2021 Volkswagen Atlas Review

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Review - It is fitting that the brand new Volkswagen Atlas takes its name from the Greek god entrusted with keeping the sky from landeding on people. Coming off the hugely advertised diesel-emissions scandal, VW needs an emotional win. Despite the media as well as customer kerfuffle, sales for the people's brand are in fact up until now in 2017, but that is mainly due to the arrival of the Golf Alltrack, a boomlet that ultimately might fizzle. Thus the requirement for the Atlas to prop up the brand.

Riding on the very same flexible architecture that underpins the Golf, the Tennessee-built Atlas is a medium-large three-row SUV that fills up a major void in VW's portfolio. Not given that the Routan-- a rebadged Dodge Grand Caravan that VW last sold in 2013-- has actually there been a Volkswagen with more than five seat belts. Purchasers have actually been compelled to look elsewhere for their family-hauling requirements.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas Review

Massive by VW criteria, the Atlas's outer measurements alter towards the burly end of the segment. Overall size is within an inch of the Ford Traveler and the Nissan Pathfinder, but the VW has a longer wheelbase and also makes outstanding use its footprint. Seven passengers, or six if purchasers select the late-availability second-row captain's chairs, have 153 cubic feet of room to share. That matches the Honda Pilot's indoor quantity as well as eclipses that of the 10Best-winning Mazda CX-9 by 18 cubes, although it's timid of the Traveler's 155. With butts in all the seats, the Atlas has 21 cubic feet of freight area, while most rivals are in the teenagers.

Removaling all that mass-- as much as an approximated 4550 extra pounds-- is a job carried by one of two engines: VW's ubiquitous EA888 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four as well as a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6. In this application, the turbo four makes 235 horse power and also 258 lb-ft of torque as well as comes just with front-wheel drive. The narrow-angle V-6 is good for 276 horse power as well as is readily available with either front- or VW's 4MOTION four-wheel drive. We didn't have the opportunity to own the four-cylinder, although it should not be extremely pokey around town because its torque height is simply 8 lb-ft timid of the V-6's as well as shows up 1150 rpm lower, at 1600 rpm. We anticipate the V-6 Atlas to hit 60 mph in about 7.6 seconds, which is a little quicker than the costlier as well as smaller Touareg however well behind the Honda Pilot.

Fortunately, the Atlas does not feel as huge as it is. It owns smaller-- although not quite as small as a CX-9. Solid-mounted front and rear subframes connect framework habits, although the guiding is all but mute. The all-wheel-drive Atlas includes a dial selector for the obvious settings: Snow, Offroad, Personalized Offroad, and Onroad-- the last offering four sub-modes consisting of Eco, Regular, Sporting activity, and Individual. When changing amongst them, the most noticeable difference is the steering in Sporting activity mode, which ups the heft. Still, we really did not locate the Sport guiding also hefty on our drive via Texas Hillside Country's winding two-lanes, as well as there is no straying on-center. Brake really feel, something frequently neglected in this class, is solid, too, with prompt pedal action and also an instinctive relationship in between effort and also stopping force.

The flight flirts with buttery condition on the typical 18-inch wheels. The top trim level rolls on 20s, which do not reduce the ride high quality but do add to a noticeable boost in tire noise. The pole positions are built for long-haul convenience, with sufficient upper leg, lumbar, and shoulder support. The 60/40 split-folding 2nd row slides fore and aft, and also it also folds onward, even with a child seat set up to permit third-row access. As soon as in the wayback, grownups will certainly locate a lot of area as well as a proper seat elevation; the rearmost row is doing not have just in clearance, so taller guests should slouch a little bit.

The base S version starts at $31,425 and also comes with LED fronts lights, 18-inch wheels, and also Apple CarPlay as well as Android Car. Stepping up to SE trim brings faux-leather seats, blind-spot surveillance, closeness access and also push-button beginning, additional USB ports, warmed front seats, and also an 8.0-inch touchscreen (up from 6.5) with satellite radio. Add $1400 for the six-cylinder S. There is additionally a V6 S Introduce model, which will certainly be restricted to a couple of thousand systems; it obtains the upsized infotainment interface and also a breathtaking sunroof otherwise scheduled for SEL trims.

The SEL starts at $40,085, or $41,815 for the V-6. Those planning to tow greater than 2000 pounds will certainly need the SEL V-6, which features a manufacturing facility hitch and a 5000-pound towing capability. VW also ups the radiator fan's motor from 600 to 850 watts as well as ditches the lower grille shutters to guarantee air is constantly passing through the heat exchangers. All SELs consist of driver-assist attributes such as flexible cruise ship control, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision caution, and park aid (all but the last are available as an alternative on the SE). The SEL Costs-- V-6, AWD only-- brings genuine leather, cooled down front seats as well as warmed second-row seats, a 12-speaker Fender stereo, and also 20-inch wheels, together with VW's variation of Audi's digital Virtual Cabin, called Virtual Show right here. The electronic collection functions much the same as its Audi counterpart, yet the map sight isn't fairly as striking-- read: big-- and the controls get on the appropriate steering-wheel spoke, not the left.

The Atlas shows off right into car dealerships this June, totally efficient in shouldering the obligation of carrying family members and all their stuff along with a large chunk of VW's future in The U.S.A.. Like its name, this VW is solid sufficient to deal with heavy lifting.

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