The Volkswagen Atlas is getting a full makeover for 2027. The standard model has already been revealed, and now Volkswagen is pulling the cover off the coupe-styled variant, the Atlas Cross Sport. There’s not much of a surprise here, since this version carries over the mechanicals from the regular model and really only sets itself apart through styling and a five-seat cabin layout instead of seven. Still, here’s what’s coming with this variant.
The new generation gets a completely redesigned body and reworked cabin
The turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder now makes 282 horsepower
A hybrid version is planned during this generation’s life cycle
A Sharper Look
Let’s start with the styling highlights of this new version.
Up front, stacked LED headlights, a blacked-out upper grille, and a beefier hood give the SUV a bolder face. Twin light bars and an illuminated logo, standard on every trim except the base model, round out the vehicle’s nighttime presence.
The bigger differences show up in profile and out back, though. Along the sides, a sharper character line traces the fender muscle, while illuminated door handles are available as an option.
2027 Volkswagen Atlas Prototype First Drive: We Got to Drive It
At the rear, the liftgate now sits flush with the bumper, and a light bar stretching across the tailgate, a trend spreading through the industry, echoes the front-end lighting theme.
Three new colors join the lineup.
Inside, much like the standard Atlas, the focus is on richer materials, including open-pore wood trim as standard and ambient lighting with up to 30 color choices on higher trims.
The front seats also get an upgraded massage function, and Volkswagen is adding passenger-seat memory for the first time on this model.
More Power, More Tech
Under the hood, Volkswagen‘s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder is now in its fifth iteration. Output climbs by 13 horsepower over the outgoing engine to 282 hp, with 258 lb-ft of torque. Volkswagen says turbocharger upgrades should also bring a fuel economy bump, though don’t expect anything dramatic there. An eight-speed automatic handles shifting duties, and 4Motion all-wheel drive comes standard across the board.
Towing capacity sits at 5,000 pounds.
Volkswagen also confirms a hybrid variant will join the lineup at some point during this generation, most likely with the mid-cycle refresh. That’s good news for buyers drawn to the format but wary of its fuel bills.
Patience will be required.
On the tech front, the infotainment screen grows to 12.9 inches on base trims and stretches to 15 inches further up the ladder, mirroring what we’ve already seen on the standard Atlas. The digital gauge cluster follows suit at 10.25 inches. Safety and driver assistance duties fall to the IQ.Drive suite, which also picks up refinements, including a predictive adaptive cruise control that adjusts vehicle speed for curves, roundabouts, and highway exits.
Full details, including specs and pricing, will drop ahead of the vehicle’s early-2027 launch.
Between now and then, we’ll be behind the wheel of the standard Atlas come October. We’ll report back with our driving impressions of this second-generation SUV at that point.
