After a short production delay, Volkswagen will offer a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in the Atlas. It will produce 235 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque starting at 1,600 rpm, powering the front wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission. It will be available with S, SE, SE with Technology Package, and SEL trim levels.
Until then, the only engine choice is a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 276 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 266 lb-ft of torque at 2,750 rpm. It also sends power through an 8-speed automatic and is available with FWD or AWD. All Atlas SEL Premium variants include the V6 and AWD as standard equipment.
Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD operates in front-drive mode under certain conditions, decoupling the rear axle from the drivetrain in order to reduce friction and improve fuel economy. Up to half the power automatically flows to the rear wheels, and at each axle the system can distribute power between the wheels to maximize traction.
Additionally, the transmission includes a Sport driving mode and a manual shift gate, the AWD system comes with multiple settings that tailor operation for specific surfaces and types of terrain, and the driver can choose Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual modes that calibrate the throttle, transmission, and steering for specific types of driving.
Maximum towing capacity measures 5,000 pounds, maximum ground clearance measures 8 inches, and thanks in part to automatic engine stop/start technology, the EPA says my SEL Premium should have gotten 19 mpg in combined driving. My observed result was 18.2 mpg on my test loop and 17.3 mpg after a week and 650 miles of driving.
Fuel economy is the least satisfying thing about driving the Atlas SEL Premium, but given its interior size and 4,500-pound curb weight, it isn’t entirely unexpected. Drive the Atlas with vigor, and it will consume gas like a fraternity pledge does beer.
Volkswagen’s V6 works hard in the Atlas, providing just enough power to keep this father of four satisfied. The 8-speed automatic transmission capably performs its task, but there is a granular sensation associated with power delivery, one that I attribute to the engine and the 4Motion AWD system.
Big brakes, effortless steering, and a tight turning radius all make the Atlas agreeable to drive. It didn’t take long for me to determine that the SUV’s lane-keeping assist system and I would not get along, as it ruined on-center feel while driving on highways and freeways. Once I shut it off, I was a happier camper. And then, after I switched the Atlas to its Sport driving mode, I had no issues with the steering aside from its freakishly small wheel.
Volkswagen uses a strut front and multi-link rear suspension design for the Atlas. In combination with the 20-inch wheels and 255/50 tires, it was obvious that the company needs to better isolate impact harshness from the cabin. The racket imparts a sense of fragility diametrically opposed to the Atlas’s rugged design and solid build quality.
While they’re at it, the SEL Premium could use an adaptive damping suspension. Occupants suffer too much head toss while the SUV rocks laterally on undulating road surfaces.
Feeling firm and secure at speed, the Atlas thunders down freeways, nimbly threading through traffic despite its size. Around town, the Atlas tackles speed bumps, drainage dips, and driveway aprons like they’re not even there. I entertained the kids with a rousing exit from the parking lot at The Grove shopping mall in Los Angeles, bouncing the SUV down to the ground floor from the fifth-level deck (if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about). Off-road, the Atlas effortlessly trundled through ruts and surmounted a steep, angled trail that stymies many of its direct competitors.
Outward visibility is impressive, and the SUV’s boxy design and long, flat hood make it super easy to park. The 360-degree camera that comes with the SEL Premium trim supplies downright stunning clarity, and parking sensors make it easy to squeeze the Atlas into tight spaces.
Park Assist is also standard for the SEL Premium, helping to park the vehicle by autonomously steering the Atlas while the driver operates the pedals and transmission. However, since I find this technology utterly useless in exactly the kinds of situations where it is most needed (quickly cramming into small spaces on busy city streets while traffic backs up behind you), I didn’t bother with it.
Where the Atlas most impressed me, though, was on Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains near L.A. I began my descent from nearly 2,000 feet of elevation with some trepidation related to the SUV’s length, width, height, and weight. However, the closer I got to the road’s terminus at Pacific Coast Highway, the more confident I became in its handling and braking capabilities. By the end of the run, I was slinging it around with greater enthusiasm than I do most crossover SUVs.