Chrysler Pacifica vs Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica is the last Chrysler model standing, as well as one of a shrunken contingent of North American-market minivans that also includes the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna. While it hasn’t been redesigned since its introduction as a 2017 model, the Pacifica continues with minimal changes. The only news for 2024 is a handful of new colour options.

Verdict: The Pacifica checks all of the boxes, with only small issues to detract from its overall goodness.

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.