The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a two-row, midsize crossover SUV that is effectively a shorter and sportier version of the three-row Atlas. Like the Atlas, it gets some class-above features.
2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport enters its second generation for 2027 with a new design inside and out. It gets more upscale features, including massaging seats, a large 15-inch infotainment touchscreen, and upgraded driver-assist technology. It’s built on the upgraded MQB Evo architecture that it shares with the larger Atlas, and it also gets more horsepower from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
Design
The 2027 Atlas Cross Sport takes on a smoother and somewhat chunkier look than its predecessor. Up front, double-stacked headlights sit in a gloss-black grille that looks like a bandit’s mask. The top of the grille has dual light lines on all but the base trim, which also gets silver elements on the front bumper. The sides are mostly smooth and rounded except for a sharp shoulder line that also suggests rear hips. While the Atlas Cross Sport has black wheel surrounds, the rocker panels are body color on lower trims to distinguish the five-seat Atlas Cross Sport from the seven-seat Atlas. The other most defining element between the two is the sharply raked rear pillar design that suggests a coupe shape compared to the Atlas’s more upright look. At the rear, there is also a cross-body mask that holds taillights with a pixelated look topped by a full-width light line. The base model will come with 18-inch alloy wheels, and higher trims will offer 20s and 21s.
Powertrain
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 282 horsepower, 13 more than the current model, and 258 pound-feet of torque. It will get standard front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive. Towing capacity will stay unchanged at 5,000 pounds.
Fuel economy figures are not yet available, but expect the 2027 model to return about the same fuel economy as the 2026 model, which tops out at 20 mpg city, 27 highway, 23 combined.
VW says it plans to add a hybrid variant in a few years when the Atlas Cross Sport gets a midcycle refresh.
Interior
Synthetic leather upholstery will come standard in the 2027 Atlas Cross Sport and the two top trims will get Varenna and Nappa leather, respectively. A 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with four-way lumbar adjustments will be standard, while higher trims will add driver thigh support adjustments and massaging front seats. Memory for both the driver’s seat and front passenger seat will be available.
The Atlas Cross Sport will also get either 10- or 30-color ambient lighting, depending on trim level, and an “Atmospheres” function that combines interior lighting with audio settings.
Volkswagen hasn’t announced cargo space figures yet, but at the same 195.6 inches long as the 2026 model, the 2027 model shouldn’t change significantly from the outgoing vehicle's 40.3 cubic feet of space with the rear seat up and 77.6 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.
Technology
Volkswagen is updating the interior technology for this generation of the Atlas Cross Sport with a standard 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that grows to 15 inches on most models. A 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster will adorn every Atlas Cross Sport dash. Dual wireless cell phone chargers will be standard, and expect standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well. The standard audio system will have nine speakers and the top trim will be available with a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system.
Volkswagen will also bundle several features into one monthly subscription. They include navigation with real-time traffic, a Wi-Fi hotspot, speech recognition with generative AI, access to 30,000 radio stations and more than a million podcasts, gaming through the infotainment screen in conjunction with passengers’ smartphones, and garage door access through the touchscreen.
