The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport entered the market as a stylish and slightly more compact variant of the popular Volkswagen Atlas SUV. For families and individuals prioritizing safety, understanding vehicle safety ratings is crucial. This article delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, providing a comprehensive overview of its crashworthiness and safety features. Derived from the three-row Atlas, the Cross Sport maintains robust safety standards, offering a secure ride with two rows of seating. Let’s explore the detailed safety performance of this SUV.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end hits a barrier. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the vehicle structure protects the driver in such impacts. The 2020-2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport models earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test.
Key Findings: Driver-Side Small Overlap Test
- Structure and Safety Cage: The structural integrity of the Atlas Cross Sport held up exceptionally well, earning a “Good” rating. This indicates a robust safety cage designed to protect occupants.
- Driver Injury Measures: All critical injury measures for the driver – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot – received “Good” ratings. This signifies a low risk of significant injuries in a driver-side small overlap crash.
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: The vehicle’s restraint systems, including airbags and seatbelts, performed flawlessly, also earning a “Good” rating. The dummy’s movement during the crash test indicated optimal protection.
Action shot from the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, demonstrating the vehicle’s structural response during impact.
Post-crash dummy positioning inside the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, highlighting the maintained driver survival space within the vehicle’s safety cage.
Deployment of frontal and side curtain airbags in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport during the small overlap test, illustrating effective head protection.
Assessment of leg and foot injury risk for the driver in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport after the small overlap crash test, indicating low probability of injuries.
Technical Details: Driver-Side Small Overlap Test
The technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test provide granular insights into the vehicle’s performance:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 8 |
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 6 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 7 |
These intrusion measurements are crucial for understanding how much the occupant space was compromised during the crash. Lower intrusion values generally correlate with better occupant protection.
Driver Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 516 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 2.0 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.35 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 23 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 3.1 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 0.0 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 8 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Left Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 1 |
| Right Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.46 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.50 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 0.7 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 77 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 115 |
These detailed injury measures, such as Head Injury Criterion (HIC), neck forces, chest compression, and femur forces, are used to assess the potential for injuries to specific body regions. The low values recorded in these measurements reinforce the “Good” ratings.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Evaluation
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2020-2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport also achieved a “Good” rating in this critical assessment.
Key Findings: Passenger-Side Small Overlap Test
- Overall Evaluation: The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned an overall “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap test, matching its driver-side performance.
- Structure and Safety Cage: Consistent with the driver-side, the structure and safety cage received a “Good” rating, indicating robust protection for passengers as well.
- Passenger Injury Measures: All passenger injury measures (head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, lower leg/foot) were rated “Good,” demonstrating a low risk of significant injuries for the front passenger in this type of crash.
- Passenger Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: The passenger-side restraints and airbag systems also performed effectively, earning a “Good” rating and ensuring optimal dummy kinematics.
- Driver Injury Measures (Passenger-Side Test): Notably, driver injury measures are also recorded in the passenger-side test to evaluate the overall impact dynamics. These also received “Good” ratings, confirming the vehicle’s consistent safety performance across the front seating area.
Action during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, highlighting the vehicle’s structural integrity.
Dummy positioning on the passenger side after the crash test, showing the maintained survival space for the passenger within the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Effective deployment of airbags in the passenger-side small overlap test, crucial for head protection in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Assessment of passenger leg and foot injury risks after the small overlap crash, indicating low injury probability in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Technical Details: Passenger-Side Small Overlap Test
The detailed measurements for the passenger-side small overlap test further support the “Good” rating:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 9 |
| Footrest (cm) | 14 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 11 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 4 |
| Center dash (cm) | 3 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 6 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 7 |
Passenger Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 397 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.4 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.26 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 19 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 0.9 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 4.1 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 7 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 3 |
| Left Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 0 |
| Right Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 2 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.60 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.78 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 3.4 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.7 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 105 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 43 |
Driver Injury Measures (Passenger-Side Test):
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 205 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 14 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.16 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 29 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 0.1 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 0.1 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Left Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 0 |
| Right Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.29 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.47 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 1.3 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 0.4 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 46 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 65 |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Assessment
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a deformable barrier at 40 mph. This test represents a significant portion of real-world frontal crashes. The 2020-2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test, based on testing conducted by Volkswagen and assessed by IIHS.
Key Findings: Moderate Overlap Front Test
- Overall Evaluation: The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport achieved a “Good” overall rating, indicating strong performance in this common crash scenario.
