Volkswagen Atlas: 2018 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Finalist

We Like: Stadium third-row seating, digital cluster, tilt/slide seats

We Don’t Like: Floaty yet brittle suspension, chintzy materials, snoozy VR6

Statistics suggest that minivan customers are regular defectors to big three-row SUVs. So the intended purpose of these jumbo utes is to serve as socially acceptable minivans. And although none perfectly matches both the passenger and cargo capacity of a minivan, VW’s new Atlas comes about as close as any to carrying people with equivalent ease and comfort, as Christian Seabaugh noted: “If space is your No. 1 concern and a minivan is off the table, it’s tough not to recommend the Atlas.”

Its savvy packaging quickly earned it a finalist bid. “It’s huge,” Ed Loh said. “Like really, really, really big. The room inside is ridiculous.” 

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The Audi-like Digital Cockpit and infotainment touchscreen drew praise, as did a third row fit for adults (but sadly without vents or USB ports). The interior materials quality was likened to that of European commercial vans and Fisher-Price toys.

Off-road capability with the terrain-mode controller was impressive, but the powertrain drew criticism. The VR6 was deemed loud, coarse, and “barely adequate for hauling seven people,” with a throttle calibration that’s overeager from a stop and a transmission programmed to grab overdrive ASAP. Scott Evans fretted: “I can only imagine how gutless the four-cylinder must feel.”

But the suspension damping really tweaked our judges. Angus MacKenzie said it “floats down the road like a Wagon Queen Family Truckster. It needs more body control and more suspension travel.” At the same time, Evans noted that the Atlas “is also more brittle than the Chevy [Traverse] on the rough pavement.”

2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL 4Motion
POWERTRAIN/CHASSIS
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, AWD
ENGINE TYPE	10.6-deg V-6, iron block/alum head
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	219.5 cu in/3,597 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	12.0:1
POWER (SAE NET)	276 hp @ 6,200 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	266 lb-ft @ 2,750 rpm
REDLINE	6,000 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	17.1 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	8-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	3.60:1/2.41:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	16.3:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.8
BRAKES, F; R	13.2-in vented disc; 12.2-in disc, ABS
WHEELS	8.0 x 20-in cast aluminum
TIRES	255/50R20 105T (M+S) Continental CrossContact LX Sport
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	117.3 in
TRACK, F/R	67.2/67.8 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	198.3 x 78.3 x 70.0 in
GROUND CLEARANCE	8.0 in
APPRCH/DEPART ANGLE	20.4/22.4 deg
TURNING CIRCLE	38.1 ft
CURB WEIGHT	4,725 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	55/45%
TOWING CAPACITY	5,000 lb
SEATING CAPACITY	7
HEADROOM, F/R	41.3/40.4/38.3 in
LEGROOM, F/R	41.5/37.6/33.7 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	61.5/60.8/54.9 in
CARGO VOLUME	96.8/55.5/20.6 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	2.6 sec
0-40	4.1
0-50	5.6
0-60	7.9
0-70	10.3
0-80	13.0
0-90	—
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	4.3
QUARTER MILE	16.0 sec @ 81.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	139 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.79 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	27.9 sec @ 0.61 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1,800 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$43,615
PRICE AS TESTED	$49,415
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	6: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain
BASIC WARRANTY	6 yrs/72,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	6 yrs/72,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	3 yrs/36,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	18.6 gal
REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB	16.4/25.8/19.6 mpg
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON	17/23/19 mpg
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	198/147 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	1.01 lb/mile
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded regular

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