. Meanwhile, the Cross Sport is a two-row affair with a more aggressively sloped rear window that also changes the shape of its cargo area compared to its upright brother. In other words, it’s built for customers who want an SUV with more sport and less utility.

Further details, such as specifications and pricing will be announced ahead of the launch in early Q3 this year.