2027 Volkswagen Atlas Is A Satisfying Update Of VW’s Most Important Model – Jalopnik

When most automotive fanatics consider Volkswagen, they in all probability consider the unique Beetle and Type 2 bus, efficiency vehicles just like the GTI and Passat W8, or well-designed mainstream fashions just like the Golf and Jetta. VW nonetheless does make some vehicles with fanatic enchantment, however no less than right here within the U.S., its most necessary choices are mainstream crossovers. 80% of VW’s gross sales at the moment are SUVs versus 14% simply ten years in the past, and its most necessary mannequin is the three-row Atlas SUV and its two-row Atlas Cross Sport sibling.

The first-generation Atlas was VW’s first actual U.S.-focused mannequin (and by far its largest car, Routan apart), and since its introduction in 2017 greater than 1 million of the Atlas household have been offered. That’s one in three Volkswagens, and the compact Tiguan solely barely outsells the three-row Atlas alone. The Atlas has gotten two facelifts — one in 2021 and the opposite in 2024 — however at a decade outdated it is fairly lengthy within the tooth.

Luckily now the second-generation Atlas is able to launch, and I obtained to take a completely loaded one for a quick drive round LA earlier this summer season. Sure, it isn’t probably the most thrilling car on this planet, however the 2027 Atlas appears like a serious improve over its predecessor for under a minor improve in worth. In a extremely aggressive phase, the brand new Atlas is a extra compelling alternative.

Full disclosure: Volkswagen invited me to a studio in Hollywood so I may see the brand new Atlas Cross Sport earlier than it was revealed and take a giant Atlas for a couple-hour drive into the Hollywood Hills and again.

The new Atlas is a tad longer than the outgoing one, however in any other case it is mainly the identical measurement inside and outside, and the design is extra evolutionary than revolutionary. I undoubtedly favor VW’s present design language, because the Atlas’ exterior is cleaner and fewer fussy. It’s extra attention-grabbing on the whole, notably in relation to the lighting and entrance grille setup. The twin mild traces and illuminated VW emblem are commonplace on each trim besides the bottom mannequin, and you may get fancy undertaking lights on the highest mannequin.

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Volkswagen will get main factors from me for providing some actual paint colours. Mountain Lake Blue continues to be a alternative, and there are two new colours: Sacramento Green, and the Blackberry colour of my take a look at automotive. It’s only a disgrace the wheel designs are so boring, a giant downside with trendy VWs. 18-inch wheels are commonplace, with 20s and 21s optionally available.

In a presentation forward of our drive, a Volkswagen spokesperson mentioned that prospects on this phase need an “imposing” look, thus the blockier proportions, flatter hood and better-resolved fender flares. Apparently 51% of Atlas prospects are ladies, with a median proprietor age of 54, a median of three individuals per family, and a median family earnings of $170,000, and 34% millennial patrons in opposition to 31.9% boomers, in case you are curious who is worried about driving an imposing car.

Inside, the second-gen Atlas will get a way more upscale design that each appears and feels notably nicer. OK, so it is obtained Volkswagen’s much-derided infotainment system, however there have been sufficient updates that it isn’t that unhealthy. The base SE has a 12.9-inch heart touchscreen, however all different Atlases have a 15-inch unit that has clear graphics, a customizable house display screen and menus which can be kinda straightforward to make use of. The touch-capacitive local weather controls nonetheless suck, however no less than the steering wheel has precise buttons. In a number of years I’m certain the Atlas will get a facelift that brings concerning the new design language launched on the ID Polo, which will probably be a good larger enchancment.

A way more egregious tech blunder than the infotainment system itself is the 360-degree digicam system that comes on the costliest mannequin — the decision and movie is horrible, particularly when blown up on the large display screen. Come on, Volkswagen, you have to be capable to discover a higher provider for this!

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On my high SEL Premium R-Line trim there’s off-white leather-based seats with brown piping, distinction stitching on the dashboard, fairly good fake wooden trim and perforated door panels with ambient lighting that shines by way of. I believe the tiered dashboard design is nice, and the middle console has an EV-like quantity of area. Underneath the floating bridge is sufficient area for a small bag, the cupholders and under-armrest storage are larger, and there is a pair of wi-fi telephone chargers with Magsafe functionality that’s the finest execution of wi-fi charging available on the market (Nissan has a equally nice setup). The door playing cards, armrests and dashboard are well-padded in all of the locations you may really contact.

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One little bit of the design did actually trouble me: The method the items of fake wooden trim line up. There’s a big seam there, and never solely do the wooden grains clearly not match up, the colours are completely different in shade and tone. It’s a disgrace the dual-level air vents are gone. And there’s nonetheless far an excessive amount of shiny black plastic trim and scratchy black supplies inside, plus not one of the buttons and bodily controls really feel notably good.

