2024 Volkswagen Atlas Reviews, Pricing & Specs

A styling refresh augments the original Atlas sheet metal, which dates back to the Volkswagen CrossBlue concept first shown in 2013, with new lighting elements. The most noticeable are light-up VW logos similar to what the automaker added to its ID.4 electric crossover in a recent update. The front logo shines white, while the rear logo shines red.

VW also added a front light bar that connects to the daytime running lights, which in turn are part of new LED headlights that look like they came off a Ford Expedition. These small changes give the Atlas a completely different "face," one that obscures any European influences for American swagger. At the back, the taillights blend into a full-width light bar that also houses the illuminated logo.

All Atlas trim levels get new wheel designs for 2024. The Atlas Comfortline base model gets 18-inch alloy wheels, while Highline gets 20-inch wheels and Execline gets 21-inch wheels, along with slightly sportier styling elements.

The Atlas Peak Edition joins the line-up for 2024, which brings a more outdoorsy flavour to VW's mid-sizer. Peak Edition models get black 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a different front fascia, front and side silver body cladding, blacked-out exterior trim, and two model-specific colours: Avocado Green and Pure Grey. Interior ambient lighting is standard, while a panoramic sunroof is optional.

The interior gets a revised look as well, with most changes concentrated around the centre of the cabin. The infotainment touchscreen now stands free of the dashboard, while the shifter, just below, has been reduced to a tiny toggle, freeing up space and allowing designers to arch the console upward to create a storage space underneath. It definitely makes the interior more functional, but the contrast between the minimalist interior and the truck-like exterior is a bit jarring.

Volkswagen also tried to make the interior feel more upscale. The fake wood trim now has more grain, and a new weaved plastic trim meant to simulate carbon fibre is also available. Leatherette seats are standard, but leather upholstery with contrast stitching is available on Highline models. Our range-topping Execline tester had diamond stitching, and the combination of silver stitching and black upholstery looked pretty snazzy. However, stitching on some areas, such as the centre console, looked a bit cheaper, and the overall quality of the materials seemed more reasonable for a base Atlas than this top-of-the-line model.

Powertrain options shrink from two to one for 2024. The VR6—a narrow-angle V6 with a single head for both banks of cylinders—is gone, leaving only a 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine. A turbo-four was previously standard, but the new version makes 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, compared to 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque for the VR6 and 235 hp and 258 lb-ft for the previous version of the turbo-four.

This engine is yet another iteration of VW's EA888, used in everything from rental-spec Jettas to the Golf R hot hatchback, which is fitting since the Atlas is based on the same MQB platform as those models. As before, the engine is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and, in Canada, standard all-wheel drive (AWD). (Unlike the U.S., front-wheel drive (FWD) is not offered here.)

Thanks to the additional torque over the VR6, which also peaks lower (1,550 rpm versus 3,600 rpm), the 2024 Atlas is quicker than a six-cylinder 2023 model, VW claims, taking roughly 8.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a stop.

Those numbers aren't exactly sizzling, and neither is the driving experience. The Atlas is still very much a family hauler, focusing on comfort and frugality over performance. The four-cylinder engine did pull strongly and smoothly, getting up to highway speeds without any drama, but it still produced far more noise than thrust. Compared to the old four-cylinder engine, the extra power was indeed noticeable. Ride quality hasn't improved over the pre-refresh Atlas, which was much less comfortable than rivals, but it hasn't gotten worse either. Considering that our test car had the largest-available 21-inch wheels, that's a win.

While the Peak Edition adds all-terrain tires, and an Offroad driving mode carries over from 2023, Volkswagen's 4Motion AWD system is designed mostly with pavement in mind. A maximum of 50% of the torque can be sent to the front or rear axles, and the rear axle decouples under light loads to save fuel. The system lacks low range, and even Peak Edition models lack underbody protection needed to prevent a bad day in the great outdoors.

