LOOKS

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport features a sleek profile, and comes in snazzy new color offerings such as Mountain Lake Blue Metallic and Avocado Green.The Mountain Lake Blue Metallic paint color on my test vehicle was quite popular and eye-catching, as it stands out in a sea of colorless SUVs.

In terms of the size of the vehicle, the Atlas Cross Sport weighs about 5 inches shorter in length, and 2 includes shorter in height, vs. the standard three-row Atlas. 

The sharp lighting design includes light bars in front and back, illuminated front and rear VW logos, and overall it is one of the best-looking two-row SUVs available.

The lighting setup includes automatic LED headlights and taillights, plus daytime running lights, and an adaptive front lighting system with dynamic cornering lights. 

My test vehicle had 21-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, while other trims come with 20-inch and 18-inch tire options.

The Atlas Cross Sport features power-folding, heated, power adjustable side mirrors with position memory and puddle lights. The panoramic sunroof complements a beautiful design, and the weight of the vehicle is reasonable in the 4,500 pound range.

Moving inside the Atlas Cross Sport, one impact of going away from the three-row version of the Atlas is that you not only go from three rows to two rows, but you also lose cargo space. The maximum number with second-row seats up drops down from 56 cubic feet down to 40 cubic feet. With the second row folded down, the number grows to nearly 80 cubic feet.

Seating is comfortable in both rows, and it feels larger than it looks from the outside once you get into it.

The Atlas Cross Sport features plenty of small storage spots in front of the vehicle. And its shifter is tiny, opening up space in the center console

Overall, the interior features a sleek and futuristic design. High-end materials include Vienna leather seats, and it’s a great family ride as long as you’re not Brady Bunch size, in which case you need the three-row Atlas.

Also offered inside the Atlas Cross Sport are massaging front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles, heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats with lumbar support, and heated rear seats. The rear seat features a center armrest.

Details like the diamond-pattern stitching in the leather seating show the care that went into each vehicle. And ambient lighting can be controlled to change the mood. Manual sunshades are offered on the second-row windows.

The interior is dominated by the large 12-inch touchscreen, whose functionality we’ll discuss more later.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

The Atlas Cross Sport has multiple trim levels, but all are powered by the same engine — a 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder engine; paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and delivering 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, which are improvements over the previous generation’s engine offering.

Lower trim levels get front-wheel drive, with the option to upgrade to VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. Higher trims come standard with AWD.

Towing capacity tops out at 5,000 pounds, and the 0-to-60 times are roughly 7 seconds. The 4Motion AWD setup provides helpful assistance with traction and stability in different weather conditions and road quality levels. Drive modes include Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, Snow and Offroad … with Sport mode offering the most enjoyable experience.

In the grand scheme of SUVs, the Atlas Cross Sport doesn’t have the most powerful or exciting power plant in the segment, but it's still competitive. Its ride is smooth and responsive, and it is capable of getting you moving quickly when you need to get going. Inside the vehicle, the ride is quiet at all speeds, and the Atlas Cross Sport handles curves well for a vehicle this large.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Let’s dive into the tech setup in the Atlas Cross Sport, which has its highs and lows.

On the plus side, the 12-inch screen is big and bright. But it’s still problematic in some ways.

My main concern is that nearly all controls on the tech system in the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are contained within the touchscreen in the center of the vehicle. Removing all physical dials and knobs is a decision I don't agree with, as the system is difficult to use at times, especially while driving. 

Voice commands are helpful and can ease this burden, but I still don't like the fact that everything is contained in those touchscreen menus, which is less than user-friendly.

In addition to the 12-inch center touchscreen, you get a configurable 10.3-inch digital display in front of the driver, at least six USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity for streaming music and phone calls, wireless phone charging, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for phone mirroring. A Wi-Fi hotspot is also offered in the vehicle, and you can opt for a Harman Kardon premium audio system.

On the safety front, Volkswagen has been a leader and the 2025 Atlas Cross Sport offers nearly every safety feature you could imagine. Even better, they all do their job well and don’t act overly sensitive or intrusive.

The vehicle’s 5-star overall government safety ratings are no surprise, with features such as:
— Advanced airbag protection system
— Electronic Stability Control
— Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
— LATCH system for car seats
— Tire Pressure Monitoring System
— Rear View Camera System with Area View (Overhead View Camera)
— Park Assist (Parking Steering Assistant), Park Distance Control (front and rear)
— Exit Warning System (which warns driver of oncoming traffic when you are going to exit vehicle)

The IQ.DRIVE suite of safety features, which comes on all trim levels, includes:
— Travel Assist (semi-automated driving support)
— Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
— Lane Keeping System
— Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency)
— Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring
— Blind Spot Monitor
— Rear Traffic Alert


MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport with AWD are 19 city/26 highway/22 combined. Sticking with front-wheel drive and these numbers rise to 20 city/27 highway/23 combined.

These numbers proved accurate, as I averaged in the low 20s driving the Atlas Cross Sport.

And compared to rival two-row SUVs, the Atlas Cross Sport holds up well, only falling behind when compared to rivals with hybrid engines offered.

PRICE

My test vehicle was at the top trim level (SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion) and priced at more than $53K. However the base price starts around $38K, so there is a solid range of pricing options. Multiple trim levels are offered in between the two extremes.

Unlike some other SUV alternatives, the base version of the Atlas Cross Sport is a strong option and may be the best choice for many buyers — delivering many standard features including adaptive LED headlights, synthetic leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, 12-inch touchscreen and wireless phone charging pad.

The starting price on the base model is quite competitive for the segment, starting lower than most rivals. Moving up to the top trim levels can get pricey, though, so think about what you really need (and are willing to pay for) when comparing the trim options.

Warranties are strong on the Atlas Cross Sport, including:
— Volkswagen’s new vehicle limited warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
— Powertrain warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles

— Free maintenance at 1 year/10,000 miles and 2 years/20,000 miles

— Roadside assistance covered for 3 years/36,000 miles

BOTTOM LINE

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport skips the third row of the regular VW Atlas, but still offers a sharp design, enjoyable ride, feature-filled, roomy SUV that should draw plenty of interest and is worth a test drive.

Outside of the questionable tech setup, it knocks it out of the park and competes well against a strong range of SUV options.

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