2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport vs 2024 Chevrolet Suburban

Volkswagen's efforts to grow its appeal in North America have developed over a long process of trial and error, but VW showed it finally understood this continent’s tastes when it launched the Atlas three-row crossover SUV. And because not everyone needs three rows, VW followed up the standard Atlas with the two-row Cross Sport for the 2020 model year. Both versions get a significant refresh for 2024.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport gets most of the same updates as its three-row sibling, including different styling, more standard features, and the discontinuation of its six-cylinder engine option in favour of a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. These changes are aimed at making the Cross Sport more competitive against other midsize crossovers like the Chevrolet Blazer and Honda Passport, the aged Ford Edge and Nissan Murano, and the more truck-like Jeep Grand Cherokee.

In Canada, the 2024 Atlas Cross Sport lineup includes Comfortline, Highline, and Execline trim levels. We drove the U.S. equivalent of the range-topping Execline for this review.

For most families, the smart vehicle choice is either a minivan or a three-row crossover—something big but built on a car platform, like the Toyota Highlander or the Kia Telluride. But for families that are both big and enjoy big hobbies (think boats and horses), there’s no replacement for a body-on-frame hauler like the Chevrolet Suburban.

Verdict: The Suburban has long been a truck re-fitted to haul people, but its 2021 redesign introduced an independent rear suspension that resulted in more usable third-row space than ever before. Now, three years later, the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban still thrives as a capable and capacious family truckster, and it's a genuinely great option for anyone that needs its special blend of practicality.