Yahoo Autos 2024 VW Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport refresh revealed at Chicago Auto Show
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport arrive as moderately refreshed SUVs at the Chicago Auto Show. A tweaked exterior design joins a thoroughly overhauled interior. Plus, VW does some powertrain shuffling.
For starters, VW is updating the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and making it the only engine option. That means the upgrade of a V6 is no longer available, and it also means the end of the VR6 engine in the U.S. for VW. The beefed-up four-cylinder now cranks out 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, additions of 34 and 15, respectively. It still lags the outgoing V6 in horsepower, but now surpasses it in torque. VW says to expect the 0-60 mph acceleration to be about half a second better than before, all while returning improved fuel economy, too — official EPA estimates will need to wait until the Atlas is closer to launch. Maximum towing capacity stays the same at 5,000 pounds, and VW keeps the same eight-speed automatic transmission to shift gears. FWD stays on as standard, while all-wheel drive remains an option.
Exterior changes are made most obvious in the dark. The new daytime running lights span the front of the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, dominating the design. This new light and the light-up VW badge seen in photos are standard on all but the base trims of both Atlas models — those models have an unlit front fascia and a traditional VW badge. The front fascia of each is updated with revised side air intakes, and the coupe-ified Cross Sport uniquely gains gloss-black trim details to set it apart. Both Atlas models get larger rear spoilers and full-width rear taillights — again, base models are left out of the full-width lighting. New wheel designs are available across the board and range from 18-inch to 21-inch options, the latter of which come exclusively with the R-Line appearance models. Lastly, the Cross Sport adds a special rear diffuser to give it a sportier look than its more traditionally shaped sibling.
