2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. Taos Exterior Design

Both the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and 2025 Taos are sleek SUVs with iconic VW style. They each feature an elegant front light bar, as well as automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights. This lighting system extends to the rear bumper on the Atlas Cross Sport with its rear light bar and LED taillights. While both offer heated, power-adjustable side mirrors, the Atlas Cross Sport adds available features like power-folding, memory settings, and passenger auto-tilt.

Shared exterior features include:

• Automatic LED headlights and daytime running lights
• Heated side mirrors
• Front light bar
• Power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers
• Heated washer nozzles
• Roof rails

Available 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport exterior features include:

• 18- to 21-in. wheels
• Power-folding side mirrors with position memory and passenger-side auto-tilt
• Hands-free power liftgate
• LED taillights
• Rear light bar and illuminated VW emblem
• Trailer hitch

Available 2025 VW Taos exterior features include:

• 17- to 19-in. wheels
• Coming/leaving home feature
• Power-adjustable and manual-folding side mirrors

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. Taos Interior Design & Technology

As you climb into the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport or 2025 VW Taos, you’ll find an interior designed to keep you and your passengers comfortable. The Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with heated front seats to make cold-weather drives more fun, while this same feature is available on higher-level trims in the Taos. Both are also available with ventilated front seats. The Atlas Cross Sport is exclusive with available heated second-row outboard seats.

Whether you opt for an Atlas Cross Sport or a Taos, you’ll find optimized tech systems in either SUV. The Atlas Cross Sport is standard with a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument display, which becomes available for the Taos on higher-level trims. Turn to the 12-inch central touchscreen in the Atlas Cross Sport or the 8-inch central touchscreen in the Taos to access navigation and your favorite apps. Wired and wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ are available with both SUVs, with the wireless capability standard on the Atlas Cross Sport.

Shared interior and technology features include:

• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Interior ambient lighting
• Climatronic® dual-zone automatic climate control
• Heated steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Keyless access
• Wired and wireless App-Connect® (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto)
• 10.25-in. fully configurable VW Digital Cockpit Pro
• Wireless charging

Available 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport interior and technology features include:

• Front seats with memory settings and massage
• Ten-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat
• Heated second-row outboard seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Second-row window sunshades
• Stainless steel pedals
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon® premium audio system
• 12-in. center touchscreen display with navigation

Available 2025 VW Taos interior and technology features include:

• Eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar
• Six-way manually adjustable front passenger’s seat
• Leatherette-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped gearshift knob
• Six-speaker sound system
• 8-in. center touchscreen display with navigation
• 8-in. non-configurable VW Digital Cockpit

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. Taos Engine Specs & Fuel Economy

Both the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport and Taos boast turbocharged TSI® power beneath their hoods. This amounts to 269 horsepower for the Atlas Cross Sport and its 2.0L four-cylinder engine and 174 horsepower for the Taos and its 1.5L four-cylinder engine. Due to its compact body style, the Taos can produce an impressive 36 highway MPG when paired with front-wheel drive (FWD); the Atlas Cross Sport reaches up to 26 highway MPG. Of the two SUVs, only the Atlas Cross Sport is rated for towing — it can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Engine specs are compared in the accompanying table.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. Taos Size & Cargo Space

Inside the 2025 VW Taos and 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport, you’ll find seating for five passengers, roomy cargo compartments, and space for your passengers to stretch out. The Atlas Cross Sport boasts the larger cabin, which translates to 40.4 inches of rear-seat legroom, 2.5 inches more legroom than what the Taos offers. What the Taos lacks in legroom, it makes up for in headroom — front-seat passengers are treated to 1.3 inches more headroom and rear-seat passengers have 2 additional inches of headroom compared to the Atlas Cross Sport.

When it comes to cargo, you’ll find that the Atlas Cross Sport is able to haul up to 40.3 cubic feet behind the second row, while the Taos offers up to 27.9 cubic feet. To access more space, turn to the 60/40 split-folding rear seat in either SUV. With the rear seat fully lowered, the Atlas Cross Sport offers up to 77.6 cubic feet of cargo space, while the Taos offers up to 65.9 cubic feet.

Interior dimensions are shown in the accompanying table.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs. Taos Safety Options & Features

Protecting yourself and your loved ones is of paramount importance, and the 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport and Taos both come with the systems to help you do just that. You’ll find numerous driver assistance and safety features are available with both VW SUVs, including the standard IQ.DRIVE® suite. IQ.DRIVE includes features such as adaptive cruise control, semi-automated driving (travel assist), and a lane-keeping system (lane assist). The Atlas Cross Sport is exclusive with additional safety features like an overhead view camera, head-up display, and exit warning system.

Shared driver assistance and safety features include:

• Dynamic road sign display
• Front and rear park distance control
• Anti-theft alarm system with engine immobilizer
• Light assist (high beam control for headlights)
• Rearview camera
• IQ.DRIVE suite
  • Travel assist (semi-automated driving assistance)
  • Front assist (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring)
  • Blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Lane assist (lane-keeping system)
  • Emergency assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency)

Available 2025 VW Atlas Cross Sport driver assistance and safety features include:

• Area view (overhead view camera)
• Exit warning system
• Head-up display
• Parking steering assistant (park assist)