In the competitive SUV landscape of 2025, automakers must offer a variety of choices to fit all customer needs.

So it makes sense that Volkswagen offers an alternate version of its three-row Atlas SUV, the Atlas Cross Sport, which features just two rows of seats with room for 5 passengers, and ditches the third row.

The Atlas Cross Sport, first introduced for 2020, is aimed at car buyers who want a snazzier exterior design, and don't need room for more than 5 people in their vehicle.

I recently tested a 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, and I’m back with a full report on how it holds up against key competitors such as the Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mazda CX-70.

With the demand for SUVs as high as it’s ever been, automakers are wise to cover all bases and offer additional models and vehicle styles to fit different buyers.

For Volkswagen, which already offers the Volkswagen Atlas three-row SUV, that means also having a shorter two-row version of the Atlas  — dubbed the Atlas Cross Sport — for folks who need fewer seats and are seeking a sharper look.

There’s a ton of strong competitors in the midsize SUV segment (including Jeep Grand Cherokee, Honda Passport, and many others), so the Atlas Cross Sport must clear a high bar to make a significant impact.

New for 2024 is an updated engine (a four-cylinder engine that replaces the previous model’s V6 but adds power), and some styling updates and additional standard tech features.

I recently spent some time in a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line, a midsize SUV which catches your eye with its attractive, sloping roofline, and I’m back with a full report on this stylish ride.