2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Name: 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Review
Brand: Volkswagen

Release Date: Fall 2024

Estimated Price: Starting around $38,000

The Volkswagen Atlas is an appealing pick thanks to a roomy cabin that provides comfortable, adult-size seating in all three rows. The cargo area is massive too. A lack of power and distracting-to-use controls are the Atlas' biggest drawbacks.

Contact your local dealers about upcoming availability and pricing details.

Other years for sale

2018

Volkswagen Atlas for Sale

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.},

rating written byBrian Wong^{Senior Reviews Editor
Brian Wong has worked in the automotive industry since 2010, writing over 1,000 car-related articles and testing and reviewing hundreds of vehicles over the course of career. Brian is a senior reviews editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Cars.com, Motor Authority and Green Car Reports. Brian has also been featured on MotorWeek as an expert for several car comparisons. He loves convertibles (the smaller the better) and hates paying for parking, so Los Angeles is both the right and wrong city for him.}

Pros

Spacious interior offers ample passenger room in all three rows
Cargo capacity is close to class-leading
Rides smoothly and comfortably over bumps

Cons

Touch-sensitive controls can be distracting to use while driving
Jumpy power delivery makes it hard to drive smoothly at low speeds

What's new

No significant changes expected for 2025
Part of the first Atlas generation introduced for 201

Overview

The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is a three-row midsize SUV, making it the biggest vehicle in VW's lineup and a good choice for growing families. It sits above the compact Tiguan and subcompact Taos. There's also the Atlas Cross Sport, a slightly smaller two-row midsize SUV. The Atlas has been around since 2018, but it received a significant refresh last year to keep it up-to-date. As a result, we don't expect many changes for 2025.

Edmunds spotlight: Spacious but a bit down on power

If there's one thing shoppers are seeking in a three-row SUV, it's space. The Volkswagen Atlas gets high marks in this category as you can comfortably accommodate adult-size passengers in all three rows with easy access, too. You'll also have enough room for their gear since the Atlas boasts up to 20.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row. One area where it could use a little boost is power. The 269-horsepower four-cylinder engine is adequate for most drivers and can tow up to 5,000 pounds, but when compared to other SUVs in the class, it might feel a bit sluggish when getting up to speed.

Competitors to consider

The Volkswagen Atlas runs in a very competitive class that's dominated by the Kia Telluride and related Hyundai Palisade. Its recent refresh should help keep it competitive against newer entrants that include the Toyota Grand Highlander, Mazda CX-90 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

What’s it like to live with?

To get a more in-depth ownership experience, Edmunds evaluated a Volkswagen Atlas over the course of a year while logging more than 20,000 miles. See all of the hits and misses as documented by our staff in the Edmunds' VW Atlas long-term road test review. This test was based on a 2018 model, but the current Atlas is of the same generation and many of our observations still apply.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

8.0

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Atlas drive? The Atlas' four-cylinder engine is underwhelming. Power delivery feels uneven, especially at low speeds where it's hard to get the big SUV to accelerate smoothly while driving around town. There's enough grunt to get you onto the highway without too much trouble, but you can tell the engine is working hard to deliver that speed. We didn't get to tow with it, but we'd imagine the strain being even worse with a trailer or even a fully loaded cabin.

The Atlas is otherwise a decent performer. The brakes work well for smooth stops, and the steering is surprisingly precise. The automatic transmission is also well tuned and shifts quickly and smoothly. The Atlas also displays admirable grip in tight corners, though the significant amounts of body roll will probably discourage most drivers from probing those limits.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Atlas? An SUV in this class has to be comfortable, and the Atlas abides. The cushy ride strikes a deft balance between comfort and on-road feel, soaking up bumps easily but without the floaty feeling you notice in some rivals. The front seats are quite nice, with long seat bottoms perfect for long-legged drivers. The second-row seats are a little too flat, and the tall headrests hit third-row passengers in the upper back.

Outside noise is subdued. You'll hear the engine when you mash the gas, but it's a pleasing sonorous snarl. A powerful three-zone climate control system, along with vents throughout the cabin, ensures passengers in all three rows remain comfortable. We also like the standard heated and ventilated front seats.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? A seriously roomy interior gives the Atlas an edge over rivals. Most in the class have fairly limited third-row room, but the Atlas has enough space for adults in the very back. Climbing into the rear is quite easy, too, because the second-row seats slide and tilt far forward to reveal a sizable entryway. Up front, the driver's seat offers surprisingly few adjustments, but an agreeable position is easy to find thanks to the seat's pleasant shape. The view outward is pretty good all around, and the third-row headrests do not interfere with rear visibility.

Where the Atlas struggles is its ease of use. Specifically, the touch-sensitive sliders for volume and climate temperature that rest below the touchscreen aren't illuminated at night and can be distracting to use while driving.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Atlas comes with plenty of USB-C ports so you can charge a litany of devices. And there's also wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with a standard wireless charging pad. The 12-inch center touchscreen is big and has easy-to-find menus, though the graphics look a little dated and the onboard navigation system doesn't work as well as smartphone-based nav apps.

