Volkswagen's Long-Overdue Three Row SUV: The Atlas

For years, Volkswagen has struggled to compete with other manufacturers when it comes to three-row SUVs. Despite launching its own two-row tour EG, which unfortunately didn't sell well enough for VW to enter the market with a proper three row SUV, Volkswagen finally has a new contender in the atlas.

The Atlas was launched with a single powertrain option: a 3.6L V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options are available, although only the latter is currently available on the market. Additionally, a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder will be added to the lineup in the future, but only for front-wheel drive versions.

When it comes to performance, the Atlas is competent but unremarkable. Unlike some of its competitors, such as those from Honda and Toyota, the Atlas doesn't boast crisp, engaging handling. Instead, it feels like a big, overgrown coach – which is precisely what buyers are looking for in their mid-sized SUVs.

The ride is firm and comfortable, with passengers experiencing a bit of bounce on rough surfaces. This gives the impression that you're sitting on top of a springy mattress, with your head rocking from side to side as if you're in a bobblehead. Impressively, though, road wind and tire noise are kept to a minimum, and the cabin is remarkably quiet.

One area where the Atlas truly shines is its engine and transmission combination. The 3.6L V6 paired with the 8-speed automatic delivers plenty of creamy power to all four wheels. This setup works particularly well in terms of smooth shifting and performance, especially given the challenges that other manufacturers have faced with their own eight- and nine-speed gearboxes.

In terms of interior design, Volkswagen has done a good job of executing its vision for this three-row SUV. The materials are nicer than expected, with plenty of soft-touch surfaces where your hands and elbows will land. There's also an abundance of space in the footwell, as well as knee and leg room – although those who are NBA-sized may find themselves a bit cramped.

The front seats in our test vehicle were particularly impressive, offering large sizes with an array of electric adjustments that made them perfect for long trips. However, they lacked the firmness that some past Volkswagen products have boasted. Nevertheless, we appreciated the thoughtful layout of controls, which put them close at hand and easy to access.

In contrast to Honda's Pilot and Toyota Highlander, which are known for spreading their buttons and touch-sensitive surfaces across the dash in an apparent attempt to utilize every available space, the Atlas takes a more streamlined approach. Drivers of all heights found the controls close at hand and accessible, with the touchscreen infotainment system also being easy to use, thanks to big fonts and clear displays.

When it comes to seating passengers, the Atlas delivers plenty of space for three adults in the second row, along with ample knee room, toe space, and headroom. Additionally, there are enough power outlets and charging ports to keep every electronic device fully juiced – although we did find that lifting the leather on either side of the rear seats created a yawning abyss.

Perhaps most impressive about the Atlas is its ability to check all the boxes for a family-focused three-row SUV. With its spacious interior, comfortable ride, and reliable engine, Volkswagen has finally entered the market with a serious contender – one that will undoubtedly challenge the dominance of Honda's Pilot and Toyota Highlander.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enfor years VW tried to compete with other manufacturers three row SUVs with its own two- row tour EG which just didn't selling the numbers that VW needed it to enter the atlas or you can call it the atlast with its arrival Volkswagen finally has a proper three row SUV to directly take on its competitors Volkswagen launched the atlas with a single power Trin a 3.6 L V6 engine made it to an 8-speed automatic transmission both front front and all-wheel drive are available a 2 L turbocharged four cylinder will be available down the road but only on front-wheel drive versions out on the road the atlas is competent but wholly unremarkable there isn't any of vw's sporty DNA in the atlas rather than crisp engaging handling the VW feels like a big overgrown coach but don't be surprised this is what buyers really want in their midsized SUV the ride is firm and comfortable but on rough surfaces passengers get bounced around a bit you feel a bit like a bobblehead with your head rocking from side to side impressively road wind and tire noise are kept to a minimum and the cabin is luxury car quiet another bright spot is that V6 engine and transmission combination they work well together delivering plenty of creamy power to all four wheels the transmission is a particular standout given how many manufacturers have had problems with their own eight and nped gear boxes this one shifts smoothly and smartly every time move inside and the interior should be familiar to anyone who's driven the latest Pat or Jetta sedans yet here in the atlas the effort is better executed materials are nicer with plenty of soft touch surfaces where your hands and elbows will land there's a ton of space in the footwell with abundant knee and leg room you'd have to be NBA sized to find the atlas too small in theal version we bought front seat occupants are treated to large seats with a wide variety of electric adjustments they're great for long trips although the cushions aren't quite as firm as in past Volkswagen products we really appreciate the way Volkswagen laid out the controls competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander spread their buttons and touch sensitive surfaces across the dash as if it's a goal to use every surface possible not so with the atlas drivers tall and short found the controls close at hand and easy to access the touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use with big fonts and a clear display and the redundant buttons help a lot Toyota and Honda should spend some time benchmarking this system space for passengers and cargo is plentiful the second row seats have enough room for three adults with abundant knee toe leg and head room and there are enough power and charging ports to keep every electronic device fully Juiced lift the leather on either outboard seatback and Slide the seat forward even if a child seats installed and you're greeted with a yawning Abyss to the third row the passageway is big enough for an adult to climb through let alone a child and that third row is very large fine for adults and plenty roomy for kids there's enough space for grocery bags or other items when the third row is raised and folding down both rows of seats results in a large flat cargo area while it took VW a long time to get here the atlas does seem to check off all the boxes for a family focused fre row SUV it remains to be seen how the atlas will perform in our road tests as well as in terms of reliability for more on SUVs check out consumerreports.orgfor years VW tried to compete with other manufacturers three row SUVs with its own two- row tour EG which just didn't selling the numbers that VW needed it to enter the atlas or you can call it the atlast with its arrival Volkswagen finally has a proper three row SUV to directly take on its competitors Volkswagen launched the atlas with a single power Trin a 3.6 L V6 engine made it to an 8-speed automatic transmission both front front and all-wheel drive are available a 2 L turbocharged four cylinder will be available down the road but only on front-wheel drive versions out on the road the atlas is competent but wholly unremarkable there isn't any of vw's sporty DNA in the atlas rather than crisp engaging handling the VW feels like a big overgrown coach but don't be surprised this is what buyers really want in their midsized SUV the ride is firm and comfortable but on rough surfaces passengers get bounced around a bit you feel a bit like a bobblehead with your head rocking from side to side impressively road wind and tire noise are kept to a minimum and the cabin is luxury car quiet another bright spot is that V6 engine and transmission combination they work well together delivering plenty of creamy power to all four wheels the transmission is a particular standout given how many manufacturers have had problems with their own eight and nped gear boxes this one shifts smoothly and smartly every time move inside and the interior should be familiar to anyone who's driven the latest Pat or Jetta sedans yet here in the atlas the effort is better executed materials are nicer with plenty of soft touch surfaces where your hands and elbows will land there's a ton of space in the footwell with abundant knee and leg room you'd have to be NBA sized to find the atlas too small in theal version we bought front seat occupants are treated to large seats with a wide variety of electric adjustments they're great for long trips although the cushions aren't quite as firm as in past Volkswagen products we really appreciate the way Volkswagen laid out the controls competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander spread their buttons and touch sensitive surfaces across the dash as if it's a goal to use every surface possible not so with the atlas drivers tall and short found the controls close at hand and easy to access the touchscreen infotainment system is easy to use with big fonts and a clear display and the redundant buttons help a lot Toyota and Honda should spend some time benchmarking this system space for passengers and cargo is plentiful the second row seats have enough room for three adults with abundant knee toe leg and head room and there are enough power and charging ports to keep every electronic device fully Juiced lift the leather on either outboard seatback and Slide the seat forward even if a child seats installed and you're greeted with a yawning Abyss to the third row the passageway is big enough for an adult to climb through let alone a child and that third row is very large fine for adults and plenty roomy for kids there's enough space for grocery bags or other items when the third row is raised and folding down both rows of seats results in a large flat cargo area while it took VW a long time to get here the atlas does seem to check off all the boxes for a family focused fre row SUV it remains to be seen how the atlas will perform in our road tests as well as in terms of reliability for more on SUVs check out consumerreports.org\n"