2018 Volkswagen Atlas review

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Review:

The Volkswagen Atlas is a spacious, family-friendly SUV that replaced the Touareg, as VW's largest vehicle, adding more space, a third row, and a more attractive price point. The Atlas sits above the smaller Tiguan and the two-row Atlas Cross Sport, which would arrive a couple of years later in 2020. Perhaps as a testament to its winning formula, the Atlas is still in its first generation as of this writing. It did receive noteworthy updates in 2021 and 2024, but due to Volkswagen's traditionally conservative design philosophy, these changes may not be immediately obvious.

The Atlas maintains a modern aesthetic despite its understated design. For the latest look, specifically the updated front end patterned after the Atlas Cross Sport, focus your search on 2021 models and later. Models from 2020 and earlier have an older headlight design and a more traditional, squared-off front fascia.

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

What tech does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have?

Connectivity

The Atlas offers excellent device connectivity, featuring up to four USB ports, plus wired Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® functionality. A six-inch touch screen is standard, but most Atlas trims have a larger eight-inch screen available on SE models and above, Volkswagen's Car-Net® app allows owners to interact with their Atlas remotely via Volkswagen's Car-Net® Remote Access. This feature is available with a paid subscription. Key functions include remote start/stop (if equipped), remote lock/unlock, remote honk and light flash, and display of the vehicle's last parked location, plus vehicle status updates.

Infotainment

Edmunds testers found the Atlas' infotainment system adequate but struggled with the onboard navigation system. It requires you to specify a city for single-location points of interest, and responses are slow. For points of interest with multiple locations, such as Starbucks, the system does not provide directional information, such as "straight ahead 1.5 miles." The voice command system only accepts address inputs, so users cannot search while driving.

The Atlas offers two audio setups. Most models come with a six-speaker system, while the SEL Premium trim features a Fender® premium audio system. This version offers 12 speakers, including a center channel speaker, tweeters and woofers in each door, two effects speakers in the rear roof pillars, a center speaker in the dash, and a subwoofer in the back. There is also a 480-watt, 12-channel amplifier that delivers deep bass and clear midrange throughout the cabin.

Driver-Assist Tech

The driving aids work well and are easy to switch on and off. The adaptive cruise control, in particular, maintained a small gap for such a big car, and the lane-keeping assistance is subtle but effective. The rearview camera display is a little muddy, however. The 360-degree camera system provides crisp, clear HD images on the infotainment system, which is handy for parking, but it does not turn on by default. You have to select the Menu button on-screen or hit the sensor/camera button behind the shifter to engage it.

How comfortable is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas?

Front Seating

The Atlas offers spacious and comfortable front seats, and most Edmunds test drivers had no trouble finding a position they liked. The seats feel soft, with long cushions that work well for tall drivers. There is plenty of space between your knees and the dashboard or steering wheel, plus plenty of headroom. Heated and ventilated seats come standard. It's worth noting that cooled seats are typically offered on higher trims in other vehicles, so they're a nice value add for the Atlas.

Rear Seating

The Atlas' second row is notably spacious and comfortable, offering ample foot room and soft front seatbacks. While some might find the second-row seats a bit flat, there's generous toe room beneath the front seats, allowing passengers to stretch out and get adequate thigh support. This roomy comfort is maintained even when the front seats are pushed far back or the second row is moved up to accommodate tall third-row passengers.

Edmunds' testers found the third-row headrests too tall, so their upper backs rested against the headrests rather than the seatbacks, which wasn’t very comfortable. On the plus side, there’s a lot of space in the third row, with plenty of leg and toe room. Someone who is 6-foot-4 might not want to sit here for a long trip, but for SUVs like this, the space is about as good as it gets.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

The Atlas offers a very comfortable ride, effectively smoothing out bumps and rough roads. While the ride isn't overly soft, it feels slightly less connected to the road than competitors such as the Honda Pilot.

Edmunds' testing found that the Atlas stays quiet at most speeds. Some might notice a bit more road noise than wind or engine noise, but it is not a big deal. The engine also makes a satisfying sound under hard acceleration.

Does the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas have good storage?

Cargo

The Atlas offers generous cargo space: 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet with the third row folded down and a massive 96.8 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. While this is slightly less than rivals such as the Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse, it surpasses most other SUVs in the category. The second- and third-row seats are light and easy to manually fold completely flat. A thoughtful under-floor cubby is available to store the cargo cover when the third row is in use, as the cover can only be deployed when the third row is folded.

Storage

The Atlas' cabin is about as practical as it gets. Up front, there’s plenty of storage: a big space under the console, a large bin under the armrest, a roomy glovebox, and a cubby to the left of the steering wheel. There’s also a tray on top of the dashboard for small items. In the second row, storage is limited to the door pockets, but they’re well designed and each has two cupholders. The third row is similar, with two cupholders for each passenger, an armrest bin, and a side compartment. The Atlas does a great job overall, but it doesn’t offer the clever cubby setups that Honda put in the Pilot.

How easy is the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Getting in and out of the front seat is simple because the dashboard sits far from the passengers. You only need to open the door to its first stop to have enough space. The large door openings and tall roof also make it easy to enter and exit both the first and second rows. Accessing the third row is very easy with the second-row tilt-and-slide feature. It creates a large opening that makes getting in and out simple.

When equipped with captain's chairs in the second row, the Atlas has two pairs of LATCH anchors. These anchors are located behind slits in the leather marked "ISOFIX" and are pretty easy to find, though they're not as noticeable as in some other German cars that use removable plastic covers. The tethers are near the bottom of the seatback or on the floor if the third row is folded down. As long as you can find the anchors, installing car seats should be straightforward. The middle row has lots of space, and the door openings are large.

Interior Layout and Visibility

Even when set to its lowest position, the driver's seat gives you a great view of the road ahead. The windows are large all around, and if you lower the third-row headrests, they don't block your view out of the back as they do in some other SUVs.

Edmunds' testers weren't a fan of the Atlas' steering wheel controls. The button layout is unintuitive, and even when you take the time to learn it, commonly used buttons such as volume and track skip are at the bottom of the wheel rather than up top, where they are easier to reach.

What’s the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas like to drive?

Driving

Power is one of the Atlas' few weak points. Edmunds tested an Atlas with the V6. While the engine felt punchy at lower speeds, it quickly ran out of steam on the highway. The Atlas is likely to feel bogged down when loaded with passengers and cargo. Its 0-60 mph sprint of 8.5 seconds is about a second slower than the class average. Otherwise, the Atlas is a decent performer. The brake feel is natural and easy to predict, and the steering is surprisingly precise. The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts quickly and smoothly.

The Atlas' brakes make for smooth stops, and the steering feels accurate. It holds the road well in corners, but the body leans quite a bit, so it doesn't feel sporty. Comfort is important in this class, and the Atlas delivers. The ride is soft and absorbs bumps well, but it doesn't have the overly floaty feel of some competitors.

Towing

Atlas models equipped with the four-cylinder engine can tow up to 2,000 pounds when equipped with an aftermarket hitch and a braked trailer. Models with the six-cylinder engine can tow up to 5,000 pounds with a braked trailer. This towing capacity is similar to most other midsize three-row SUVs.

Fuel Economy/Electric Efficiency

The EPA says the Atlas gets between 19mpg and 24mpg in combined city and highway driving, depending on the trim and setup. This is typical for a midsize three-row SUV. On Edmunds' real-world test route, the Atlas averaged 22.3 mpg, so the EPA estimates should be easy to match.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates