2024 Volkswagen Atlas

The Volkswagen Atlas is a favorite among families who want minivan-like functionality from a midsize SUV. It has 3-row seating with one of the roomiest and most accessible third rows in its class, plus generous cargo space to boot. The Atlas gets a nice mid-cycle refresh for 2024, including a new turbocharged engine, updated styling, and many desirable standard features like a 12-inch infotainment system, 3-zone climate control, wireless charging, and more safety tech. Top rivals include the Chevrolet Traverse, Kia Telluride, and Honda Pilot.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize 3-row SUVs, including the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas.

Now entering its sixth model year, the first-generation Volkswagen Atlas gets its second mid-cycle refresh for the 2024 model year. The exterior styling is enhanced, and the interior receives many updates, including premium materials plus more and better standard features.

New standard features in the Atlas include a 12-inch infotainment system, the Digital Cockpit Pro digital gauge cluster, IQ.DRIVE driver assistance tech features, wireless charging, ventilated front seats, 3-zone climate control, and a heated steering wheel.

A new turbocharged 4-cylinder engine replaces the old 4-cylinder and V6 in the Atlas. The new engine delivers performance similar to the outgoing V6 while returning better fuel economy.

There’s also a new Peak Edition joining the Atlas lineup. It’s primarily an appearance package with distinct front and rear fascias, unique body cladding, black trim, and 18-inch black wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. It also has unique interior touches like a “Peak Edition” badge on the steering wheel and orange accent stitching.

The pricing of the Atlas is in line with the midsize 3-row SUV segment. Its price tag is similar to the Chevy Traverse, Honda Pilot, and Kia Telluride.

Before buying an Atlas, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Volkswagen Atlas resale value is below average for the segment.

The Volkswagen Atlas is powered by a new-for-2024 269-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine matched with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front- or all-wheel drive.

We’re satisfied with the confident power delivery and smooth refinement of the new turbo 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 drive.

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 tradeoff for more passenger and cargo room. We’ve found highway ride comfort and cabin noise to be about typical for the segment.

Fuel Economy

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas gets a combined fuel economy rating of up to 23 mpg with FWD and 22 mpg with AWD. These ratings are about average for a midsize 3-row SUV.

The new engine in the Atlas gets the same fuel economy ratings as the weaker 4-cylinder engine from previous model years, and the outgoing V6 only got 20 mpg.

Learn more about the fuel economy of the VW Atlas at the EPA website.

The interior of the Volkswagen Atlas gets a nice update for 2024, boasting a more premium look and feel compared to earlier Atlas models. It’s also packed with desirable standard features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, and a digital gauge cluster.

We appreciated these updates in the time we’ve spent behind the wheel. This refreshed interior keeps the Atlas competitive with the upscale players in this class, like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. One small gripe; we found some of the steering wheel controls, like the horizontal volume buttons, a little unintuitive and hard to get used to.

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.

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.

Already among the bigger and bolder entries in the 3-row midsize SUV segment, the Atlas gets a contemporary makeover for 2024 that includes a modernized light signature, revised front and rear fascias, and new wheel designs. The R-line models add a sportier look with a gloss black grille and 21-inch wheels. A new 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. As for size, only the Chevrolet Traverse is longer.

Turbo engine
You no longer have to choose between a turbo 4-cylinder or a V6 in the Atlas. An efficient new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with performance similar to the outgoing V6 powers every 2024 Volkswagen Atlas.

12-inch infotainment system
A new 12-inch screen is the centerpiece of the updated 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 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 new 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, and automatic emergency braking. Additional optional IQ.DRIVE features include adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

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 many passengers.

The new standard engine in the Volkswagen Atlas is a turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine makes more torque than both of the discontinued Atlas engines and almost as much horsepower as the outgoing V6. It also returns better fuel economy than the outgoing 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) put the Atlas on its 2024 Top Safety Pick list. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated it with its highest five out of five stars score.