The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SEL Peak Edition felt familiar and cozy, no small feat for a mid-size SUV that underwent significant change for the current model year.
Perhaps that’s in part from family members having owned a Beetle, Passat, and Tiguan in the past, the seven-seat Atlas felt like home. Without debate, it’s certainly family-friendly.
Assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Atlas offers competitive levels of technology and spaciousness combined with hallmark Volkswagen driving dynamics and attention to detail, all at a price designed to draw attention in the crowded family SUV segment. The refreshed 2024 model offers enhanced technology, upgraded interior designs and materials, and a livelier powertrain.
My tester was powered by a 2.0-liter TSI 16-valve, DOHC, turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic and 4MOTION all-wheel drive. The combination generates 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque with regular fuel. It offers similar horsepower and more torque over a broader rev range (1,600-4,500 rpm) than previous six-cylinder models.
Atlas is rated at a 5,000 pound towing capacity, seats seven adults, and delivers an EPA-estimated 24 miles per gallon down the highway,
All Atlas models feature “Drive Mode Select”, which allows the driver to select specific vehicle profiles based on driving conditions. It has five settings for front-wheel-drive models: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, and Snow. All-wheel-drive models add an Off-road mode.
Peak Edition immediately stands out from other Atlas trims with a rugged front fascia and underbody cladding in silver. A gloss-black X design stretches across the lower fascia, with two chrome strips popping from an otherwise blacked-out grille, flowing to either side of an illuminated logo. Other exterior features include silver roof rails, 18-inch black painted alloy wheels, expansive moonroof, chrome exhaust bezels, black and silver diffuser, and a larger spoiler.
Interior accoutrements are plentiful and impressive. The interior design of the Atlas is classic Volkswagen—clean and functional, with a premium feel. Driver controls are positioned for optimal ergonomics and usability, and simple, driver-centric displays enhance involvement behind the wheel. The seat position, shifter height, and the spacing between the pedals are all designed for maximum driver comfort.
My favorite creature comforts were the heated and ventilated front captain’s chairs, premium audio system, full-screen navigation, and wireless phone charging. The list, of course, was far longer.
The Atlas makes maximum use of its three-row seating layout, boasting a cavernous 154 cu-ft of total passenger volume. With the third-row seats folded flat, cargo space handled three full-size suitcases with room to spare on a recent trip to Sea-Tac and Las Vegas over Memorial Day weekend.
Completing the Atlas package is IQ.DRIVE system, standard on all trims. The system utilizes front and rear radar, a front camera and several ultrasound sensors to collect data from the surrounding area, enabling Travel Assist; Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring); Active Side Assist (Blind Spot
Monitor); Rear Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Go; Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System); and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency).
Atlas also includes Volkswagen’s Intelligent Crash Response System that shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and switches on the hazard lights if the car is involved in certain types of collisions.
Base Price: $51,785
Price As Driven: $51,785
Destination charge is included in base price. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. List price may vary at local dealerships.
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