It’s a relatively quiet year for the Tennessee-built Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, which continues into 2023 as the stylish 5-seat sibling of the standard 7-seat Atlas SUV. With its lower roofline and dramatically angled rear hatch, the 2023 VW Atlas Cross Sport looks less utilitarian and far more stylish than a standard Atlas while retaining its generous interior width.
As before, you can order a VW Atlas Cross Sport with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 hp. Both engines team with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.
Five Atlas Cross Sport trim levels are available for 2023: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line.
The entry-level SE is available exclusively with the 4-cylinder, with front-wheel drive (FWD) or 4Motion all-wheel drive (add $1,900).
The SE with Technology can be ordered with either the 4-cylinder or the V6 (add $1,750), both engines being available with FWD or AWD.
At the SEL level and higher, all 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sports come standard with 4Motion AWD. While the SEL and SEL R-Line Black can be ordered with either engine, the top Atlas Cross Sport, the SEL Premium R Line, comes equipped exclusively with the V6 and 4Motion.
Midsize SUV competition for the 2023 VW Atlas Cross Sport includes the Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Honda Passport.
The cargo room behind the second row is particularly generous, thanks partly to the Atlas Cross Sport not having a third-row seat. There are 40.3 cubic feet behind the 60/40-split rear seat, or 77.8 when that seat is folded. At the same time, the Cross Sport easily seats five adults, aided significantly by that width mentioned above.
While we like both engines, neither is particularly fuel efficient. According to the EPA, the front-drive VW Atlas Cross Sport with the 4-cylinder engine is rated at 21 mpg city/25 mpg highway/23 combined. With 4Motion, that drops to 20 mpg city/24 mpg highway/22 mpg combined.
Interestingly, all V6-powered Atlas Cross Sports — FWD or AWD — are rated the same by the EPA, at 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway/20 mpg combined.
What does Autotrader read into this? While the V6 is a little thirstier around town, both engines offer about the same efficiency on the highway. If you planned to have the Cross Sport fully loaded with kids and gear most of the time, we would opt for the V6 and its better torque.
Note: Due to the ongoing microchip shortage and supply chain issues, VW may not be able to offer certain standard features like rear parking sensors and ventilated seats. For affected vehicles, VW will return a credit. Check with your VW dealer for updates when placing an order.
Also notable: The 2023 VW Atlas Cross Sport is covered by the company’s Carefree Maintenance Program, which provides complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles, whichever comes first.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE: $33,910
The VW Atlas Cross Sport SE comes well-equipped for a base model. Standard features include the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 8-speed automatic, cruise control, 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights.
We also appreciate the perforated leatherette upholstery, air conditioning, a 10-way power driver’s seat, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, heated power mirrors (with integrated turn signals), and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
What’s more? The Atlas Cross Sport SE comes standard with a push-button starter, two 12-volt power ports, onboard Wi-Fi, hill-hold control, and digital gauges that feature an 8-inch central display. You also get a 6.5-inch touchscreen, a 6-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and two USB ports.
In SE trim, this stylish VW SUV also comes standard with a generous amount of safety-enhancing driver aids. In addition to forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, the Sport Cross SE comes standard with two of our favorite safety enhancements: blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Adding the $1,295 destination fee to the SE’s base price brings the total for a front-drive Atlas Cross Sport SE to $35,205. With no money down, financing for 60 months at 3% interest works out to about $633 per month. See 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE models for sale
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE includes:
- Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – By allowing your smartphone to interface with your Atlas, you can access your music and messages or use it for navigation.
- LED headlights – These automatic on/off LED headlights illuminate a larger area than regular incandescent lights.
- Driver aids – These standard safety-enhancing technologies rank high among our favorites: forward-collision warning (with automatic emergency braking), blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE with Technology: $38,080
We continue to view the Atlas Cross Sport SE with Technology as the best mix of content and price. You get everything that’s on the SE, plus handy features like a hands-free power liftgate and adaptive cruise control.
Other SE with Technology enhancements include the available V6, dual-zone automatic climate control, 20-inch alloy wheels, optional panoramic moonroof, a power outlet on the back of the center console, metal front scuff plates, front and rear parking assist, and handy guidelines that appear in the rearview camera’s display when the Atlas is in reverse.
Perhaps most significant for 2023 is this: The Atlas Cross Sport SE with Technology now comes standard with a larger digital instrument panel. Called Digital Cockpit Pro, it features a fully configurable 10.25-inch display, complemented by an 8-inch touchscreen and other welcome features like voice control, satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging.
