About the Volkswagen Atlas

The Atlas is Volkswagen’s largest model on sale in the United States, offering three rows of seating and more cargo space than the older Volkswagen Touareg. VW builds the Atlas in its Chattanooga, TN, factory. Buyers can choose between a turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 engine, and 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) is available. People wanting something more stylish can opt for the separate Atlas Cross Sport model, which trades the third-row seat for a more stylish body style with a sloping roof, though most other features and specs remain the same.

Shoppers can choose between numerous trim levels for the Atlas: Atlas SE, Atlas SE w/Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line.

What are the advantages of the Volkswagen Atlas?

The VW Atlas offers a fantastically comfortable, spacious interior with plenty of family-friendly features and plenty of cup holders. Volkswagen’s tech is easy to use and does not require a ton of driver attention while driving. It also offers a good standard feature set, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. At the same time, the three-row Atlas carries itself with composure in most situations and has a better-than-expected ride.

What is the best Volkswagen Atlas model year?

Volkswagen redesigned the Atlas for the 2024 model year, but on the used market, we’d still recommend going as new as possible. The best model year for a used Atlas is 2023, as it gets the latest tech and a new infotainment screen.

What are the disadvantages of the Volkswagen Atlas?

Though it’s available with a V6, neither of the Atlas’ available powertrains offer enough power to keep us satisfied, and neither provides class-leading fuel economy. That leaves the VW Atlas in the cold when compared to some rivals, which is disappointing, given the Atlas’ pitch as an ideal family road-trip vehicle. Finally, though spacious, the cabin features too many cheap materials to feel premium.

Comparison: Is the Volkswagen Atlas better than the Honda Pilot?

The redesigned 2023 Honda Pilot is a bit more expensive than the Atlas to start, but it offers a more refined interior and better highway fuel economy. It’s also newer, as the Atlas hasn’t seen a complete overhaul since its inception.

Is the Volkswagen Atlas a reliable car?

The Volkswagen Atlas offers average predicted reliability. It’s backed by a four-year/50,000-mile warranty, and there are no open recalls on the 2023 model.

How many miles will the Volkswagen Atlas last?

Miles per Gallon

The four-cylinder Atlas returns 21 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. AWD lowers those numbers slightly to 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined. With the V6 on board, the Atlas returns an EPA-estimated 18/24/20 mpg city/hwy/combined, and with AWD, the highway mileage drops to 23 mpg.

Lifespan

With proper care and maintenance, you should have no problem pushing a Volkswagen Atlas well past 100,000 miles.