The 2027 Atlas’ EA888 evo5 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 is shared with the turbo Tiguan, the newer model of the identical engine you may discover beneath the hood of a GTI however with just a little extra energy. In the brand new Atlas it makes 282 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, 13 hp up from the outdated Atlas however 15 lb-ft fewer. All that shove is distributed by way of an 8-speed computerized to the entrance wheels on the bottom SE and SE with Tech fashions, or all 4 wheels with 4Motion all-wheel drive that is a $2,000 choice on these two trims and commonplace on the SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line. Volkswagen does not quote a 0-to-60 time, but it surely says front-wheel-drive fashions will get 22 mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway and 25 mpg mixed (2 mpg higher than the outdated mannequin throughout the board), whereas all-wheel-drive ones will get 20 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed (1 mpg higher on the freeway and mixed).

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Driving up, throughout and down the Hollywood Hills, the Atlas’ powertrain felt punchy and responsive. It sounds kinda good, however with out being drony and annoying after I needed to actually speed up or keep sustained throttle. The cabin is actually rattling quiet on the whole, really, even with the larger 21-inch wheels on my take a look at automotive. I did discover the brake pedal to be annoyingly squishy, however no less than the gasoline pedal did not have the identical downside.

You’re not going to search out responsive steering right here, however the dealing with is comparatively composed for what it’s, and it is fairly comfy over a few of LA’s roughest pavement. I attempted out Sport mode for just a little bit, which is actually solely price it for the sharper steering, and you’ll management that within the Individual mode as effectively. Changing by way of the drive modes is finished with a dial on the middle console that is additionally used to regulate the quantity and different settings, with a show on the face of it that modifications relying on what you are doing.

The high-up driving place is sweet, and the distinguished hood provides it a historically SUV-like view out. I used to be pleasantly shocked by how totally gigantic the solar visors are, and the large mirrors and tall aspect home windows give it good visibility all the best way round. The R-Line’s 14-way adjustable, Nappa leather-based–upholstered entrance seat is comfortable, particularly with the highest trim’s therapeutic massage perform turned on. I’ve to confess I used to be cackling at one of many therapeutic massage applications being referred to as “upward strokes.” The second-row bench seat is a pleasant place to be as effectively. It slides fore and aft and reclines with a 60:40 cut up, with the 2 R-Line fashions coming with heating and air flow for the outboard seats. Captain’s chairs can be found for $695.

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It’s straightforward to shortly slide and fold the second-row seats, and at 5-foot-9 I had no downside getting out and in of the gorgeous spacious third row. There’s no warmth or air flow out there again there, and so they will not be tremendous comfortable for adults, however anybody who sits again there will get cupholders, little storage cubbies, air vents within the C-pillars, and USB-C ports. Behind the third row there’s 21.2 cubic ft of space for storing, increasing to 55.9 cubes with the third row folded and 95.4 cubic ft with the second row down too. Every trim has underfloor storage within the cargo space, and a pair of lights within the hatch.

Fancy options that come commonplace on each Atlas embody heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, second-row sunshades, a hands-free energy tailgate,10-color ambient lighting, three-zone local weather management, and a 9-speaker sound system. You can get it with 30-color ambient lighting, a 12-way energy entrance passenger seat with lumbar, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, navigation, a head-up show, massaging entrance seats and a panoramic sunroof.

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There’s nonetheless some oddities, like a guide steering column even on the highest trim. The door handles are additionally kinda unusual — it is a guide launch, an upside-down U-shaped pull that appears like a lever in a sci-fi ship. They would possibly take a bit to get used to, but it surely’ll be straightforward to get used to the 4 bodily window switches and the bodily mirror controls.

The base front-wheel-drive 2027 Atlas SE begins at $43,135 together with vacation spot, solely $2,300 greater than the outgoing SE FWD mannequin, which actually ain’t unhealthy whenever you take a look at what number of extra commonplace and improved options there are, plus the overall niceness of the cabin. The SE w/ Tech prices $4,000 greater than the bottom SE, at $47,135 for FWD and $49,135 with AWD. Then the AWD-only SEL R-Line is $53,635 and the loaded SEL R-Line Premium is $58,125, the latter being $2,030 than the identical trim of the 2026 Atlas.

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It might not be as cool-looking or tech-forward as rivals just like the Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade, however the redesigned Volkswagen Atlas is a considerable enchancment over the outdated mannequin. It has a refined driving expertise, upscale options for an affordable worth, and a cultured design with some good particulars. If the same latest redesign of the smaller Tiguan is something to go by, the 2027 Atlas ought to proceed its reign of VW’s most necessary mannequin.

There is one main factor the Atlas is lacking: A hybrid powertrain choice. Volkswagen has already mentioned {that a} hybrid mannequin will probably be coming with the Atlas’ mid-cycle refresh in a number of years, and it may well’t come quickly sufficient, particularly as a fully-loaded Telluride hybrid is barely a grand costlier than the Atlas SEL R-Line Premium I drove.