Atlas is pure Vee-Dub
VW’s midsize SUV boldly designed, seats seven
You’ve seen the new VW Atlas on the road by now. You know the one: It’s the great big brute of a ute with a distinctively fresh and blocky-looking appearance, the rectangular grille and headlights, and the enormous body that raises an eyebrow or two when passersby notice the VW badges after wondering what company builds this enormous cruiser.
Atlas looks strong and sturdy, just like the mythical Greek titan for which it’s named (Atlas was the big, strong, naked fella, holding the Earth on his shoulders).
And in VW guise, Atlas was cooked up for us North Americans with three rows of seating, space to spare and the latest in safety, connectivity and AWD tech.
Two of Atlas’ characteristics will probably stand out more than any other on an initial test drive.
First, Atlas is pure Volkswagen — and if you’re a past or current VW owner, you’ll feel like you’re in a familiar place. Inside, it’s typical Vee-Dub, via a cabin that’s sophisticated, tidy and logical.
Many interfaces, controls and switches, and even the patterning and shape of the leather seats, are carried over from other recent models.
From your first meet-andgreet with the Atlas’ interior, you’re very aware that you’re in a Volkswagen.
Second, there’s little if any adjustment required to the way Atlas drives, if it’ll be your first big crossover. Sure, it’s large and in charge with a commanding forward view and a lot of steel around you.
But Atlas is light at its controls, feels easily manoeuvrable as big machines go, and it’s hardly more difficult to position or park or manoeuvre than a Kia Forte.
The appearance that Atlas drives like a piece of agricultural equipment but around town and while parking, she’s light and easygoing.
Hit the highway, and Atlas heavies up. The steering gets heavier, which helps Atlas lock onto its course with confidence.
Still, it fails to feel clumsy, gigantic or ponderous, despite delivering that heavy and stable feel that SUV shoppers tend to love. It’s a beast of a cruiser but almost never feels like a fourwheeled shed.
Atlas runs the latest version of VW’s 4Motion AWD (available with the V6 engine only) which sees most system hardware packaged away into the rear axle.
An electric pump controls the hydraulic pressure applied to clutches within the system, enabling millisecond manipulation of the power split between the axles.
Even in seriously slippery stuff, you experience little more than abundant traction, and Atlas’s effective ability to go where it’s pointed with minimal drama.
My top-line tester ran the optional 3.6-litre V6, direct injected for 276 horses. It’s an adequate performer, not particularly thrilling but wellsuited to gentle driving at low revs, where the engine operates with scarcely a peep.
Open it up and there’s a tastefully-restrained growl waiting for you at the upper end of the rev range. An eight-speed automatic is included and is virtually invisible, too. Drive gently, and you virtually never know the powertrain is there.
Your correspondent is an athletic-build, five-foot-11-inch fella, and I found Atlas easy to enter and exit, and generously roomy in most directions, even after annihilating an evening’s worth of post-chest-day allyou-can-eat sushi.
Power ports and storage cubbies galore are within reach of the driver, as is a deep centre console. No issue with room for you or your things.
The second seating row is just as spacious and easily accessed as the front, and secondrow seats slide and tilt and fold to accommodate various passenger sizes and cargo requirements.
They also tip and fold ahead for easy third-row access. Those third-row seats are in not bad territory for adult roominess but are ultimately best left for the kiddos.
With all seats in use, there’s still enough cargo space for a load of groceries or several small bags or luggage, too.
Up front, don’t miss the clever all-digital instrument cluster. It’s a giant screen with fluid animation, a modern look and great output resolution. The central touch-screen is also excellent, and for the same reasons.
Feature content favourites included the punchy Fender audio system and the vivid LED headlights, which are a great after-dark travel companion.
Complaints? The fuel tank is a bit too small, and you’ll be filling up more often than you may like.
Ride quality, though generally good, degrades rapidly on very rough roads, thanks mostly to the big wheels.
Finally, there’s a little too much hard plastic used to line parts of the interior.
Most of it looks great, but a few panels disappoint upon further inspection with the fingertips.
If you’re shopping out a topline Atlas, like my $52,540 Execline tester, be sure to check out the comparably-priced Enclave, CX-9 and Explorer, too.
Atlas can be considered a worthy test drive in this very hot segment, and is a model likely to find strong appeal with VW fanatics after stacks of space and flexibility from a great big ute that’s easy to drive and very easy to live with.