2018 volkswagen atlas5/30/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() All engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic regardless of drive wheels. Optional is a 280 hp, 3.6-liter V-6, which comes standard with front-drive and offers all-wheel drive as an option. That's an odd decision, if you ask us, as it significantly limits the Atlas' appeal-especially as all-wheel-drive market share continues to grow. That engine, however, is only mated to front-wheel drive, meaning it's not likely to be a big seller in the places where snowfall is a regular thing. It's the same powertrain we've seen in numerous other VW products, ranging from the Golf GTI all the way to the large Audi Q7 SUV (with which the Atlas shares very little). Base models utilize a familiar 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine rated here at 238 horsepower. What's under the hood isn't much of a surprise if you're familiar with the VW lineup. Additionally, an R-Line styling package is available on SE and SEL models to give them a slightly sportier look (but the package doesn't actually improve performance aside from including its own 20-inch alloy wheels). The SEL tops the lineup with even more features like a moonroof and automatic emergency braking, although a loaded model approaches $50,000. The SE shoots for mainstream and adds leatherette upholstery and an 8.0-inch upgraded infotainment system. S models feature cloth seats and a 6.5-inch touchscreen, but they do have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Atlas' second row is offered as either a three-seat bench or as a pair of captain's chairs (for $650 extra), meaning it can seat either seven or six passengers depending on configuration. And that third row is reasonably roomy, providing what may be the most capacious accommodations in its class. The second row slides fore and aft as in most competitors, but the Atlas joins only the Pathfinder in allowing a child seat to remain in the second row when it is slid forward for access to the rearmost seats. The megabuck SEL Premium offers a full LCD instrument cluster, which displaces with conventional gauges in favor of a multi-configurable screen.Īll three rows of the Atlas offer better-than-average interior room. VW's Car-Net infotainment system takes center stage on the dashboard and it's flanked by a pair of large air vents. Inside, the Atlas' dashboard could easily have been lifted from the Passat. Full LED headlights are standard on even the base model, but LED taillights are on the options list. Stylistically, the Atlas shares more in common with the five-seat and more Euro-oriented (and pricier) Touareg, although its flared fenders and slightly more angular overall look have a lot in common with the Jeep Grand Cherokee. At just shy of 200 inches from head to toe, it's on the large side compared to its rivals, which includes the Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, and Nissan Pathfinder. The Atlas is offered in five trim levels and with a choice of 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder or 3.6-liter V-6 engines mated to either front- or all-wheel drive, but only the V-6 can be ordered with winter weather-friendly AWD. While the Passat hasn't exactly been a hit, the Atlas shoots for the fast-growing crossover SUV segment instead of the slowing sedan market. Now, VW has been down this road before with its Passat, which was also designed for Americans and is built alongside the Atlas. Unlike VW's previous crossover efforts, the Tiguan and the Touareg, the new Atlas is a decidedly American-oriented model, so much so that it is built in Chattanooga, Tennessee. ![]() On the flip side, it's exceptionally roomy and versatile inside, and its conservative looks should hold up well. We've knocked it down for its lackluster fuel economy not offset by particularly impressive performance and for an interior that feels low-rent compared to virtually all rivals. In our testing, it's a 6.5 out of 10, which puts it a hair above average. It'sĪvailable in S, SE, and SEL trim levels, the Atlas gets everything right on paper, but its execution leaves a little to be desired. The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is a three-row crossover that couldn't come soon enough for the automaker. ![]()
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