New Volkswagen Altas Cross Sport Unveiled To Challenge Chevrolet Blazer
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The new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was recently revealed at VW’s production facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, slotting in as a fresh entry in the popular midsize five-passenger crossover segment. As such, the new Volkswagen will butt heads with the latest Chevrolet Blazer, so with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at how the two models compare in terms of raw specs.
Naming & Positioning
Spring-boarding off VW’s existing Atlas nameplate, the new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport slots in just below the standard three-row, seven-seater Volkswagen Atlas, and is framed as offering “even more style and almost as much interior space” as that of the standard Atlas.
The defining features for the Cross Sport model is a chopped roofline and two-row seating, as compared to the higher roofline and three rows of seating offered by the standard VW Atlas. To note, the standard VW Atlas was introduced for the 2018 model year.
Performance
The new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport is offered with two engine options, including a naturally aspirated 3.6L V6 producing 276 horsepower, as well as a turbocharged four-cylinder producing 235 horsepower. Both engines connect to an eight-speed automatic transmission and Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
Meanwhile, the 2020 Chevrolet Blazer is offered with either the naturally aspirated 2.5L LCV four-cylinder, which is rated at 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque, or the naturally aspirated 3.6L LGX V6, which is rated at 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The 2020 model year also introduced the turbocharged 2.0L LSY four-cylinder for 2LT and 3LT trim levels, with output rated at 230 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque at 1,500 rpm.
Each engine option for the Chevrolet Blazer connects to the GM nine-speed automatic transmission, with FWD as standard and AWD as optional. The Blazer RS and Blazer Premier trim levels also offer a more sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system for even better performance in low-traction conditions.
Exterior
The new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport features a “coupe-like design” that lowers overall height by 2.3 inches compared to the standard Atlas, making it 67.7 inches tall. The Atlas Cross Sport is also 2.8 inches shorter in terms of overall length, measuring in at 195.5 inches. Overall width and wheelbase are identical to the standard Atlas at 78.3 inches and 117.3 inches, respectively.
Comparatively speaking, the Chevrolet Blazer is smaller in every single dimension. Overall height slots in at 67 inches, overall length is 191.4 inches, the overall width is 76.7 inches, and the wheelbase is 112.7 inches.
| Measurement (inches) | 2020 Chevrolet Blazer | 2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport | + / – Blazer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Height: | 67 | 67.7 | - 0.7 |
| Overall Length: | 191.4 | 195.5 | - 4.1 |
| Overall Width: | 76.7 | 78.3 | - 1.6 |
| Wheelbase: | 112.7 | 117.3 | - 4.6 |
Interior
VW boasts that despite the lowered roofline, the new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offers “almost as much” interior room as the standard Atlas. The Cross Sport also comes equipped with two rows of seating, as opposed to the three rows offered by the standard Atlas.
In terms of interior dimensions, the Atlas Cross Sport offers 111.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, with 40.3 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the second-row seats and 77.8 cubic feet with the second row down.
Unsurprisingly given its smaller exterior dimensions, the Chevrolet Blazer is down on interior room in every metric, with an EPA-rated 107.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, 30.5 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seat, and 64.2 cubic-feet of space with the rear seat folded.
| Measurement (cu. ft.) | 2020 Chevrolet Blazer | 2020 VW Atlas Cross Sport | + / – Blazer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Volume | 107.8 | 111.8 | - 4 |
| Cargo Volume (behind second row) | 30.5 | 40.3 | - 9.8 |
| Cargo Volume (second row folded) | 64.2 | 77.8 | - 23.6 |
Other Rivals
In addition to competition from the Chevrolet Blazer, the new Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport will also go up against the Ford Edge, Subaru Outback, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Hyundai Santa Fe and Honda Passport.
Pricing for the new Volkswagen Atlas Sport Cross will be announced closer to market launch in the Spring of 2020.
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Great looking CUV. Great interior room, and comfort with great Quality materials.
GM needs to start spending more money on their interiors. They are so far behind in literally all segments.
Side note, GM please drop the 2.5 ASAP in favor of the 2.0T.
Handsome offering. Classic lines upfront. Should sell well! Lots of trickle down technology from Audi to boot.
The 2019 Chevrolet Blazer is made in Mexico which means one BIG thing, the profit margin that GM earns from the sale of each Blazer has to be greater than the VW makes off the sale of each Atlas
Tell VW (and Ford, FCA) to close their Mexican factories…..
The big difference is that VW is a European company bringing labor, and cars to Mexico and the USA, while GM is an American company kept afloat by American taxpayers, building more and more in Mexico – and mostly for the American market.
Greed is universal problem, but few companies practice it as unapoligetically as GM.
@omegatalon
That might not be so accurate. Remember that ALL Foreign Auto Makers that build Cars here on our soil to sell to the American public DO NOT pay UAW Wages like Ford, FCA, and GM does. So when you factor in logistics and everything, it might not be as much as one might think.
Two very attractive CUVs.
Surprising that at this late date GM Authority would not have the correct ratings for Blazer’s LGX 3.6L engine….they are, 308 HP and 270 FT LB torque.
I’m a big GM fan and all my cars are from GM but if I had to choose between the blazer and this VW I would choose the VW in a heart beat, they’re not even in the same category the Atlas is a sporty SUV kinda like the q8 and the Urus and the blazer is like a cadillac xt4 or audi q5 .
I agree
My wife has a VW Tiguan R Line and we considered switching to the Blazer. Interior quality and features lacking on the Blazer comparably. More roomy in back seat of the VW and for less $. The Blazer only excels in performance.
Great news! Here comes the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport! Better and Bolder! It comes with two electric motors in its 355-hp plug-in hybrid system along with 26 miles of electric-only range. Despite its Sport moniker, this is more of a mid-sized SUV rather than an SUV coupe. You can check for more new models of Volkswagen cars at https://www.fiestavw.com/ They’re one of the most reliable sources of Volkswagen in the area of Oregon.