Who is the largest car company in the world? Volkswagen!
Now say Hello to the new 2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport SUV You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Volkswagen has announced record annual sales to keep its crown as the world’s largest automaker. The company, based in Wolfsburg, Germany, said it delivered 10.97 million vehicles in 2019. Although the VW brand is the group’s most recognized marque, the automotive company has acquired several brands over the years, and the most notable ones are: Audi, Bentley, Porsche, SEAT and Škoda.
Like every car manufacturer selling vehicles in the United States, VW is selling more crossovers and SUV’s. The largest SUV from VW is the Touareg, which has game changing technology, power and elegance. Next down in size is the VW Atlas, and now they have added the new 2020 Atlas Cross Sport SUV. Think large, midsize and compact SUV’s.
VW wants a bigger slice of the fiercely competitive SUV pie. Volkswagen pulled the wraps off its newest crossover five seat SUV for the North American market, the 2020 Atlas Cross Sport, at the automaker’s assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Atlas Cross Sport is 2.8 inches shorter and 2.3 inches lower than the Atlas.
While the Volkswagen Atlas is geared for families with three rows of seats, including one that can handle three child safety seats, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is a smaller crossover SUV. The Atlas has more cargo space at 96.8 cubic feet, while the Atlas Cross Sport has 77.8 cubic feet.
Volkswagen’s Atlas Cross Sport is the fashionable alternative SUV. It’s a straightforward conversion from Atlas to Atlas Cross Sport. It’s a more attractive silhouette than the serious looking Atlas. Seat count drops to five, but no third row also means the second row can grow in legroom.
The Atlas Cross Sport is the SUV that offers a large cargo area. The Cross Sport sits lower, and has a coupe like
rear roofline. The Atlas Cross Sport’s advantages go beyond its slicker shape. The Cross Sport is nearly three inches shorter, and just over two inches lower than the standard Atlas, but keeps the same wheelbase, resulting in notably more legroom, while also dropping some weight, for slightly improved efficiency.
This week Volkswagen sent me a 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport V6 SE R-Line SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price is $40,645. The options on the test car are: The fantastic looking Aurora Red Metallic paint job for $395, and the Panoramic Sunroof Package for $1,200. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,020 delivery charge, came to: $43,260.
While the base Atlas Cross Sport starts at only $30,544, the line up has a staggering 18 different models to choose from, with a $49,745 top of the line base price. The V6 SE edition, with the Technology Package, AWD, and R-Line trim, is right in the middle of the pack at $40,645.
R models represent the top performance vehicles of the Volkswagen brand. R-Line trim packages bring the looks and feel of Volkswagen R vehicles to other Volkswagen models, but do not provide upgraded engine power. R-Line
trim packages make the car look, and feel, racing inspired.
Inside the 2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport V6 SE R-Line is a heated and leather wrapped three spoke R-Line steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, with separate controls for rear passengers. The R-Line Edition offers extra sporty styling, with specific front and rear bumpers, radiator grill, side skirts, 20” alloy wheels , R-Line sport seats, LED headlights, 2 Zone climate control and Electric Power Steering.
Power comes from a 3.6L V6 engine with 276 HP and 266 lb-ft of torque, routed through an 8 speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic 4MOTION with Active Control. With the turn of a dial you can switch between four different AWD all-wheel-drive modes, to the one that fits your current driving situation. Like in Snow Mode, the engine can upshift earlier, which helps keep it in a lower RPM range, and helps prevent too much power from going to the wheels too quickly, to avoid wheel spin.
With the Technology Package you get: Blind Spot Monitor with rear traffic alert, Advanced LED headlights and LED taillights, Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Volkswagen Car-Net, a Wireless smartphone charging pad, Intelligent Crash Response System, Rear View Camera System, plus Automatic Braking, Pedestrian Detection, Remote Start and Hill Hold. Plus many, many more.
To sum it all up the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has the styling, looks, and extra cargo space that you have been looking for in a 2 row SUV. All wrapped up in a great driving, handling and responsive mid size SUV for around $40 Grand. With 18 models to choose from, Volkswagen has an Atlas Cross Sport in your exact price range. When you’re ready to buy one of the best compact SUVs out there, call, click or visit your local VW dealer for a new 2020 Atlas Cross Sport test drive.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” .