- Structure and Safety Cage: The structure and safety cage maintained their integrity, earning a “Good” rating.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures, including head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right), were rated “Good.”
- Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics: The restraint systems effectively managed crash forces, resulting in a “Good” rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics.
Technical Details: Moderate Overlap Front Test
Technical measurements from the moderate overlap test further detail the vehicle’s crash performance:
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Left Footwell Intrusion (cm) | 10 |
| Center Footwell Intrusion (cm) | 9 |
| Right Footwell Intrusion (cm) | 8 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 6 |
| Left Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | 1 |
| Right Instrument panel rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column upward movement (cm) | 2 |
| Steering column rearward movement (cm) | -5 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| HIC-15 | 243 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 9 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.27 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 30 |
| Femur Force – Left (kN) | 2.1 |
| Femur Force – Right (kN) | 1.3 |
| Left Knee Displacement (mm) | 0 |
| Right Knee Displacement (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.48 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.74 |
| Tibia axial force – Left (kN) | 2.6 |
| Tibia axial force – Right (kN) | 2.2 |
| Foot acceleration – Left (g) | 95 |
| Foot acceleration – Right (g) | 88 |
Side Impact Crash Tests: Original and Updated Evaluations
Side impacts are a significant safety concern, and the IIHS conducts two side impact tests: the original side test and an updated, more stringent test. The 2020-2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport achieved “Good” ratings in both the original and updated side crash tests.
Side: Original Test
Key Findings: Original Side Test
- Overall Evaluation: “Good” rating.
- Structure and Safety Cage: “Good” rating.
- Driver Injury Measures: All driver injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg) were “Good.”
- Driver Head Protection: “Good” rating, indicating effective protection from head injuries in a side impact.
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: Similarly, all rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis/leg) and head protection received “Good” ratings.
Technical Measurements: Original Side Test
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
| Test ID | VTS1708 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -32.0 |
Driver Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 63 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 18 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.14 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.17 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.2 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.3 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.5 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 40 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 16 |
Passenger Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 57 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.1 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 17 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.0 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.73 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.49 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.8 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 1.9 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 29 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 16 |
Side: Updated Test
Key Findings: Updated Side Test
- Overall Evaluation: “Good” rating.
- Structure and Safety Cage: “Good” rating.
- Driver Injury Measures: Head/neck and torso received “Good” ratings. Pelvis received a “Marginal” rating. Driver head protection remained “Good.”
- Rear Passenger Injury Measures: All rear passenger injury measures (head/neck, torso, pelvis) and head protection were rated “Good.”
Vehicle condition immediately after the updated side crash test, showing structural deformation and airbag deployment in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Post-crash view with doors removed, revealing side airbag deployment and occupant compartment damage in the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport during the updated side impact test.
Grease paint on the driver dummy’s head, indicating head protection by side airbags in the updated side impact test of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Grease paint on the rear passenger dummy’s head, confirming head protection by side airbags for rear occupants in the updated side impact test of the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.
Technical Measurements: Updated Side Test
Measures of Occupant Compartment Intrusion:
| Test ID | CES2201 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -29.5 |
Driver Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 42 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.5 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.1 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 22 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.01 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.26 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 5.4 |
Passenger Injury Measures:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 163 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.6 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 11 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 39 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Torso Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 4.29 |
| Torso Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.53 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 3.8 |
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
The design of head restraints and seats plays a crucial role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2020-2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport with power leatherette seats received a “Good” overall evaluation for head restraints & seats.
Key Findings: Head Restraints & Seats
- Overall Evaluation: “Good” rating.
- Dynamic Rating: “Good” rating, indicating effective performance in dynamic testing that simulates rear-end impacts.
- Seat/Head Restraint Geometry: “Good” rating for the geometric design of the seats and head restraints, ensuring proper positioning for occupant protection.
Technical Measurements: Head Restraints & Seats
| Seat type | Power leatherette seat |
|---|---|
| Backset (mm) | 38 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | -8 |
| Pass/fail (Seat design parameters) | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 11.0 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 65 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 22 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 334 |
Headlights Performance
Headlight effectiveness is critical for nighttime driving safety. IIHS evaluates headlights based on visibility and glare. The 2020-2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has two headlight variations, with differing ratings.
SEL Trim & Higher Headlights: “Good” Rating
The SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium, and SEL Premium R-Line trims come equipped with LED projector headlights, which are curve-adaptive and feature high-beam assist. These headlights earned a “Good” overall rating.
