The 2024 Chevrolet Blazer and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport are a more expressive take on a typical midsize SUV. Of the two, the Blazer adopts some muscle car design cues from the Camaro sports car. If you’re looking for something sensible but not conformist, the Blazer has plenty to offer.
This also holds true for the Atlas Cross Sport. It’s a 2-row version of the standard 3-row Atlas, but it has a tapered roofline for a sleeker silhouette. Its broad-shouldered design gives it lots of road presence without going overboard with extraneous details.
There is a lot more to these SUVs than meets the eye, of course.
Let’s check out the highlights of the Chevrolet Blazer and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport to see how they compare.
2024 Chevrolet Blazer
Serving as the base powertrain for the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer is a 228-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission and your choice of front- or all-wheel drive. It scoots from 0-60 mph in a little over six seconds and returns an EPA-estimated 25 in a mix of city and highway driving. Pricing starts at $36,795, including delivery fees, and four trims are available: 2LT, 3LT, RS, and Premium.
Chevrolet Blazer Highlights
Engine choices: For the power-hungry, there’s an optional 308-hp 3.6-liter V6. This provides stronger acceleration and extra highway passing power. Opting for the V6 also increases the Blazer’s towing capacity to 4,500 pounds.
Appearance packages: The RS is the sportiest trim and the only one in which the V6 is standard. For Chevrolet Blazer shoppers who want some of the attitude of the RS but can live without its steeper price, there are a number of appearance packages available on lower models. These add anything from black exterior trim to snazzier alloy wheels.
Tech touches, easy-to-use infotainment: You won’t need a diploma from MIT to successfully navigate the Blazer’s user-friendly 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. It comes standard with wireless smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and four USB ports.
You can start it remotely: This is great for avoiding a freezing cold cabin, or seats that are near broiling when you get inside. Remote start comes on every Chevrolet Blazer.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Blazer models near you.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport starts at $38,410, including destination fee, and comes in five trims: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line. This model year brings a number of improvements and updates, such as a redesigned front grille and taillights spanning the width of the rear.
VW also kindly added standard features, and every Atlas Cross Sport now comes with a 12-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and wireless device charging.
Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Highlights
New turbo 4-cylinder: Another new arrival for 2024 is a 269-hp turbo 4-cylinder. We’ve found it has plenty of poke for all types of driving. It serves as a replacement for the previous model’s base turbo 4-cylinder and optional V6.
Cargo space: The Atlas Cross Sport spoils you with space thanks to the 40.3 cubic feet of volume behind its split-folding second row. This is about 10 cubic feet more than what you get in the Chevrolet Blazer.
And also more driver aids: IQ.Drive is a bundle of driving aids that comes on every Atlas Cross Sport. It consists of adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane centering, adaptive headlights, rear cross-traffic warning, and more.
Digital instrument display: Digital Cockpit Pro is a customizable 10.25-inch digital display that puts vehicle info – like music settings or navigation instructions – right in front of the driver. This makes for safer driving since it means less time spent glancing away at a dash-mounted screen.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Atlas models near you.
Similarities
The Chevrolet Blazer and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport make a good case for treating yourself to a 2-row SUV that’s outside the norm. Yet they both bring loads of practicality and good driving manners to the table. They also happen to be more adventurous in terms of their design approaches, and we think that’s a good thing.
Conclusion
From behind the wheel, the Chevrolet Blazer immediately comes out of the gate strong thanks in part to its agile steering, peppy engine choices, and that excellent infotainment system. We do wish Chevy had eliminated some budget-looking trim scattered here and there in the cabin. Cargo space is also on the snug side for this segment.
With the Atlas Cross Sport, you get a handsome interior, similarly quick steering responses, a large cargo hold, and all those new-for-2024 standard items we pointed out. It’s not a win by knockout, but we think the VW looks and feels slightly fresher.
| 2024 Chevrolet Blazer | 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport | |
| Starting Price | $36,795 | $38,410 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder | Turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 228 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 269 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft @ 1,500 4,400 rpm | 273 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway/ 25 mpg combined | 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined |
| Also Available | 3.6-liter V6, AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5-Star | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 113.0 inches | 117.3 inches |
| Overall Length | 191.8 inches | 195.5 inches |
| Width | 76.7 inches | 78.3 inches |
| Height | 67.0 inches | 67.8 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.7 feet | 40.5 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.8 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.6 inches | 37.8 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.0 inches | 41.7 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 39.6 inches | 40.4 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.1 inches | 61.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 58.6 inches | 60.6 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 30.5 cubic feet | 40.3 cubic feet |
