A quick look at how the new Atlas Cross Sport compares with the Honda Passport.
Unveiled this morning, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will compete with a range of new mid-size SUVs including the Honda Passport. We don’t have all of the information about pricing or fuel economy, but we do have enough to go on to do a quick comparo of these two five-seat mid-size SUVs.
Engines and Towing Capacity
The Honda Passport has one engine and one engine only, a 3.5-litre V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That engine is paired with a CVT automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive is standard. The new 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport also gets standard 4Motion all-wheel drive for the Canadian market, but it is paired with an 8-speed automatic. Base Atlas Cross Sport models get a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Next up is a 3.6-litre V6 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque.
The Passport therefore has a bit more power when it comes to V6 engines, but a little less torque. In the end, accelerations will likely feel about the same. Both mid-size 5-seat SUVs can tow 5,000 pounds.
Interior Space
The Honda Passport is the uncontested king of interior space in its segment. The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will come in second place ahead of the Blazer, Grand Cherokee, Murano and Ford Edge, but it can’t get ahead of the Passport on paper.
The Volkswagen has 40.3 cu.ft. of cargo space with all seats in place, or 1,141 litres. The Honda Passport will all seats in place offers 50.5 cu.ft., or 1,431 litres. Lower the rear seats and the Atlas Cross Sport gives you 77.8 cu.ft. (2,203 litres) while the Passport has 91.2 cu.ft (2,854 litres).
Features and Versions
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will be offered in three versions: Trendline, Comfortline, and Execline. The four-cylinder turbo is available in the first two versions, but Execline models only get the V6.
All Atlas Cross Sport and Passport models get heated front seats, rear-view camera, rain sensing wipers, cruise control and automatic climate.
The Passport gets 20-inch wheels versus the Atlas Cross Sport’s 18-inch wheels. Only the Execline gets 20-inchers and you can opt for 21-inch wheels with the R-Line package.
The Atlas Cross Sport offers Blind Spot Monitoring as standard equipment while the Passport only has it in its top-of-the-line trim. On the other hand, the Passport comes standard with Honda Sensing and a full suite of active safety technologies while the Atlas Cross Sport only offers features such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning in its upper trims.
Conclusion
Overall, the Passport has more features in its base version, more space, and a tiny bit more power. If the Atlas Cross Sport is anything like the Atlas and we’re sure it will be, the Volkswagen will be the more engaging of the two to drive. The big question is price, however. The Passport is an expensive proposition while the Atlas Cross Sport is expected to come it at less than $40,000.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport Images
2019 Honda Passport Images
