What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas? What does it compare to?

The 2024 VW Atlas is a three-row crossover SUV with a smaller five-seat complement called the Atlas Cross Sport, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee five-seater and the larger Grand Cherokee L. It rivals other family haulers ranging from the Toyota Highlander to the Honda Pilot. 

Is the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas a good SUV?

With a spacious and handsome new interior, a stronger turbo-4, and an excellent warranty, the 2024 Atlas notches big gains in our scoring system. It earns a TCC Rating of 6.5 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

What’s new for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas?

Volkswagen has refreshed both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport for 2024, with new ends, updated tech, and a more efficient turbo-4. The old V-6 has been discontinued. 

This big SUV comes in two forms that share part of their name and part of their style. The standard Atlas is a conventional three-row crossover SUV with boxy, blocky styling and a huge interior. A broad four-slot grille sits under a light bar that wraps around new LED headlights on most grades. A connected light bar spans the rear lights as well. Bulging fender flares and integrated rear roof spoilers complete the profile, and either model can be had with 18- or 21-inch wheels. The Cross Sport is a bit shorter and has a tucked roofline like some crossover coupes, though it’s still spacious inside.

The most significant changes for the refresh arrive inside, with a standard 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen that houses the climate controls, a new tiered center console with a nubby electronic gear shifter, a deep center console, and a spartan, uncluttered dash. It’s a major upgrade for a vehicle that lagged its rivals by a considerable margin, in terms of finishes and overall impressions of quality.

The new 2.0-liter turbo-4 makes 269 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, which is 34 hp more than the outgoing turbo-4. It’s on par with the discontinued V-6 as well, which made 276 hp and 267 lb-ft. VW clocks it at 0-60 mph in 7.5 seconds, as paired with the carryover 8-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available across the lineup. The Atlas’ ride maintains its poise, and the new turbo-4 outclasses both prior Atlas engines; the SUV struggles no more to keep up with competition like the Kia Telluride, though we’d stick with 20-inch wheels or smaller, and we wish the Atlas’s steering carried a little more weight.

Cabin space remains the big draw in the seven-seat Atlas and the five-seat Atlas Cross Sport. The third row in the Atlas fits two grown adults, and second-row passengers have 37.6 inches of legroom and, on most trims, a choice between a three-seat bench or twin captain’s chairs with a little room between them. The Cross Sport dispenses with row three but still has a gigantic cargo area with more than 40 cubic feet of space. 

Volkswagen equips each Atlas with standard driver-assist tech such as automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. The frame and body remain the same, so mixed crash test results may carry over for the 2024 model.

How much does the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas cost?

The front-drive $39,075 Atlas SE has 18-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, a power driver seat, heated and cooled front seats, a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and a 12.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as wireless smartphone charging. It gets a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with 2 years of free scheduled service, too. Cross Sport versions are about $1,000 more expensive, and all-wheel drive on the base model costs $1,900.

The pick of the lineup is SE with the $3,940 Technology Package, which adds parking sensors, remote start, and a power tailgate. A $47,905 Peak Edition gets black wheels and trim, a sunroof, and ambient lighting—while the $53,805 Atlas SEL R-Line has 21-inch wheels, leather seats, Harman Kardon audio, a power front passenger seat, navigation, a head-up display, heated second-row seats, a sunroof, and a surround-view camera system.

Where is the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas made?

In Chattanooga, Tennessee, alongside the VW ID.4 electric car.