2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport: Swooping into premium territory

2027 Infiniti QX65 Sport vs. 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line AWD: Battle of the chopped-down SUVs

This week: 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

Price: $55,095 as tested. It’s a tippy-top-of-the-line sample, so no options on the test vehicle; even the panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, and premium sound system were included.

What others are saying: “Highs: Fashionable profile, roomy interior, even base SE comes well-equipped. Lows: Infotainment interface still on VW’s to-do list, dynamically blasé, value argument erodes with top trims,” says Car and Driver.

What Volkswagen is saying: “That turbo engine means business — and fun.”

Reality: Last week’s Infiniti confidence has met its match.

What’s new: Not that much. The Atlas Cross Sport got its start in 2022. It’s based on the large three-row Atlas SUV; with a lowered rear roofline and removed third row and some tuning tweaks, you have a “sport crossover.” A refresh came for 2024. Its big moment will arrive in the 2027 model year with a redesign. So, maybe, here’s your chance to get a discount on a leftover, especially with Volkswagen crying poor these last few months.

Competition: Volkswagen reaches for the stars with this model. Other writers may disagree, but the competition I see is in the upscale brands. In addition to the QX65, other competitors include Audi Q4, BMW X6, Lincoln Nautilus, Mercedes GLC-Class Coupe, and Porsche Cayenne.

Up to speed: Car and Driver complains Volkswagen never got around to the multimedia center, yet C&D never got around to testing a Cross Sport from this latest generation. They cite a 2025 Atlas SUV for 0-60 numbers, noting a 7.3-second time in that larger SUV. Let’s assume this swoopier, seat-reduced version gets there in 7 seconds; even the 7.3 number is still a full second faster than the QX65.

The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine creates 269 horses, precisely one more than the QX65. Its best trick is highway passing; stop paying attention in a radar zone, and expect flashing lights in your rearview as a reward. Just tell the nice patrol officer how cool the engine sounded doing it; maybe that will help. Advantage, Atlas Cross Sport.

Shifty: The Cross Sport gets the Audi-esque shift switch, which is a big toggle for R-N-D. Park is a button. Shutting down the Cross Sport is a “I’m Mr. Cool” moment. The start-stop switch sits in a row with the transmission choices, and a small electronic emergency brake brings up the back end. Park button, stop button, pull brake, boop, boop, yank. Pretty slick.

There was shiftability as well, but I never tried it.

On the road: The Atlas Cross Sport is by no means a perfect vehicle, but, man, did I look forward to driving it. The handling was direct, and Sport mode really brought out the best characteristics of the SUV. As I was putting the finishing touches on this comparison, I noticed I’d written that I did not look forward to driving the Infiniti, so the clear advantage again goes to the Atlas Cross Sport.

Driver’s Seat: The comfortable Driver’s Seat remained heavy on firmness like Volkswagens and Audis can be. The no-cost chalk and titan black leather interior rivals the upscalery of the competitors; so does difficulty seeing around the vehicle. Sloped windshields, high driving positions, and “sporty” designs make the close-ups hard to spot.

The dashboard operates as easily as most VWs. Still, the QX65 gets this category.

Friends and stuff: The rear seat is not as bad as some: The fabric matches the front; there’s some grip from the seat outlines; and the seat back does have two adjustments. But with seats that move forward and recline with more options, the QX65 wins this event.

Cargo space is 40.3 or 77.6 cubic feet.

In and out: It’s a bit of a leg hoist but not a lot.

Play some tunes: I really thought the infotainment troubles I keep experiencing with Volkswagens have been my fault, but I’m glad to see Car and Driver says they’re “still on Volkswagen’s to-do list.” I can link up CarPlay in theory but can’t ever get the screen to show.

At least the 12-inch screen works. I can find the settings without too much trouble. (It sounds small these days, but I thought it was a nice size.)

Sound from the Harman Kardon system is about an A- or A. Even with the missing tech functions, the Atlas Cross Sport is ahead of the QX65.

Keeping warm and cool: The HVAC controls have moved into the touchscreen, annoying at best. A button opens up the screen, and then look again for the choices. Cold mornings made balky controls balkier. This is a toss-up.

Fuel economy: Over 800 miles with multiple drivers, the Atlas Cross Sport averaged around 22 mpg. That’s no great achievement, but it’s more than 10% better than the QX65.

Where it’s built: Chattanooga, Tenn.

How it’s built: Consumer Reports rates the Atlas Cross Sport reliability as 3 out of 5.

In the end: CR pits this against more run-of-the-mill SUVs like the Subaru Outback and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and you can certainly get a version of this for a more reasonable price.

But at this level, the Atlas Cross Sport does a pretty good job of showing the far more expensive Mercedes and BMW products — as well as the competitively priced Infiniti — just how sporty crossovers can be.