2027 VW Atlas Cross Sport Aims to Outmuscle Honda Passport in Two-Row SUV Showdown

Volkswagen has unveiled a redesigned Atlas, and now the three-row midsize SUV has spawned a two-row sibling, the Atlas Cross Sport. Both arrive for the 2027 model year, with the updated Atlas due on sale later in 2026, and the Atlas Cross Sport coming to showrooms in early 2027.

The Atlas Cross Sport gains extra muscle and a markedly more upscale design, giving VW a stronger shot at buyers who might otherwise gravitate toward the Honda Passport, which was just redesigned for 2026. With the Passport topping 55,000 US sales last year and the outgoing Atlas Cross Sport managing about 31,000, VW has room to grow sales.

The biggest change is the more upscale look, both inside and out. It sheds much of the plain styling that defined its predecessor. Instead, there's cleaner sheet metal, dramatic new lighting signatures, and huge wheels at 20 inches or larger on most trims. Inside, VW has reworked the cabin with softer materials, richer upholstery, and improved technology.

4 inches shorter than the Atlas), it measures about the same as its predecessor, so the SUV should retain the roomy interior, generous cargo space, and ample rear-seat legroom. However, the VW's sloped tailgate means the Passport, with its boxier rear shape, might still have the most cargo space.

5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

VW has boosted performance with more power. 0-liter inline-four rated at 282 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That's 13 hp more than in the outgoing model and brings it to just 3 hp shy of the Passport's total. The Blazer RS still has the outright edge with its available V6, though.

Despite the added output, VW says fuel economy will improve compared to the outgoing model, which returns up to 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. A hybrid powertrain is in the works, though it isn't planned until the SUV's mid-cycle refresh a few years from now.

Towing capacity is unchanged, with the new Atlas Cross Sport towing up to 5,000 pounds.

9-inch unit. 3-inch digital instrument cluster comes standard. Unlike previous VW models that relied heavily on touch-sensitive controls, the Atlas Cross Sport restores physical buttons, adding a rotary controller for audio, drive modes, and cabin settings.

Every Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with a 12-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar adjustment, rear sunshades, a power tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, dual wireless phone chargers, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, five USB-C ports, and an upgraded voice assistant.

Material quality takes a noticeable step forward. Soft-touch surfaces, contrast stitching, and gray wood trim are standard, while buyers can choose from pebble gray, black, or brown interiors. Higher trims add Varenna or Nappa leather. Standard ambient lighting offers 10 colors, while higher trims increase the palette to 30 colors and add an illuminated spiral motif across the dashboard and door panels.

The Passport leans harder into utility and outdoor capability with features such as available all-terrain tires and underbody protection. The Atlas Cross Sport takes the more refined route, aiming to feel more premium than its rugged Honda and sporty Chevrolet rivals.

Production of both the 2027 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will take place at VW's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We already know the 2027 Atlas will start at $41,600, but pricing for the Atlas Cross Sport will be announced closer to its market launch.