2026 Volkswagen Atlas

Midsize 3-row SUVs have become America’s preferred way of shuttling families who need more than five seats, but not all of them are as family-friendly as they seem. Just ask the passengers who have to sit in the third row. The Volkswagen Atlas is a midsize SUV with the style and capability that draws families to SUVs, but with a huge interior that’s actually comfortable in the way-back seats. Adult-friendly third-row seating isn’t its only strength; the Atlas also boasts good cargo space, a pleasant driving experience, and a generous list of standard features that help make it a strong value choice in its competitive class. There’s also a 2-row Atlas Cross Sport, which we review separately.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Volkswagen Atlas.

There’s only one minor change to the Volkswagen Atlas for the 2026 model year: a standard HomeLink universal garage door opener on all but the base SE trim.

This pricing is about average for a midsize 3-row SUV, but the Atlas brings extra value since it’s one of the roomiest vehicles in its class. There are some similarly priced rivals without nearly as much third-row or cargo space. Its two competitors with similarly huge interiors, the Chevy Traverse and Toyota Grand Highlander, are both more expensive.

Before buying an Atlas, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. VW Atlas resale value is toward the bottom of its segment. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The Volkswagen Atlas is powered by a 269-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Turbo 4-cylinder engines in this class are a bit of a mixed bag, and this is one of the good ones.

We’re satisfied with the confident power delivery and smooth refinement of this engine. Even though it’s one of the largest vehicles in its class, the Atlas still manages to deliver some of the same qualities that have long made Volkswagen vehicles so uniquely satisfying to pilot.

We found the Atlas to be an easy SUV to drive, but it isn’t as easy to wheel around a tight parking lot as the smaller Toyota Highlander, for instance. However, that’s the unavoidable trade-off for more passenger and cargo room. We’ve found highway ride comfort and cabin noise slightly more refined than the average for this segment, as we hope for in a vehicle from a German brand.

Fuel Economy

The Volkswagen Atlas gets 20 city/26 highway/23 combined mpg with front-wheel drive and 19 city/26 highway/21 combined mpg with all-wheel drive. These ratings are about average for a midsize 3-row SUV, but more fuel-efficient hybrids like the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid and Hyundai Palisade Hybrid are getting more common in this segment.

The interior of the Volkswagen Atlas boasts a more premium look and feel than its price tag suggests. It’s also packed with desirable standard features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, tri-zone climate control, and a digital gauge cluster.

Interior space is one of the biggest strengths of the Atlas. This is a 3-row SUV for families who will actually use the third row regularly. It’s still no minivan, but the way-back seats in the Atlas have 33.7 inches of legroom, and we had little trouble climbing back there. That’s 2.3 inches more than the Kia Telluride, a meaningful advantage.

For such a roomy interior, you might expect the Atlas to be an 8-seater, but it maxes out at seven. There are only two seats in the third row, but without a middle seat in the way, these seats have decent width, meaning two adults can actually fit back there without having to cuddle. Every trim comes standard with second-row bench seating, and captain’s chairs are optional in all but he base trim.

The Atlas has 20.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 55.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a whopping 96.8 cubic feet when all of the rear seats are folded down. That’s about average for cargo room behind the third row, but among the roomiest in its class for space behind the first and second rows.

We have a couple of small gripes: Some of the steering wheel controls, like the horizontal volume buttons and lack of a volume knob, are not very intuitive and are hard to get used to. The menu to control SiriusXM also feels clumsy.

The Volkswagen Atlas carries a sophisticated subtlety that defines the VW brand. The R-line models add a sportier look with a gloss black grille and 21-inch wheels. The Peak Edition adds a more rugged look that includes blacked-out exterior trim, 18-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires, and unique body cladding.

Turbo engine
A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with performance similar to the old V6 powers every 2026 Volkswagen Atlas. It strikes a nice balance of pep and efficiency.

12-inch infotainment screen
A 12-inch screen is the centerpiece of the interior of the Atlas. It has wireless smartphone connectivity, and six USB-C ports come standard (up to eight are available).

Digital Cockpit Pro
The standard Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro is one of our favorite digital gauge clusters. The Atlas has a 10.25-inch fully configurable display that can show everything you want to see and nothing you don’t.

Standard comfort features
The Atlas has an impressive list of standard features, including 3-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and more.

IQ.DRIVE
The Atlas comes standard with IQ.DRIVE driver assistance technology. It bundles features like lane centering, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go technology.

Roomy 3-row seating
The Volkswagen Atlas is among the best in its class regarding third-row legroom and headroom. Not all 3-row SUVs are created equal, but the roomy Atlas is an excellent choice if you regularly haul a full complement of passengers.

The standard engine in the Volkswagen Atlas is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine makes more torque than both of the discontinued Atlas engines from before its 2024 refresh, and almost as much horsepower as the old V6.

The Atlas still boasts a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Like most of its rivals, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The Atlas is backed by 4-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain coverage. That’s a longer basic warranty than most competitors but a shorter powertrain warranty. Given Volkswagen’s middling track record when it comes to reliability, warranty protection should be an important consideration. Volkswagen includes complimentary maintenance for two years or up to 20,000 miles.

Safety

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the Atlas with its Top Safety Pick award, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated it with its highest 5-Star overall safety rating.