VW ATLAS STARS IN SNOW
I got to drive the new Volkswagen Atlas SEL as a historic snowstorm blew through New England, followed by a brutal cold snap, both of which allowed me to put this seven-passenger SUV to the test.
With a 3.6-liter direct fuel injection 276-hp V-6 under the sculpted hood spinning the 4Motion all-wheeldrive system, the Atlas proved New England-worthy, crunching easily and confidently through the snow while the heated seats kept me super toasty. Once I picked the Snow mode — one of five available — the Atlas did a terrific job of getting power to the wheels while delivering an average of about 20 mpg, though I managed to beat the EPA estimate with a thrifty 25 mpg plus while driving on the highway.
The Atlas is a nice driving SUV and I liked the fact that it feels like you’re driving a smaller vehicle. Handling is tight and responsive, with 18-inch alloys mounted to the four-wheel independent suspension making for a smooth and quiet ride.
Designed to slot between the refreshed compact Tiguan and the top of the line luxe Touareg, this wellcomposed midsized SUV can haul either a full house of people or a full house of things. Drop the secondand third-row seats down to create a huge deck area that can be accessed through the powered lift gate.
Legend of course is that Atlas was tasked with holding the skies on his shoulders for eternity and it’s the skies that fill the ample cabin with filtered sunlight through the panoramic roof. The subtle design of the VW, more Scandanavian spartan than Bavarian lush, has the simplicity that makes for a strong and attractive cut on the curb.
Quality surface materials with some hard plastics and wood grain inserts make for a clean interior and controls are classic VW — wellpositioned and marked. Although they’re not my favorite, the leatherette seats proved to be comfortable and supportive. I still think VW makes exceptional cloth surfaces but it’s nice to have a choice when putting your Atlas together.
A large 8-inch touch screen infotainment screen, with tuning and volume knobs, is an easy interface to use. There’s a small learning curve with the steering wheel controls. The cellphone reception was the best I’ve experienced in a very long time.
Fully loaded with the latest tech features, the Atlas will run you $43,615. Base models can be had for less than $30,000.
The Atlas rates highly and should be on your test drive list while checking out other popular segment entries like the Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9 and Kia Sorento.