Among the notable available options are a power panoramic sunroof for $1,200 and a 20-inch Black Wheel Package for $595.
Adding the $1,295 destination fee to the SE w/Technology base price equals $39,375. With no money down for 60 months at 3% interest, financing works out to around $708 per month. See 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE w/Technology models for sale
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE with Technology includes:
- Digital Cockpit Pro – VW’s larger digital instrument panel, fully configurable and featuring a 10.25-inch screen, has been made standard on the SE with Technology model.
- Hands-free power liftgate – With the key fob in your pocket or purse, the liftgate will automatically open when you place your foot below the rear bumper.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control – This set-and-forget system allows front-seat passengers to set individual temperatures that are right for them.
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL: $43,680
At the SEL level, 4Motion AWD becomes standard equipment on the Atlas Cross Sport, along with a panoramic sunroof, 20-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, adaptive headlights, and memory for the driver’s seat and outboard mirrors.
You can get the SEL with the 4-cylinder or the V6. With either choice, a standard 10-way power-adjustable passenger seat comes along for the ride, together with a navigation system.
Also on the SEL: sensors that can determine if your hands are on the steering wheel. These sensors are necessary because the 2023 Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with IQ.Drive, a safety suite with a semi-autonomous driving assistance feature that provides some steering control but requires the driver’s hands to be on the steering wheel.
Other technologies in the IQ.Drive safety suite include lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control. Another notable feature is Light Assist, which is standard on the SEL and automatically switches on the high beams above 37 mph if you’re driving on a poorly lit road — provided there’s no oncoming traffic. Below 18 mph, the high beams switch off.
One other standard safety technology worthy of mention: is Emergency Assist. This feature brings this VW SUV to a slow and safe stop if it senses the driver may be incapacitated or sleeping.
Adding the $1,295 destination fee to the SEL’s base price equals $44,975. Financing with no money down for 60 months at 3% interest works out to a monthly payment of about $808. See 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL models for sale
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL includes:
- Travel Assist – This semi-autonomous system will accelerate, brake, and steer the Cross Sport in certain conditions, provided the driver’s hands are on the steering wheel.
- Adaptive front lights – These LED headlights swivel into turns, illuminating the Cross Sport’s path through corners.
- Panoramic sunroof – This opening glass roof, about 4.5 feet by 3 feet and equipped with a power shade, is standard on SEL models and above.
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line Black: $45,630
Last year’s Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line has been discontinued, leaving us for 2023 with just one SEL R-Line version: the SEL R-Line Black.
And it looks great. As before, the SEL R-Line Black is basically an SEL R-Line Cross Sport with blacked-out trim. With its black headlights and taillights, unique front and rear bumpers, and black trim on the doors, mirrors, and roof rails, the R-Line Black catches its fair share of looks, aided by gloss-black 20-inch alloy wheels wearing 255/50 all-season tires.
Note: While the SEL R-Line Black comes standard with a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, you don’t get standard full leather upholstery in an Atlas Cross Sport until you order the top model: the SEL Premium R-Line.
Adding the $1,295 destination fee to the SEL R-Line Black’s base price brings the total to $46,925. With no money down, financing for 60 months at 3% interest works out to about $843 per month. See 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line Black models for sale
2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line: $51,075
Building on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line Black, the Premium R-Line is sold exclusively as a V6 model with 4Motion AWD.
In addition to the V6 engine, the Premium R-Line Atlas Cross Sport gets perforated leather upholstery and a wealth of standard equipment, including 21-inch alloy wheels, power-folding outboard mirrors, and a trailer hitch (for the record, this Atlas has a 5,000-lb. maximum towing capacity).
Other standard upgrades on the SEL Premium R-Line include a 12-speaker Fender audio system, heated rear seats, rear-seat sunshades, and Park Assist. When activated, this last system can manage all the steering when you’re trying to park your Atlas.
Area View, also standard on SEL Premium R-Line, uses four cameras to provide the driver with a 360-degree view of what’s immediately around this 5-seat VW SUV.
Adding the $1,295 destination fee to the SEL Premium R-Line base price brings the total to $52,370. With no money down for 60 months at 3% interest, financing works out to about $941 per month. See 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line models for sale
2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line includes:
- Area View – This standard feature on the SEL Premium R-Line uses four cameras to give the driver a good view of what is immediately surrounding the Atlas Cross Sport.
- Power-folding side mirrors – With the touch of a button, the Premium’s side mirrors can be tucked against the Atlas body, safely away from the dangers of passing traffic.
- Park Assist – When engaged, this active system handles the steering as you park the Cross Sport SEL Premium R Line.
