![]() Base S models (from $30,545 for 2.0T FWD spec) make do with a modest 6.5-inch capacitive touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus SD and USB-C ports, and mid-range SE models (from $33,945 2.0T FWD) bump their head-unit game up to include an 8-inch screen with five USB ports, SiriusXM and voice control. Like the Atlas, ergonomics are first-rate, with easy-to-use temperature controls and intuitive MIB II infotainment systems. The latter is yawningly massive, with class-leading legroom - over 41 inches - and only a slight reduction in head clearance in exchange for that sportier roofline. The Ford Edge, Honda Passport and Nissan Murano simply don't feel as accommodating as this VW, whether you're in the front seat, or particularly, in the second row. As you might expect, preserving the larger Atlas' wheelbase has had significant ramifications on the way the Cross Sport feels. A Sport-Cross-exclusive Dark Burgundy leather on SEL trims goes a long way towards amping up the cabin's style and premium feel, but my tester's wide, flat seats are instead clad in basic black. On the inside, three-row Atlas owners will find themselves right at home, though they might be envious of a couple of minor Cross-Sport-only upgrades: Namely, some fancier stitching on the door panels and a sportier-looking leather-wrapped steering wheel. Adaptive cruise control enters into the range on SE models equipped with an optional tech package. All Atlas Cross Sports come fitted with forward-collision warning with auto brake, blind-spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert. Given this model's family-oriented roots, it should come as no surprise that there's a ton of driver-assistance systems baked in from the base S trim on up. (Based on my week of mixed driving, at least those numbers seem attainable in the real world.) Go for an AWD V6 like my tester, and the numbers fall to a less-than-impressive 16 city, 22 highway and 19 combined. ![]() The best-case scenario for efficiency, a FWD 2.0T, clocks in with EPA efficiency estimates of 21 miles per gallon city, 24 highway and 22 combined. Regardless of engine choice and the number of driven wheels, Atlas Sport Cross fuel economy is on the disappointing side for this class. The Ford Edge, Honda Passport and Nissan Murano simply don't feel as accommodating as this VW, whether you're in the front seat, or particularly, in the second row. Furthermore, even though my tester is riding on Pirelli Scorpion winter rubber, the Sport Cross' noise, vibration and harshness levels feel smartly controlled, delivering a suitably serene cruising experience scarred only by large potholes. Even with my top-shelf tester's massive 21-inch tires, ride quality issued by the front strut and rear multilink suspension setup is more than acceptable. ![]() That means you can expect reasonable levels of power and a comfortable ride paired with easy inputs, including light steering and pedal responses. "There is no difference in how they are tuned," Lauren Mulvihill, VW's Atlas family product planner tells me. My drive impressions back up what VW's product experts say: The Cross Sport has been engineered to drive like its bigger brother. While I didn't have the occasion to load up my test car with five folks, or stuff its cargo hold with 40.3 cubic feet of gear (77.8 with the rear seats folded), I managed to incorporate everything from a toilet-paper-hoard run (I mean, weekly grocery schlep) to a freeway loop and knocking around on some empty backroads.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |