The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas supplies the essentials in a large bundle. Any person trying to find a huge, three-row family members crossover will certainly discover an appropriately roomy one right here. Each seating row is so big that you can easily fill up the Atlas specifically with 6-footers, while even more of their travel luggage will certainly have the ability to fit within than in essentially every rival. All this, and also it’s both complete and also valued right in accordance with the major competitors from Japan and also the USA.
Do not come trying to find typical German improvement and also top quality, nonetheless, as VW focused on property and also expense over indoor design and also driving characteristics. None of the crossovers of this stature are specifically delightful to drive, however the Atlas’ underpowered engines, difficult handling and also high-seas ride top quality placed it towards the rear of the pack. The inside is additionally a disappointment. The style is monotonous, specifically contrasted to even more engaging insides from the Hyundai Palisade and also Kia Telluride, and also also top-dollar trims use little in the method of an exceptional atmosphere (and also little renovation over more affordable variations). Generally, feature and also worth swayed type in the Atlas. This holding true, we believe the more affordable trims stand for the Atlas at its best and also would certainly advise those over among the a lot more pricey designs.
What’s brand-new for 2021?
Volkswagen placed the 2021 Atlas via the version’s initial substantial refreshing this year. It obtains changed styling iwith brand-new bumpers that expand the Atlas’ overall size by 3 inches. Yeah, it got back at larger. New LED lights ahead and also back more distinguish it from the 2020 Atlas. On the within, VW provided it a brand-new 8.0-inch touchscreen infomercial system that includes Wi-fi and also compatibility with VW’s smart device application. 2 vehicle driver aid functions– Traveling Help and also Emergency Situation Help– are additionally offered for 2021.
Very little has actually altered on the powertrain front, with the remarkable exemption of VW including an all-wheel-drive alternative for the conventional 2.0-liter turbo engine. It’s additionally currently the conventional engine on every trim with the exception of R-Line trims. Those will certainly remain to come conventional with the V6.
What’s the Atlas’ in-car and also indoor innovation like?
Indoor products and also general atmosphere are unsatisfactory. There is characteristically ascetic German style and afterwards there’s simply plain– the Atlas falls under the last group. That’s specifically real in the reduced trims, however also switching out the silver plastic accent trim in the S (envisioned over left) for the uncommon wood-ish compound of the various other trims (at right) does not snazz points up sufficient. The top quality of plastics, specifically on the facility console, is even worse than what you would certainly discover in competing SUVs. Upmarket insides made use of to be a Volkswagen hallmark. Today, it’s room and also worth, which may be great for lots of customers.
In-car innovation is a much better circumstance. Also the base Atlas S consists of Apple CarPlay and also Android Car plus a touchscreen that’s very easy to see and also make use of, if a little bit little at 6.5 inches. There are just 2 USB ports. Tipping up to the SE trim includes an added 3 USB ports, satellite radio and also the freshly upgraded 8-inch MIB3 infomercial display. That’s the infomercial circumstance for all the top trim degrees, though the SEL does flaunt the Volkswagen Digital Cabin that changes the conventional scale collection with one electronic display screen. It can mimic routine evaluates, or lessen them to reveal a huge navigating map, audio user interface or various other display screen.
Just how huge is the Atlas?
The Atlas is massive, and also VW made it 3 inches much longer this year. Fairly merely, if you require even more room than this, you truly have no option however to opt for a minivan or a full-size SUV like a Ford Exploration. Also the Chevrolet Traverse, which exceeds the Atlas in a lot of measurements, isn’t a lot larger to truly matter. (Note that there is additionally the Atlas Cross Sporting activity that seats 5, and also is much shorter in size and also elevation. We assess independently)
Like rivals, there is a second-row three-person bench seat offered for an eight-passenger capability or captain’s chairs with a seven-person capability. We have actually examined instances with the bench, which is 60/40- split and also slides better fore and also aft than those of rivals. This enables you to bring kids in safety seat better to mother and father, or maximize a lot more third-row legroom. They additionally enable a much bigger pass-through to the 3rd row than various other crossovers can take care of.
Not just is it simpler to get involved in the Atlas’ 3rd row, it is a lot more roomy once you come back there. As we information in the video clip over, somebody 6-foot-3 has ample head- and also legroom in the 3rd row. Real, you possibly will not be packing NBA point player back there, however whoever remains in the back will certainly be much less confined and also simply typically better.
When it comes to freight capability, as you can see in our travel luggage examination video clip listed below, the Atlas’ 20.6 cubic-feet of room behind that increased 3rd row permitted us to store 3 carry-on roller bags, one mid-size check-in bag and also a carry-on. None of the various other three-row crossovers we have actually travel luggage examined have actually matched it. In regards to optimum freight room with all rows decreased, its 96.8 cubic-feet is just outshined by the Traverse (hardly), minivans, and also those full-size SUVs.
What are the Atlas’ efficiency and also gas economic climate?
Combined with both all-wheel-drive and also front-wheel-drive, the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (2.0 T) creates 235 horse power and also 258 pound-feet of torque. That outcome gets here previously in the rev variety than the offered V6, indicating it in fact really feels a little bit quicker off the line. It’s additionally essentially quicker than the SEL, given that the SEL’s added devices causes a much heftier aesthetic weight. Its gas economic climate is typical for the section at 21 mpg city, 24 mpg freeway and also 22 mpg integrated with FWD and also 20/24/20 with AWD.
The offered 3.6-liter V6 (called VR6) can be coupled to front- or four-wheel drive, and also comes criterion on the R-Line trims. It’s optional on the SEL and also SE w/ Innovation trims. The VR6 creates 276 hp and also 266 lb-ft of torque, indicating both offered engines are underpowered for the section. It as well obtains an eight-speed automated criterion. Gas economic climate maxes out at 17 city, 23 freeway and also 19 integrated with FWD and also 16/22/18 with AWD. Those numbers are reduced for the section.
What’s the Atlas like to drive?
The Atlas does not experience the base four-cylinder engine as you could anticipate. Velocity can in fact be quicker than the VR6 version, and also we located that having much less weight to carry about makes the four-cylinder Atlas lighter on its feet and also much less difficult around edges. It’s still no remarkable trainer.
Since you can obtain four-wheel drive with the four-cylinder, there’s also much less factor to go with the V6. That larger engine’s velocity is never ever as vigorous as you would certainly discover in a lot of rivals, and also handling is additionally a little bit ponderous, both in contrast to the four-cylinder version and also competing SUVs. The guiding goes to the very least happily direct in initiative despite engine, and also without the extra-numb on-center feeling of various other Volkswagens.
When it comes to the flight, it’s extremely resilient. The Atlas bounds and also drifts over wavinesses, yet welcomes manholes and also damaged sidewalk with common Germanic suppleness. The added pounds included by the greatly complete SEL we examined resolve those high-seas body movements a little bit, however the Atlas’ flight is constantly exceedingly soft.
What a lot more can I check out the VW Atlas?
2019 Volkswagen Atlas S Testimonial|Back to the essentials
We evaluate the most affordable variation of the Atlas: the S trim with front-wheel drive, a four-cylinder engine, towel seats and also couple of gizmos and also gadgets.
2020 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sporting Activity First Drive Testimonial
The Cross Sporting activity sheds the third-row seat and also a number of size, chops the roofline and also makes the styling a little bit sportier. It’s still fairly massive, however, and also not a negative option if great deals of freight room is more crucial than eight-passenger seats.
What functions are offered and also what’s the Atlas’ cost?
Rates for the 2021 VW Atlas begins at $32,750 consisting of the $1,195 location fee. The 2.0 T base engine comes criterion with front-wheel drive and also is conventional on just about the R-Line trims. Including four-wheel drive includes $1,900 to the cost. The 3.6-liter VR6 engine can be coupled with FWD or AWD in the SE and also SEL trims, and also AWD is conventional on the SEL Costs and also Costs R-Line trims.
Conventional devices consists of 18- inch alloy wheels, automated LED fronts lights, automated wipers, mishap evasion innovations (see Safety and security area listed below), dual-zone automated environment control, a six-way hand-operated vehicle driver seat, towel furniture, 2 USB ports, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Car and also a six-speaker stereo. Offered the loved one lack of devices consisted of on the base trim, we would certainly anticipate lots of people would certainly discover the $36,100 SE trim to be the wonderful area. It includes a power liftgate, eight-way power vehicle driver seat, three-zone environment control, leatherette furniture, warmed pole positions, a leatherette-wrapped wheel, distance access and also push-button beginning, back sunshades, cordless phone battery charger, 5 USB ports, an eight-inch touchscreen and also satellite radio.
You can discover a complete break down of trim degrees, functions, specifications and also regional rates right here on Autoblog Base rates for every trim degree is listed below.
- S: $32,750
- SE: $36,100
- SE w/ Innovation: $38,140
- SE w/ Innovation R-Line (VR6 just): $40,940
- SEL: $43,620
- SEL R-Line (VR6 just): $45,220
- SEL Costs: $48,420
- Costs R-Line (VR6 just): $51,920
What are the Atlas’ security devices and also collision rankings?
Every 2021 VW Atlas comes criterion with onward accident caution with pedestrian discovery and also automated emergency situation stopping, blind-spot and also back cross-traffic caution and also a common array of air bags. Lane-keeping help, flexible cruise ship control car high-beams and also an automated vehicle parking functions are offered.
In federal government collision examinations, the Atlas racked up an excellent 5 star for general, side and also frontal collision defense. The Insurance Coverage Institute for Freeway Safety and security provided it the most effective feasible rankings in all collision examinations, plus a ranking of “Superior” for its frontal collision avoidance systems. It disappointed a Leading Safety and security Choose honor because of a “Low” front lights ranking for the S and also SE trims. All greater trims obtained a “Excellent” front lights ranking. Its LATCH supports additionally obtained a third-best (or second-worst) “Low” ranking for being tough to gain access to.