As before, maximum towing capacity is 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). In Canada, this rating comes standard. Most rivals have an identical maximum, but the Nissan Pathfinder, which retains a naturally aspirated V6 engine, can tow up to 2,720 kilograms (6,000 pounds).

The Atlas gets more standard features for 2024. The base Comfortline trim level has heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats and a power liftgate are now standard equipment as well. Heated second-row seats are standard from the Highline trim.

Seating for seven comes standard, with a three-seat second-row bench that can 60/40 split-fold, recline up to 14 degrees, and slide fore and aft nearly 20 centimetres. It can also hold three child seats side by side, and it can tilt and slide forward with those seats in place, according to VW. The bench can be optionally replaced by second-row captain's chairs on Highline and Execline, reducing seating capacity to six. A 50/50 split-folding third row bench is standard regardless.

The form factor hasn't changed, though. Headroom and legroom are competitive with rivals across all three rows of seats. First-row, second-row, and third-row headroom tops the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, and third-row legroom is the best in the Atlas's competitive set. Second-row passengers will find a little less room to stretch than they would in other similarly sized crossovers, however.

Like most three-row vehicles, the Atlas makes a trade-off between passenger space and cargo space. The latter shrinks from 2,735 litres with the second and third rows folded to 583 litres with all seats in place. Stow only the third row, and you get a Goldilocks-zone 1,571 litres. Regardless of what combination of seats you fold, the Atlas has more cargo space than nearly all rivals, falling just short of the Chevy Traverse.

In addition to more convenience features, the Atlas also gets more standard tech features for 2024. A 12-inch touchscreen and 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster are now standard, along with wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Six USB-C ports are still standard, with up to eight available. A head-up display is standard on Execline. VW has switched from Fender to Harman Kardon for its premium audio systems, with the Atlas getting a 12-speaker system on higher trim levels (upgrading from a standard unbranded six-speaker system).

The upgraded infotainment system was pleasant enough to use. We particularly appreciated having a map view in the now-standard digital instrument cluster—a good feature for road trips. Graphics looked sharp but were still simple enough to read at a glance. However, VW still relies on haptic touchpads for functions like audio volume and headlights. The lack of feedback makes these controls more difficult to use than pushing a button, even if they give the cabin a high-tech vibe.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2024 Atlas a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn't released ratings for the 2024 Atlas at the time of publication, but the structurally similar 2023 model received the highest "Good" score in all crash tests except the updated moderate overlap front test, where it was rated "Marginal."

Forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control are standard driver assistance equipment, as is Travel Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist for highway driving. Execline adds upgrades that include park assist and a surround-view camera system.

Like other Volkswagen models, the Atlas also has a few features in case an emergency can't be prevented, including automatic post-collision braking, a crash response system that automatically switches off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazards after a crash, and an emergency assist feature designed to automatically brings the car to a stop if the driver is incapacitated.

Base fuel economy ratings for the 2024 VW Atlas are 12.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 9.2 on the highway, and 10.8 combined. Ratings for Peak Edition models are slightly higher (12.6/9.4/11.2) due to their less-efficient wheel and tire fitments. Highline and Execline are rated at 13.0/9.7/11.5 with the new engine, which is high for the segment but more fuel efficient than the old VR6.

Volkswagen offers a four-year, 80,000-kilometre, new vehicle warranty including roadside assistance, and a five-year, 100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty.

Pricing starts at $52,675 for a base Comfortline, including destination charges and fees. That’s a significant increase of more than $7,000, but the Comfortline now has substantially more standard equipment, from ventilated front seats to wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and the full array of driver assist features. An Atlas can be much more expensive than that, too. Our Execline test car rings up at $62,675 with destination.

It's possible to spend similar money on rivals like the Hyundai Palisade or Toyota Highlander, most of which are nicer to drive than the Atlas. More power doesn't erase the lack of refinement in the chassis, and the handful of interior updates don't make the cabin feel much nicer. However, the Atlas still offers lots of what really matters in this market segment—space. More standard features and an updated look mean that's no longer the only nice thing to say about the biggest VW.

Note: Images show a US model.