VW gets its big SUV just right
Appropriately enough, it was on a road trip along the sugar cane fields of South Florida when it hit me: Volkswagen might have hit the sweet spot for family touring with its new-for-2018 Atlas.
The midsize crossover SUV, a long overdue entry from the German maker, is ultra-roomy back to the third row, smooth and steady on the open road, and offers great visibility for all. Volkswagen, after limited success with its Touareg and Tiguan crossovers, now has a capable challenger to class leaders such as the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder and Honda Pilot.
This is VW’s first shot at a three-row SUV and, though it arrived late to the game, it’s quickly apparent that it took the challenge seriously.
With the Atlas’s boxy shape and narrow pillars, passengers can enjoy great views out the large windows and optional panoramic sunroof. Plus, there’s tons of room and comfort for all the body parts — head, shoulders, legs and feet. Front seats are large with a broad range of adjustments, and a secondrow bench seat slides 20 centimetres fore and aft for flexibility and easier access to the rear (captain’s chairs are available but reduce capacity from seven to six).
The unusually roomy third row is the best in class. It isn’t just for kids. It can accommodate two adults comfortably, with good thigh support, even on a trip, as long as the trip is not too long.
Atlas also excels in its cargo area, with plenty of room behind the third row — 21 cubic feet — for groceries and packages. Fold down the third row and it opens 56 cubic feet of space. And, with both the second and third rows folded flat, a huge 97 cubic feet are available.
Up front, the dashboard is accented with distinctive stitched seams. The top-line Premium trim offers an LCD instrument cluster that replaces standard gauges and can be configured personally. A 6.5- or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment centre is user-friendly and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Standard is a familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, good for 235 horsepower. It’s essentially the same engine found on other VWs such as the Golf GTI and some Audis. But most folks will choose the stronger 3.6-litre V-6 that produces 276 hp and 266 pound-feet of torque.
Both engines are mated to a smooth eight-speed transmission, which sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel-drive is available, but only with the V-6.
The Atlas handles various road conditions competently. Corners are taken with only moderate lean, and bumps and holes are gobbled up nicely by the suspension.
Plus, four driving modes can tailor the ride to your desires: Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual. Sport mode improves steering and transmission response, while Individual lets you customize responses even further.
U.S. EPA estimates give the V-6 version (with AWD) an unimpressive 17 mpg around town, 23 on the highway for a combined 19. The FWD does only a tad better with 20 mpg combined.
Advanced safety features are available as part of an optional tech package but, sadly, not on the base trim. It includes forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
The base version, the Atlas Trendline, starts at $35,690 and has the basics: six-speaker sound, cruise control, power windows. The top-line Execline gets you into the $52,000 range and adds the tech package, giant sunroof, power tailgate and a trailer hitch (Atlas has a 5,000-pound towing capacity).
VW also includes an impressive six-year warranty on every Atlas. You don’t need miles of sugar cane to spot a pretty sweet deal.