Rental Car Review: 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

When we covered the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas a few months ago, we pointed out that a new generation model is coming this fall. It wil be followed by the two-row, fastback-ish Atlas Cross Sport. Both are confirmed to get all of the great updates found on the 2027 model that just look – and feel – stunning. 

We already said “good-bye” to the first generation three-row model. This farewell moment was a because of an accidental spin on the Rental Car Roulette wheel. 

We will not get into why that occurred. Let’s just focus on the rented 2026 Atlas Cross Sport shown here. 

Before we do, there is a sense of irony here. The last three spins on the Rental Car Roulette wheel landed on vehicles from German brands. Trust us, this was not intentional. 

As a refresher for those of us who have not seen a Atlas Cross Sport in a while on this website, it is a more concentrated version of the mid-size SUV for the North American market, as well as being produced at their Chattanooga< Tennessee facility. We also mentioned before that the roofline is a fastback-like, which makes the Cross Sport cooler than its larger sibling. It has large doors for greater access to the cabin, along with a large liftgate for easy loading into the cargo bay. The ride height is your standard eight inches off the ground to the bottom of chassis. 

The front fascia is a favorite of ours. It wears a large grille and LED headlamps. The rear end design offers a horizontal taillight arrangement. Our SE with the Technology package wears a set of 20-inch alloy wheels to round out the look. 

Inside, you are greeted by a Digital Cockpit instrument cluster with full customization for the driver from four different screen types for the driver. The center stack shows off the tablet-like 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen. The 2026 Atlas Cross Sport has a mix of tactile and haptic switches for all of the controls. Of course, there is the toggle-like transmission shifter. 

What makes the 2026 Atlas Cross Sport attractive for everyone – including those who need a rental vehicle – are its large doors and extremely accommodating cabin. The seats are sized well, wrapped in a perforated V-Tex upholstery. There is a lot of room in the rear seat area for adults. Behind the rear seats, you start off with 40.3 cubic feet. Fold down the second row of seats, and you have 77.6 cubic feet of usable space. 

Powering the 2026 Atlas Cross Sport is a 269-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, putting down 273 pound-feet of torque. It is coupled with the company’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

You can definitely feel the power of this engine. Lane changes, cruises, and just shuttling around town are no problem for this mighty powerplant. In terms of fuel economy, we saw an average of 22.8 MPG in our care. 

Ride quality is fantastic. It is what you expect for an SUV of its size and stature. With every seat occupied, no one will feel uneasy as it clocks the miles to your final destination, no matter if is is a cross-town jaunt or across state lines. Handling is what you expect in a mid-size SUV, but with a bit more stability through the corners. 

The steering felt just fine. There is a tight turning radius for its class and decent on-center feel. Braking was superb, with excellent feel from the pedal. In both normal and panic situations, stops were pretty good in terms of distance and response; 

If you were to buy a 2026 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SE with the Technology package, the sticker price on a unit similar to this one is $46,095. There are four trim levels available for the two-row mid-size SUV. 

As we see the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport transition into the new generation model later this year, you may find some of these at the rental car area. If you do, know that this big two-row mid-size SUV will bring the fun back to your active lifestyle. You and your fellow travelers may enjoy your journey in one. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle rented by Victory & Reseda – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern