2021 Volkswagen Atlas

The three-row SUV segment is a highly competitive sliver of the market. It serves growing families in search of a comfortable SUV that can cart their kids (and kids’ friends) and groceries at the same time. Proficient three-row SUVs also must be athletic and unfazed by mud, snow and rain, and primed for year-round road trips that demand long hours on the highway and bulky gear.

Automakers compete in this niche category to offer the biggest, most livable SUVs that still sit atop unibody frames (meaning they drive more like a big car than a truck). Particularly challenging is providing enough passenger space in both the third row and cargo space in the way-back stowage. Some three-row entries ask for compromise between the two, assuming families may not need full function of the rear seat and the storage hold at the same time (many also assume only kids will occupy the third row, forgoing enough space for adults). 

The Volkswagen Atlas gives the best of both worlds and for 2021 offers 2.4 inches more length thanks to restyled bumpers. Stretching 200.7 inches long, it’s a smidge smaller than the two biggest midsize SUVs—the Chevrolet Traverse and the Ford Explorer—but its no-nonsense interior is configured to deliver the most legroom in the third row (33.7 inches) and the largest cargo space with the rear seats up (20.6 cubic-feet). 

By contrast, the Atlas eclipses the cargo area in both the Honda Pilot (16.5 cubic-feet) and the Toyota Highlander (16 cubic-feet)—both are three-row pioneers. The Subaru Ascent, a formidable rival due to its standard all-wheel drive (AWD), offers just 19.9 cubes in the rear. The Kia Telluride squeaks by with an even 21 cubic-feet of cargo space, but falls short in third-row legroom (31.4 inches). The Atlas is bested in the category only by the Chevrolet Traverse (23 cubic-feet), which still lags slightly in third-row legroom (33.5 inches).

For moms searching for the biggest SUV available without sizing up into the full-size segment (think the Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban), the Atlas is the best choice in terms of usable space, capability and value. It also offers modern technology, clean styling, adequate driving dynamics, ample (but not excessive) power and optional AWD. 

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas, still in its first generation, comes in a swath of trim levels: S, SE, SE with Technology, SE with Technology R-Line, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium and SEL Premium R-Line. The two sportier R-Line trims can only be ordered and may be harder to get if timing is an issue. It might behoove VW to streamline these trim lines to align with the simplistic structure of the new 2022 Tiguan compact crossover, which has just four models.

The standard engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that delivers 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The SE with Technology trim and above can be equipped with a larger 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Both engines use a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD system can be added to all trims and both engines (new for 2021 is the availability of AWD on the four-cylinder). 

The lineup ranges from the entry-level price point of about $32,000 or it can be loaded and brush up against $50,000. 

Both engines use a stop/start system to save fuel. The system shuts the cars off when stopped at intersections or just idling. Remote start, which starts the car via the key fob, is standard on the SE with Technology trim and above. It can be added to the base S and SE. It’s helpful for cold mornings that beg for immediate heat. Front seat heaters, also a pleasant option in frigid temps, are standard on the SE; the SEL adds a heated wheel. SEL Premium models come with heated outboard seats in the second row. The base S has dual-zone climate controls with a second-row control panel for backseat passengers, and all other trims offer tri-zone climate control.

The Atlas is a sufficient adventurer. Models with the 3.6-liter engine have a 5,000-pound tow rating when properly equipped with a trailer hitch (available on the SE with Technology, standard on SEL and SLE Premium). All models also come standard with raised roof rails for extra loading capacity.

Models with 4Motion offer pre-set drive modes (called Active Control) that will help increase traction in inclement weather; buyers who live in seasonal regions will prefer the steadier configuration. The drive modes include: Onroad (default), Snow, Offroad and Custom Offroad. The Altas offers 8 inches of ground clearance, the minimum needed to be considered a true off-roader. This large SUV is not built for off-roading fanatics, but parents who enjoy the trailheads, camping or other mountainous activities will be pleased with its efforts. The Offroad mode even has a Hill Descent Control function that automatically kicks in and keeps speeds between 1 and 19 mph when it detects gradients of 10% or more. Custom Offroad model lets the driver change steering, engine and gearbox behavior. MuddyBuddy rubber floor mats for the first and second rows ($190) and a trunk liner ($140) are a cool custom option available across all trims. 

Back at home, the Atlas provides the right mix of comfort and gusto to do exactly what the three-row SUV is meant to do: school drop off and pick up, carpool players and their equipment between sports fields, cart all the gear (and kids) to the beach and sufficiently handle Costco runs with littles in tow. Its spacious interior, cargo flexibility and available AWD also make it a winner for trips to the slopes. Even if the nearest lift is 200 miles away, the Atlas delivers a confident and calm road trip demeanor with room for passengers to spread out and keep busy or snooze.

Because the Atlas is relatively heavy and modestly powered with either of the two engine choices, acceleration takes a hit. The Atlas doesn’t accumulate speed in a hurry, mostly due to its weight, so it can feel sluggish when merging onto freeways. It has enough passing power but it’s not full steam ahead like a turbodiesel or zippy like a sport sedan. Most drivers will find the V6 offers a far more satisfying experience. 

The base S and SE models ride on 18-inch wheels, and the SE with Technology trim and above all have larger 20-inch wheels. The R-Line trims have even larger 21-inchers. The base S comes with cloth seating, SE adds leatherette and SLE Premium upgrades to leather. The Atlas can be configured to seat seven or eight passengers, depending on trim. The SE with Technology and higher offer the choice to swap the three-seater bench in the second row with captain’s chairs. The captain’s chairs completely eliminate all hassle associated with folding and climbing over seats for smaller bodies. As a bench, the second row does offer a 60/40 split for extra seating and cargo carrying flexibility. The rear seats have a 50/50 split. Both second and third row seats fold flat. 

Technology in the Atlas is modern and thoughtful. The base S offers a small 6.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. All other models have a 8-inch display and  wireless phone charging. SEL and SEL Premium add navigation. All models with the larger touchscreen offer five USB-A ports (two in front, two in rear and one in the giant center console). The Atlas also has Car-Net interaction, which allows owners to get status updates (location, fuel level, windows closed or open) and perform actions (lock doors, honk the horn) remotely via their smartphone. Car-Net also lets passengers access the internet with four devices at the same time. All Atlases get a standard six-speaker system except for the SEL Premium trims, which are equipped with 12-speaker Fender premium audio.

The Atlas is rated by NHTSA five stars in overall crash safety, and the IIHS gave it a “Good” ranking across the board for crashworthiness. In the Headlights category, SE models without the available Light Assist (automatic headlights) feature received a “Marginal” rating. Additionally, the IIHS also dinged the Atlas SE with Technology trim with a “Marginal” for having child seat tether anchors mounted too low in the seat. 

The 2021 Atlas comes standard with blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, forward collision monitoring with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection (Front Assist). Lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist and other features are optional. For 2021, VW enhanced some of its advanced driver-assistance safety tech, including adaptive cruise control and new driver assistance features like Travel Assist (a combination of adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance) and Emergency Assist (brings the car to a stop if the car can’t summon a response from the driver after several warnings). 

The front-wheel drive (FWD) Atlas V6 earns a combined EPA mileage rating of 17 mpg in city driving, 23 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg combined. Swapping to AWD on the same model drops each figure by 1 mpg. The front-drive four-cylinder achieves 21 mpg city, 24 highway and 22 mpg combined, while AWD four-cylinder models lose 1 mpg in city driving.

By comparison, 19 mpg combined is bottom of the pack compared with rivals. The Honda Pilot, offers higher ratings in FWD form: it gets 20 mpg in city driving, 27 on the highway and 23 mpg combined. The gas-powered Toyota Highlander (FWD) gets 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 combined (AWD is the same but drops highway by 1 mpg). Kia’s Telluride (FWD) gets 20 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 combined. The Subaru Ascent (AWD-only) gets 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 combined.