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The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas is the start of an all new generation for the mid-sided SUV. We look at the new powertrain, trim levels, interior quality and more.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas – vw.com | Shop 2024 Volkswagen Atlas on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas?
2024 is a big year for the Atlas. This year marks its first major refresh and as such it features a lot of changes. The V6 that was available last year is gone. Instead, the entire lineup uses the same 276 hp four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the Atlas has some new exterior styling and a new 12-inch infotainment system along with a digital gauge cluster in every unit.
Carsforsale.com Score
7.75/10
Powertrain
Score
7.5/10
Interior
Score
8.5/10
Technology
Score
8/10
Value
Score
7.5/10
The Breakdown
Comfortable interior
Great digital gauge cluster
5,000-lb towing capacity
Underwhelming driving behavior
Lacks character
Laggy infotainment system
Average by every measure
2024 Atlas Specs
- 269 horsepower from base engine
- 273 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 4 available trims
- 20.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 96.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats folded
- 12-inch infotainment screen
- NHTSA 5-star crash test rating
- 2 free years of maintenance
- Towing capacity of 5,000 lbs
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Powertrain 7.5/10
New for 2024, the Atlas features just a single engine across the whole lineup. It’s similar to the four-cylinder from the 2023 model but now it makes 269 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. While that doesn’t sound like much for such a big SUV, and it’s not, it does manage to get the Atlas around town without feeling wildly underpowered.
Part of that success is the eight-speed automatic gearbox which helps keep the engine in its optimal power band and swaps gears very smoothly. The Atlas comes standard as a front-wheel drive vehicle but AWD is available to those who prefer it.
Generally speaking, it’s an easy SUV to pilot thanks to quick and clear feedback from the steering wheel and pedals. The Atlas will exhibit body roll but it takes some really aggressive driving to get such behavior to show up.
According to the EPA, the Atlas will get up to 20 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway when equipped with front-wheel drive. Sending power to all four wheels drops those figures by one each. As a sum of its parts, the Atlas proves to be a bit of a jack of all trades but a master of none.
It’s a comfortable SUV but a Kia Telluride offers more comfort and power for less cash. The Atlas drives fine but the Mazda CX-90 is in a league of its own. Those who want more fuel economy should consider the Toyota Grand Highlander. Our point is this, the Atlas is fine but not a standout by any means.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Interior 8.5/10
Comfort is one of the big highlights in the Atlas. All three rows offer decent accommodations for their positioning. The second row is typically made up of a bench seat however excellent captain’s chairs complete with armrests. Regardless of second-row seat choice, each is available with heating. The front row is by far the most comfortable though.
From either seat, the dash looks clean and simple with more soft-touch surfaces than were available in 2023. The center console naturally blends the dash into the center storage area and features a second storage space underneath the gear shift and cup holders. That’s present because VW switched to a shift-by-wire setup so there’s no need for a physical connection to the gearbox.
Cargo space is above average in the Atlas too with really clever door pockets that have almost individualized spaces for a drink, a phone, and extra stuff. The third row even gets a trio of cupholders on each side with different size options that should accommodate kids’ and adults’ beverage sizes. Behind the third row, you’ll find just over 20 cubic feet of cargo space which is above average for most three-row SUVs of this size. Fold all of the seats down and that expands to just shy of 100 cubic feet.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Technology Features 8/10
Technology is a main feature of the Atlas regardless of trim level. Every Atlas gets a 12-inch infotainment system and a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster. The matchup looks really nice together and the gauge cluster is highly configurable. That includes the ability to slide navigation graphics onto it for a very seamless drive in unfamiliar places.
The infotainment system itself is a little more of a mixed bag though. It’s much larger and brighter than the options for the 2023 model and we’re happy about that. The interface is mostly logical so getting around isn’t too tough.
At the same time, the infotainment system can prove to be laggy and while the screen can sense more than one touch at once, the user interface won’t allow more than one function at a time in most circumstances. That proved frustrating during testing. That’s not all the tech we have to talk about though. The available 11-speaker Harman & Kardon sound system is quite nice and VW offers a bevy of power outlets throughout the car.
The only downside is that at times, only one side of the cabin gets access to those power ports as is the case in the third row. Beyond those features, the Atlas comes with blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology will cost extra. At the time of writing, the IIHS hasn’t released safety data on the 2024 Atlas. However, the NHTSA did give it a five-star crash test rating.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Trims & Pricing
SE – $39,075
The base Atlas comes with 18-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, heated mirrors, keyless entry, tri-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, faux-leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a 12-inch infotainment screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, six speakers, voice recognition, and USB power ports in all three rows.
SE with Technology – $43,015
This oddly named trim adds 20-inch wheels, LED light bars, illuminated VW badges, remote start, manual rear window sunshades, a 115-volt household-style outlet, parking sensors, and a towing package. Notably, the SE with Technology unlocks the Peak Edition package with 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, a panoramic sunroof, adjustable cabin ambient lighting, and black exterior trim.
SEL – $49,795
The SEL gets upgraded LED headlights, driver’s seat memory settings, a panoramic sunroof, heated second-row seats, leather upholstery, adjustable ambient cabin lighting, integrated navigation, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a heads-up display. It too is available with the Peak Edition package which trades the leather upholstery for faux leather and the 20-inch wheels for 18s.
SEL Premium R-Line – $53,805
The top-spec Atlas gets 21-inch wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery with diamond stitching, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, a surround-view camera system, and an automated parking system.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas Overall Value 7.5/10
The Atlas isn’t a bad SUV by any stretch of the imagination but it’s also not one that really sits at or near the top of the segment. The new updates for 2024 are very good and we’re happy to see an improved infotainment system along with other tech upgrades. If it still started around the $35,000 mark it would be more enticing but without some seriously great new car incentives, we would likely spend our cash with Mazda, Kia, Toyota, or Jeep. A used Atlas could be enticing too for those looking to save.
CarsForSale.com Overall Score 7.75/10
2024 Volkswagen Atlas – vw.com | Shop 2024 Volkswagen Atlas on Carsforsale.com
Volkswagen has never truly shot for the very top of any segment and the Atlas is a great example of that. I’d love to see it leverage some of the tech from in-house siblings Porsche or Audi to make the Atlas better to drive. It could even go the other route and make this SUV sincerely excellent and highly capable off-road. Finally, the most likely route would be to incorporate more hybrid tech to improve fuel economy.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas FAQ
How much is the Volkswagen Atlas?
The Atlas starts at 39,075 after destination and can cost north of $55,000 with all options.
Does the Atlas have a third row?
Yes. Unlike its smaller sibling the Atlas Cross Sport, the Atlas has three rows of seats.
Does the Atlas come in a hybrid?
No. Volkswagen might bring one online for the next generation of Atlas but we’ll have to wait to see.
