2024 VW Atlas family to get standard turbo I-4, upgraded interiors

CHICAGO — Volkswagen's reengineered 2024 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport crossovers will lose their V-6 engine options in favor of a standard turbocharged inline-four engine — one that will maintain the previous generation's 5,000-pound tow rating — while gaining a more upscale interior.

The three-row Atlas and two-row Atlas Cross Sport are getting a rework in part to line up an eventual changeover to a battery-electric powertrain for the brand's largest crossovers. The two vehicles are due for one last full redesign in 2026 before the introduction of what the brand refers to as a B-segment electric vehicle later in the decade. The reengineered vehicles were shown Thursday at the Chicago Auto Show.

For 2024, the Atlas family will come equipped with a single powertrain variant: a 269-hp turbocharged inline-four mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, capable of generating 273 pound-feet of torque. VW says the new powertrain is expected to provide improved fuel economy, though it didn't release an estimate. Front-wheel drive will be standard, while all-wheel drive — which VW brands as 4Motion — remains optional.

On the exterior, the reengineered Atlas versions will feature new front fascias with differentiated grilles between the two models, as well as new lighting features that include a lit bar across the grille and outlining the LED headlights on all but the base trim level. Adaptive headlights come as standard equipment, as does a new rear spoiler. The new lighting signature is also carried over to the rear deck.

In the cabin, the standard versions will have a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats and a height-adjustable passenger seat. Added storage was designed into an area below the center console. The instrument cluster is a configurable 10.25-inch digital screen, while the infotainment system is displayed on a standard 12-inch touch screen.

In terms of safety, the Atlas models will come standard with VW's IQ.Drive driver-assistance package. Optional upgrades include a head-up display and predictive adaptive cruise control.

VW said it sold 53,545 Atlas three-rows in 2022, down 26 percent, and 28,480 Atlas Cross Sports, down 34 percent from a year earlier. Both are made at VW's assembly complex in Chattanooga. Pricing for the 2024 models has not been disclosed. The vehicles are expected to be in showrooms in the third quarter.