2023 Volkswagen Atlas Overview What’s new: The SE with Technology now has an improved digital instrument cluster as standard equipment. No more SEL R-Line cars are being made. In 2018, the first generation of Atlas came out. The Volkswagen Atlas, with its three rows and room for seven people, is the largest car that Volkswagen sells in the United States right now. Since it came out in 2018, the Atlas has been considered one of the best midsize SUVs with three rows. Even the third row is very comfortable. It also gets high marks for how easy and comfortable it is to drive and how easy it is to use the inside. Volkswagen updated Atlas’s infotainment system and exterior design in 2021, making only minor changes in 2023. Volkswagen is well on making the next Atlas, so we’re betting that the current Atlas won’t need to be changed much for the rest of its life. Even though neither the standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine nor the optional V6 engine has much power, especially when the Atlas is fully loaded, we still like the Atlas in general. By reading our total Expert Rating, please find out more about the Atlas and how it compares to other three-row SUVs like the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride. Pros vs Cons Pros: All three rows of seats can fit in the roomy interior. You did a great job of balancing everyday comfort with precise handling. A cabin with a simple, easy-to-use design Cons: Even with the optional V6, the car doesn’t move very fast. When it comes to fuel efficiency, less than most of its competitors Performance What moves the Atlas? Neither Atlas engine is anything special. Even when the Atlas’s cabin is empty, the optional V6 engine gets off to a good start, but it loses power when the driver quickly changes lanes. Our Atlas test car takes 8.5 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which is longer than many other three-row SUVs. We also tested Atlas’s standard four-cylinder model, surprising us by getting to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. Aside from that, the Atlas is easy to move around for its size. It’s a quiet, stable SUV that’s easy to drive every day because the brakes and transmission are so smooth. Comfort How well does the Atlas fit? I can’t change the Atlas, and the bottom cushions feel flat and are long, which could be a problem for shorter drivers. You can lean both back seats back, and the second row can slide forward and back, with a firmer seat in the middle. The Atlas always has a smooth ride. The suspension smooths out most bumps and sways in the road without making the car too floaty. Even though some noise from the road and the wide mirrors make wind noise at highway speeds, the audio system quickly covers up these sounds. The Atlas has a powerful climate control system that can make a lot of heat and cold. Interior How does the inside look? Everyone has room, and the second row can fit three adults. Also, people 6 feet or shorter can sit comfortably in the third row. People like the clever sliding second-row seat in the Atlas, making it easy to see out the back. The digital gauge cluster on the Atlas takes some time to get used to, but it can do many different things once you do. The touchscreen infotainment system’s user interface could be better because you have to look at the buttons you’re pressing. To put it simply, this distracts you from the road. Technology How good is the tech? The Atlas has a lot of different kinds of technology built into it. The infotainment system works with phones that have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. The optional 12-speaker system on the top models has excellent sound quality, while the stereo in the base model is good enough. Voice control on the Atlas is better than on older models, but it only works for simple commands. Several features to help the driver are also standard, and the adaptive cruise control does an excellent job for such a big vehicle in transitions and keeping the distance between cars the same. The help for staying in your lane is also a plus. The camera in the back is straightforward and can be seen from different angles. Storage What about putting things away? The Atlas is the most popular midsize SUV, with a maximum capacity of 96.8 cubic feet and 20.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row. The seats can be folded down flat by hand, and the SUV we tested also had a hands-free tailgate. The Atlas has enough storage space for small items, but the central armrest bin needs clear cubbies for sunglasses or divided sections. A car seat that faces backward should fit in the second row. The second row tilts and slides similarly when a chair is in it. Fuel Economy How well does it use gasoline? The four-cylinder engine uses less gas than the V6 engine. The EPA says that a car with all-wheel drive will get a combined 22 mpg (20 cities, 24 highways). Our AWD Atlas got an average of 23.5 mpg on our 115-mile test route, which shows that the rating is correct. But competitors like the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot are better, which have three rows of V6 engines. Value Should you buy the Atlas? Atlas costs slightly more than most of its competitors in its top trim levels. It strikes a good balance by having a lot of safety and technology features that work well and are easy to use. It requires more power and has too much hard plastic in the second and third seats, so the price appears more significant. But if many kids are likely to sit in the back, it might be okay. Volkswagen used to have excellent warranty coverage but has fallen behind recently. Kia and Hyundai have the best basic warranties, but the Atlas could do better than many other crossovers regarding powertrain coverage. Wildcard The Atlas is less fun to drive than a Mazda CX-9 or Honda Pilot, but it should do if you don’t need performance. The way the Atlas looks is a source of disagreement among our editors. Some people say it needs to look more like other VW models, but others think it looks great, especially with the R-Line upgrades that can add. What is Invoice Pricing's Recommendation? The SE with Technology trim is the best deal regarding price and features. This trim is recommended because it is the least expensive model that works with the powerful V6 engine. Volkswagen Atlas Models There are five trim levels for the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is standard on the SE, SE with Technology, and SEL trim levels (235 horsepower, 258 lb-ft). On the SE with Technology and all SEL models, you can get a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. 2023 Volkswagen Atlas Video Review
