Volkswagen’s Atlas, the roomy, Tennessee-built SUV that debuted for the 2018 model year, has just received its first major refresh.
For the 2024 model year, the 3-row Atlas and its slope-roofed, 2-row Atlas Cross Sport sibling get revised front and rear styling, plus an upgraded interior with premium materials and 3-zone automatic climate control.
Look for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport to go on sale this summer, with pricing to be announced closer to then. Currently, the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas ranges in price from $34,460 (Atlas Cross Sport SE) to $52,340 (Atlas SEL Premium R-Line).
Standard new niceties include vented front seats, a height-adjustable front passenger seat, and a heated steering wheel. A redesigned center console sports a handy storage cubby below.
What’s more, VW has given the new 2024 Atlas an improved technology suite that now features a “floating” 12-inch infotainment screen.
VW’s Cockpit Pro digital gauges appear at every trim level, along with a wireless smartphone charger and six USB-C ports. Also standard: VW’s IQ.Drive driver assistance technology, which features automatic lane centering and a capacitive steering wheel. A head-up display and adaptive cruise control continue to be available.
One Powertrain
Significant changes take place under the Atlas hood.
VW has scrapped the old approach — a choice of a turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine or a V6. For 2024, all buyers get the same all-new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. It produces 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. That’s up from the 235 horsepower/258 lb-ft of torque made by the current turbocharged 4-cylinder.
In fact, that’s similar in power to the soon-to-be-outgoing V6 but likely means an improvement in fuel economy. The sole transmission continues to be an 8-speed automatic. Towing capacity remains a respectable 5,000 pounds. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional.
New Style
For the 2024 model year, VW fits the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport with a new four-bar grille framed by newly standard adaptive LED headlights. All but the base 2024 Atlas get Daytime Running Lights that wrap around the headlights and into an illuminated lightbar that adds a bit of visual pizzazz by stretching across the nose of the vehicle, right above the illuminated VW logo.
Basically the same thing happens in the back. An illuminated lightbar crosses between the LED taillights on all but the base Atlas. Both Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models get a larger roof spoiler, which lengthens the roofline a bit while providing a sleeker side profile.
The Cross Sport goes a step further with a more aggressive rear diffuser. Wheel sizes range from 18 to 21 inches. R-line models will get a gloss-black grille, 21-inch alloy wheels, and R-line badging.
