Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row sibling, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first introduced on the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was adorned with a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, which contributed to a more Americanized appearance. Built in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Cross Sport was designed specifically for the U.S. market. The rear of the vehicle, with its lower roofline, offered a silhouette reminiscent of German luxury crossover coupes, setting it apart from other two-row midsize crossovers.

The Cross Sport's interior received the same updates as the standard Atlas, including a central touchscreen that stood upright and a raised center console. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas models, featuring standard leatherette upholstery and leather seats on higher trims. The top SEL Premium R-Line trim boasted quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern. Despite attempts to enhance the simulated wood and carbon-fiber-facsimile trim, the materials remained predominantly plastic. The Cross Sport also introduced new wheel designs for 2024, with options ranging from 18-inch alloy wheels on the base SE to 21-inch wheels on the SEL Premium R-Line. However, it did not receive the rugged Peak Edition package available for the three-row Atlas.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with only slight styling changes that made its front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The previous grille insert was integrated into the bumper, and a thin slot was added behind the Chevy Bowtie logo. The 2027 model continued the legacy of the 2023 version, straddling the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. Chevrolet decided to offer only a single body style for 2027, eliminating the higher-roof EUV variant. The Bolt's tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair.

Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover while maintaining its basic structure. A larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen were introduced, and the push-button gear selector was relocated to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the center console. The cabin featured hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing the Bolt's budget-friendly feel, though the elbow touch points had thin padding. The base LT trim came with cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area also featured hard plastics and lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD). This marked the end of an era for VW, as the Atlas and Cross Sport were the last models to use the 3.6-liter VR6 engine. The new turbo-four engine delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, slightly less horsepower but more torque than the VR6's 276 hp and 266 lb-ft. Peak torque arrived earlier at 1,550 rpm compared to the VR6's 3,600 rpm. Although specific numbers weren't provided, VW expected the 2024 Cross Sport to be quicker from zero to 60 mph than the 2023 model with the VR6. The Cross Sport's maximum towing capacity remained at 5,000 pounds, except for the base SE, which was rated at 2,000 pounds.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. A motor from Chevy's Equinox EV provided 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. The Bolt's acceleration was estimated to be similar to the previous model, typically in the low seven-second range for 0-60 mph. While this might seem slow by EV standards, it was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs. The Bolt offered one-pedal driving with medium or high levels of brake regeneration, though it could be jumpy at low speeds. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low center of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The 2027 Bolt's EPA-estimated range was 262 miles, a 15-mile improvement over its predecessor. It featured a Tesla-derived NACS charge port, with adapters for CCS and J1772 connectors, and charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing a 10% to 80% recharge in 25 minutes.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came with more standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were ventilated and heated, while the SE with Technology trim added a power liftgate and tow hitch. Heated second-row seats and leather upholstery were standard on the SEL trim. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, making it feel more cramped compared to other vehicles of its size. However, legroom was competitive, offering decent first-row legroom. The Cross Sport provided 40.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, slightly less than a Honda Passport but more than a Chevy Blazer. The cabin featured a new center console with ample storage space, including generously sized cupholders and door pockets that could hold multiple drink bottles.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel, as they needed to scoot the seat forward to comfortably reach it. The rear seats were also upright, providing plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt's floor was flat, reducing the penalty for center-seat passengers. It could hold up to 16.2 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats, which was small for the class but still sufficient for most users. A large bin underneath the floor provided additional storage, and the rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor when in the upper position. The Bolt lacked a frunk but offered ample storage for personal items, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 12-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging as standard. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics, but the haptic touchpads for controls were less convenient than traditional buttons. The Cross Sport came with four USB-C ports, with the option for up to six, and a USB-C dash cam port was added on SE with Technology and above models. The SEL trim included a head-up display, and the optional premium audio system was now from Harman Kardon, offering a 12-speaker system on the SEL Premium R-Line model.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, both shared with the Chevy Colorado midsize truck. The infotainment system ran on a Google-based operating system, lacking support for Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto. Users had to pair their phones via Bluetooth for music, but the system offered enough browsing control. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, additional safety features, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was easy to use, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could help find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. It also supported vehicle-to-load charging, allowing it to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn't released ratings for the 2024 model, but the structurally similar 2023 model received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests. The IQ.Drive package of driver aids, previously limited to higher trims, was now standard on all 2024 Atlas Cross Sport models. It included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. SEL and SEL R-Line models added predictive adaptive cruise control, while the Premium R-Line included park assist and a surround-view camera system. All models featured post-collision braking, VW's crash response system, and an emergency assist feature.

Crash test results for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt hadn't been published by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard advanced safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, automatic wipers, rear-pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost, making the Bolt one of the few budget EVs to offer such an advanced system.