The Atlas' advanced driver aids work well overall and are easy to switch on and off. Adaptive cruise maintains tight gaps and doesn't overreact to changing traffic conditions, for instance, and the lane keeping system keeps the Atlas in the middle of your lane without bouncing between the lane markers.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The Atlas has 20.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third-row seat and a whopping 96.6 cubes with both second and third rows folded. The second and third rows aren't power-folding, but they lie completely flat to give the Atlas van-like amounts of storage.

In-cabin storage is good too, with lots of places up front and in the third row to stash your stuff. Cubbies are in short supply in the second row, but the doors have lots of pockets. Got small children? Installing child safety seats is straightforward. The Atlas' sizable second row and large door openings help if you need to load a bulky rear-facing seat.

The Atlas is rated to tow 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, which is an average amount for this class of SUV.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA estimates that the Atlas gets between 20 and 23 mpg in combined city/highway driving, depending on the trim and configuration. These are average figures for a midsize three-row SUV. Our test Atlas got 22.3 mpg on our real-world test route, indicating that the EPA estimates should be achievable.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Atlas a good value? The VW Atlas is comparable in price to other midsize SUVs. Build quality is solid, though other rivals, such as the Kia Telluride, have higher-quality interiors. Basic and powertrain warranties run for four years/50,000 miles. Most other automakers offer three years/36,000 miles of basic coverage and five years/60,000 miles for the powertrain. VW is one of the few to offer complimentary maintenance, good for two services over two years/20,000 miles.

Wildcard

8.0/10

The Volkswagen Atlas isn't sporty or fun to drive, though it can win you over with how great it is at transporting up to seven people in comfort. We also think its styling is distinctive and likable, especially with the R-Line treatments.

Which Atlas does Edmunds recommend?

Volkswagen hasn't released official information on the 2025 Atlas as of this writing. We'll update our recommendation if anything changes, but based on last year's Atlas, we suggest going with the SE with Technology. While many of the changes over the base SE are visual, features like a power liftgate and parking sensors make the Atlas easier to live with day to day.

Volkswagen Atlas models

[Editor's note: The following unofficial information is based on last year's Atlas. We expect the 2025 model will have a similar lineup and we'll update this section once we have complete information.] The Volkswagen Atlas is a midsize three-row SUV available in four primary trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, SEL and SEL Premium R-Line. There is also a Peak Edition subtrim available for the SE with Technology and SEL trim levels. In contrast to the Atlas' early years, only one engine is available: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (269 horsepower, 273 lb-ft of torque) that is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SE and SE with Technology are available in front- or all-wheel drive. All other versions, including the Peak Edition, come standard with AWD. Keep reading for our rundown of the key features you get with each Atlas trim.

SE
Comes with a wealth of standard features, including:

18-inch alloy wheels
Adaptive LED headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
Heated exterior mirrors
Keyless entry and ignition
Three-zone automatic climate control
Heated steering wheel
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Synthetic leather upholstery
Heated and ventilated front seats
60/40-split second-row bench seat and 50/50-split third-row bench

The SE also comes with:

Digital instrument cluster
12-inch touchscreen
USB ports in all three rows
Six-speaker audio system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (both with wireless connectivity)
Wireless smartphone charging pad
Voice controls

Standard advanced driver aids on the Atlas include:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Atlas and the car in front)
Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)

SE with Technology
Further upgrades the Atlas with:

20-inch wheels
Front and rear LED light bars
Illuminated VW badges
Hands-free power liftgate
Remote engine ignition
Manual rear window sunshades
115-volt AC outlet in second row
Towing hitch with 5,000-pound towing capacity
Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)

A panoramic sunroof is optional.

Peak Edition SE with Technology
This off-road-themed trim adds these features:

18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
Black exterior trim
Panoramic sunroof
Restyled front and rear bumpers
Adjustable ambient cabin lighting

SEL
Builds off the SE with Technology trim, adding:

Upgraded headlights
Panoramic sunroof
Driver's seat memory settings
Power-adjustable passenger seat
Heated second-row seats
Leather upholstery
Adjustable ambient cabin lighting
Integrated navigation system
Safe exit warning (warns a rear passenger if they are about to open a door into traffic approaching from behind)
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

Peak Edition SEL
The Peak Edition SEL is essentially the SEL trim plus the upgrades from the Peak Edition, with some distinction. For instance, the Peak Edition SEL reverts to 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, black-painted exterior trim and synthetic leather upholstery.

SEL Premium R-Line
This is the most feature-packed Atlas available. It starts with SEL content and adds:

21-inch wheels
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Seats with diamond-pattern inserts
12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system
Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention)
360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the car for tight parking situations)

All trims except the SE can be optioned with second-row captain's chairs, which reduce maximum seating capacity from seven to six.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas video

Kia Telluride vs. Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot vs. VW Atlas | 3-Row SUV Comparison Test

NOTE: This video is about the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, but since the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.

The Kia Telluride has been the gold standard when it comes to three-row midsize SUVs for a few years now, but the competition has been working hard to catch up. In addition to the all-new Honda Pilot and updated Volkswagen Atlas, the Telluride now faces perhaps its fiercest competitor…

2025 Volkswagen Atlas

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Review

Pros