By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(April 27, 2017) Volkswagen earned the distinction of being the best-selling vehicle in the world last year, grabbing the sales crown from Toyota. The two companies have been in a title race for years.

But here in America, Volkswagen hasn’t fared as well with just a 2 percent market share, and no better than 11th place on the bestseller list. That’s due, in part, to the fact we love driving pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, two areas where the German automaker has been notably deficient or completely absent.

Volkswagen currently offers just two crossover utility vehicles — Touareg and Tiguan — and they have never sold a pickup here. What’s been a glaring hole in the VW product line up has now been filled with the introduction of a long-overdue seven-seat mid-sized SUV specifically designed for American tastes. It is built in Chattanooga, Tenn.

It’s called Atlas, as in a collection of maps, not the mythological Greek Titan. While it may not carry the weight of the sky, it seems it is being called upon to not only help the brand recover from the “Dieselgate” scandal, but also to secure the future of Volkswagen here in America. Volkswagen desperately needs to regain the trust of American buyers.



The largest Volkswagen ever built in the United States, Atlas is slightly larger than the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander it competes against. Atlas is offered in five trim levels with two engine choices: the ubiquitous 235-horsepower, 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder that Volkswagen seems to put in everything but its coffee; and a 276-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 used in the Passat. Volkswagen says most people will choose the V-6, a good thing since the four-cylinder won’t be available until later this year.

Both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the Atlas are offered, however, you can only get Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive with the V-6. The sole transmission, an eight-speed automatic, is used for both engines.

Outside the Atlas is noticeably big, even for a midsize SUV. But the looks are mostly nondescript; it resembles an amalgamation of vehicles in a crowded class of established competitors: Ford Explorer, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Pathfinder. There’s little, if any, resemblance to either the more expensive Touareg or subcompact Tiguan siblings. It reminds me of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Still, the overall look is appealing if not generic and few if any will walk away because they dislike the appearance.

Inside the first thing that strikes you is the ample amount of room in all three rows of seats. VW went to great lengths to emphasize that even full-grown adults could comfortably fit in the third row and at 6’-6” I’m always skeptical when it comes to manufacturer’s hyperbole about third row seating room. I did like how the second row of seats simply tilted and folded forward in a sliding motion with a single hand, simple-to-use latch, even when a child’s car seat is installed in the second row. It’s true there was a decent amount of space to climb through and while I was able to get back there I felt jammed in. Smaller adults would most likely feel more comfortable.

Like all VW products, the interior design is minimal and more sedan like than utility vehicle. No surprise since Atlas borrows much of its inspiration from the Passat, which is also built at the VW plant in Chattanooga.

The base S model comes with cloth seats, while SE and SEL are upholstered with leatherette, a.k.a. faux leather. Optional leather upholstery is only available only with the SEL Premium package, but in our test Atlas it wasn’t as supple as we would have expected. Rivals do a much better job.

All models, except the entry-level S, use an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen.  Car-Net App-Connect Smartphone integration for compatible devices is standard on all Atlas models. App-Connect offers users the ability to run select Smartphone apps directly on the vehicle’s display through services like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink.

We only drove the V-6 equipped Atlas at its launch in Boerne, Texas, and found the driving dynamics to be above average when compared to competitors in its class. Ride and handling favored comfort over performance, but it was composed and refined on twisty and hilly two-lane Texas roads. Brakes felt confident with ample stopping distances.

Atlas offers a number of standard and available driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring (front assist), blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert, lane departure warning, front and rear park distance control, parking steering assistant, high-beam control and overhead view camera.

New with Atlas is an emergency braking system called maneuver braking. Included with park distance control, it can help mitigate or prevent collisions with static obstacles while the vehicle is being maneuvered. The system is active when reverse gear is selected.

Volkswagen finally has a serious midsize SUV contender, a family-friendly option that’s roomy, comfortable and affordable. But it doesn’t break any new ground and its boxy styling won’t be for everyone. Still, we think it drives better than most seven-seat SUVs in the category. But that alone won’t overcome the fact that it’s up against excellent competitors from Ford, Honda, Toyota and others. It will have its work cut out for it to gain favor with the buying public. We are also impressed with its six-year/72,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty that’s transferable beyond the first owner.

While Atlas won’t be capable of holding up the sky, it should be strong enough to carry the load for the future of Volkswagen in America.

Vital Stats

Base Price: $31,425 - $49,415
Price as Tested: Not Available
Engine: 2.0-Liter turbocharged 4-cylinder or 3.6-Liter V6
Horsepower: 235-hp and 276-hp
Fuel Economy: 17-MPG City – 23-MPG Highway (AWD V6)
Crash Test Safety Ratings: Not yet crash tested by IIHS or NHTSA

Competes With

Ford Explorer
Honda Pilot
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sorento
Toyota Highlander

What Stands Out

Cavernous three row interior
Quiet, comfortable ride and handling
Six-year/72,000-mile “bumper-to-bumper” warranty