Used 2018 Volkswagen Atlas Consumer Reviews
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Large, gas-thirsty jalopy
Alex Gorsky, 10/09/2018
2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 Launch Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Bought one in June of 2017, based mostly, on some experience with VW in Europe. We haven't expected much in terms of reliability, but with long warranty decided to go for it. For the last year there were seven recalls, several suspension and A/C issues -- and VW tried to wiggle out of covering the warranty at least once (eventually we prevailed). Overall: The good: - design is solid and inoffensive - plenty of room - good visibility The bad: - reliability - VW are experts on "decontenting": the base model made terrible on purpose - A/C controls are useless (and one cannot control the rear vents from the driver seat), the materials are nasty, the seats are uncomfortable -- in a$35k car! - the real-life fuel "economy" is much worse than claimed. It's not a big deal for us, but we average 12g in the city and 20 on highway - the automatic transmission is poor - overly soft, wallowy suspension
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Atlas Meets All my Essential Criteria
Scott T, 06/20/2018
updated 01/04/2021
2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
I spent months reviewing 3 row SUVs and decided that the Atlas met more of requirements than any other vehicle. First the 6 year, 72,000 warranty was critical since Volkswagen has a poor reliability record. Next it uses regular gas. It has a spare tire not run flats. The interior is huge and the 3rd row is so easy to get into. It has controllable HVAC in the second row. It has both Android Auto and Car Play. I can use SD cards to play my favorite music. Safety systems are second to none and they all work reliably. You can manually turn off the Stop-Start system. The digital dash with Navigation and many other display options is fantastic. It doesn't have a Mickey Mouse looking pop up screen (like the Audi Q7). Heated and Cooled front seats are a plus in the Texas environment. The 360 degree camera makes parking a breeze and parking in the garage much easier. I bought the vehicle in Sept. 2017. It now has 17,500 and it has been to the dealer once for a scheduled oil change. The VW service experience was the best I have ever had. Now for a few complaints. The front seats get uncomfortably hard after 9 hours of driving. My 2008 Honda Odyssey is comfortable for all of a 20 hour trip. I think the seats are less comfortable because of the cooling system incorporated in them. To get the perforations in the leather to transmit the cool air the seats can't be too soft or the ventilation holes will plug when you sit on the seats. I had poor highway mileage during the first 5000 miles of ownership (20mpg). Now I get about 24 mpg. City driving is close to 18 mpg now. I think for a vehicle this weight and size the mileage is reasonable but the acceleration is not breathtaking by any means. I have a feeling VW planned to put a diesel in this vehicle but you know how that went. Everyone that rides in the Atlas is impressed. I would have liked less hard plastic on the doors below the armrests. I could have had that for only $20,000 more on the Q7 but not with the warranty, run flats, regular gas, roomy seats. None of the 10 other vehicles I was considering looks more attractive to me in hindsight.
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2018 Volkswagen Atlas for sale near you
3 of 50 listings
- V6 SEL Premium 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,837In-stock online
- V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,998In-stock online
- V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,998In-stock online
See all 50 listings
Severe vibration issues
Jeff, 02/08/2018
2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
I am enjoyed the cars from the day we bought it. I knew it was going to be on her powered but I was okay with that because of the size and the Comfort level. Unfortunately now it is winter time in Iowa. Any kind of snow event the rear rims have at half inch of snow that gathers inside of it and throws it off balance and you can not go over 50 miles an hour without having a severe vibration. We have multiple other cars and I've never had this issue before it just looks like a poor design on the of the rim
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Great so far!
Andrea, 10/11/2018
2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SE w/Technology 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
18 of 19 people found this review helpful
We bought this car back in April and have just over 11,000 miles on it so far. Here is what we love: The space! Every person that gets into our car is amazed by how open and roomy it feels. The back seat is very comfortable and even the third row is pretty comfortable for a grown adult. My husband also loves the screen and it's interface. It has a very sleek feel to it. What we were surprised by: The engine. So everyone complains that it is under powered and honestly we would have agreed with that during the first several thousand miles, but for a family car and my follow the speed limit driving style it wasn't an issue. Now my husband, really likes to get up and go. After about 10,000 miles the acceleration speed and overall performance of the engine had GREATLY improved. Even my husband was impressed with how much better it did after being broke in. What could be improved: The gas mileage isn't great, but I wouldn't be looking for a large SUV if I was really that interested in my gas mileage. We average right around what the sticker says. (Because terrain makes a difference on mpg: Where we live is very flat, but we are constantly battling strong winds.) We would 100% purchase this car again. I absolutely love the comfort and the technology features. I have had zero regrets and I am so glad we chose the Atlas over it's comparable competitors.
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A great concept poorly executed and unsafe
Jeff J, 09/14/2018
updated 09/16/2019
2018 Volkswagen Atlas V6 Launch Edition 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A)
25 of 27 people found this review helpful
We test drove nine SUV's and did a lot of research before choosing the Atlas. It seemed to be the superior choice but we soon learned all that glitters isn't gold. It has proven to be unreliable and unsafe. It has shut-off the engine three times while it has been in motion, fortunately at slow speed. The most recent scary experience occurred when the auto stop/start shut of the engine then failed to restart when the brake was released. It had to be put in park and manually restarted. It spent a week in the dealership repair shop for what was supposed to be a four hour job. The entertainment system spontaneously turns itself on and the rear climate control frequently turns itself off. I recently learned from VW Customer Service that the vehicle has nine recalls but I have only received notification of four. It is sad that Volkswagen has bungled this vehicle. After reading some of the other reviews, we have been relatively fortunate. I strongly advise choosing a different vehicle and to avoid purchasing an Atlas or any Volkswagen. Update, My opinion of the Atlas has worsened since my earlier review. It has been recalled eleven times. The auto start/stop continues to malfunction. The infotainment system still acts as if it has a mind of its own as does the climate control system. The dealer service department cannot find the cause for the erratic performance. The transmission shifting is anything but smooth and the engine, once the bright spot of the vehicle, stumbles and accelerates poorly. After nearly two years of living with this poorly built vehicle, I have decided to sell it and go back to Toyota.
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