Key Findings: SEL Trim Headlights
- Overall Rating: “Good”
- Low Beams: Good visibility on straightaways and curves, with slight glare.
- High Beams: Good visibility on straightaways and curves. High-beam assist effectively compensates for low beam limitations.
Technical Measurements: SEL Trim Headlights
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall rating Applies to 2020-23 models | G |
LOW BEAMS:
| Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | Amount glare exceeded threshold | |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 91.6 m | None |
| Straightaway left edge | 68.4 m | None |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 79.3 m | None |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 69.0 m | 13.3% |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 72.0 m | None |
| 150m radius left curve, right edge | 63.2 m | 13.8% |
HIGH BEAMS:
| Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 148.1 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 141.8 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 88.4 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 84.1 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 74.0 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 68.8 m |
S, SE, and SE with Technology Trim Headlights: “Marginal” Rating
The S, SE, SE with Technology, and SE with Technology R-Line trims are equipped with LED projector headlights that are not curve-adaptive and lack high-beam assist. These headlights received a “Marginal” overall rating.
Key Findings: S/SE Trim Headlights
- Overall Rating: “Marginal”
- Low Beams: Good left-side visibility on straightaways, inadequate right-side visibility. Fair to inadequate visibility on curves. Glare was not an issue.
- High Beams: Fair left-side visibility on straightaways, inadequate right-side visibility and inadequate visibility on curves.
Technical Measurements: S/SE Trim Headlights
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Overall rating Applies to 2020-23 models | M |
LOW BEAMS:
| Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | Amount glare exceeded threshold | |
|---|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 77.3 m | None |
| Straightaway left edge | 58.0 m | None |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 55.3 m | None |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 51.6 m | None |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 44.3 m | None |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 42.1 m | None |
HIGH BEAMS:
| Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux) | |
|---|---|
| Straightaway right edge | 125.9 m |
| Straightaway left edge | 129.7 m |
| 250m radius right curve, right edge | 56.1 m |
| 250m radius left curve, left edge | 55.0 m |
| 150m radius right curve, right edge | 43.6 m |
| 150m radius left curve, left edge | 41.9 m |
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle System
The 2020-2023 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport comes standard with “Front Assist” featuring Autonomous Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring. This system received a “Superior” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention tests.
Key Findings: Front Crash Prevention
- Overall Evaluation: “Superior” rating.
- Forward Collision Warning: The system does not meet requirements for forward collision warning.
- Automatic Emergency Braking: Avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, demonstrating effective automatic emergency braking capabilities.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH) Usability
For families, the ease of use of child seat anchors is a significant factor. The IIHS evaluates LATCH systems based on their accessibility and ease of use. The 2020-2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received a “Marginal” rating for its LATCH system usability.
Key Findings: Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
- Overall Evaluation: “Marginal” rating.
- Number of LATCH positions: 3 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, and 2 additional positions with tether anchors only.
- Lower Anchor Accessibility: Lower anchors are positioned too deep in the seat and require excessive force to attach in some positions. Maneuvering around anchors is generally easy.
- Tether Anchor Accessibility: Tether anchors are generally easy to find, but some hardware could be confused for anchors in certain positions.
Technical Measurements: Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Seat position 21:
| Lower anchor A | |
|---|---|
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 4-6 |
| Force (lbs) | could not measure |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 72 |
| Lower anchor B | |
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 4-6 |
| Force (lbs) | could not measure |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 81 |
Seat position 22:
| Lower anchor A | |
|---|---|
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 2-4 |
| Force (lbs) | 36 |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 81 |
| Lower anchor B | |
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 2-4 |
| Force (lbs) | 6 |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 70 |
Seat position 23:
| Lower anchor A | |
|---|---|
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 2-4 |
| Force (lbs) | 25 |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 69 |
| Lower anchor B | |
| Open access rated | No |
| Depth (cm) | 2-4 |
| Force (lbs) | could not measure |
| Clearance angle (degrees) | 71 |
Seat position 31 & 33: No lower latches available.
Conclusion: 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport – A Safe SUV Choice
The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport demonstrates robust safety performance in IIHS crash tests, achieving “Good” ratings in most evaluations, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, and side impact tests. While headlight ratings vary by trim and LATCH usability is rated as “Marginal,” the vehicle excels in crashworthiness and front crash prevention. For buyers prioritizing safety in a midsize SUV, the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport stands out as a dependable and secure option, offering peace of mind for both drivers and passengers.
