A Tale of Two Volkswagens – The 2018 Atlas and Tiguan 7 Passenger SUVs
Road tripping through Maine in the all-new Atlas and Tiguan 7 passenger SUVs.
When AGirlsGuidetoCars was invited to a 2-day Volkswagen SUV road trip in Maine to test drive the all-new 2018 Atlas and the 2018 Tiguan, we jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t? Road testing two 7 passenger SUVs, stopping for soft serve and shopping, eating our fill of lobster rolls and reveling in the hot new features of these all-new VWs is an offer no one can refuse.
VW’s New 7 Passenger SUV Is Built for The Road!
Our first stop was Red’s Ice Cream. We thought a soft serve ice cream treat was the perfect choice to enjoy while getting acquainted with the allnew 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.
The all-new 2018 Atlas has a fitting name: It is built for cross country road trips. It’s classified as a full-size family SUV with available third row seating that comfortably seats 7.
What We Loved about the Volkswagen Atlas
The Atlas is a luxury filled, full-size SUV from top to bottom. Let’s start with the heating options–and we’re not talking about standard heat features. The Atlas comes with a heated leather wrapped steering wheel (best invention since caller ID) and front driver & passenger heated (and actively ventilated) seats. Those two features are fabulous. But what impressed me most was that the second-row seats are also heated. Everyone will be nice and toasty this winter. #Happy
Read More: Best Road Trip Snacks. Healthy and Not So Much.
Ample cargo space! There’s definitely enough cargo space for all of your kid’s sports gear and the haul from a grocery store run. There’s also even enough space with the 3rd row in use. The interior is spacious enough for everyone to be comfortable during daily commutes and on road trips.
The Tech is as Impressive as the Design
The technology in the Atlas is equally as impressive as the sleek new body style. Along with the tech we’ve come to expect in an SUV (adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning) the Atlas also has the fabulous new VW digital cockpit.
The digital cockpit is the message center where the speedometer and tachometer live, but it’s more than just that. You can customize your display and it can welcome you by name and activate your preferred seating settings. It can also show your off-road view, and system specs upon vehicle start. You can also see additional information including navigation instructions, estimated fuel economy, range and speed in the digital cockpit and the user friendly HD touchscreen.
The digital cockpit is standard on the SEL Atlas and an available option on the 2018 Volkwagen Tiguan.
Read More: 9 Safety Features You NEED in Your Next Car.
Sporty and Sleek on the Outside
The Atlas is a sleek, sporty and stylish SUV. The SEL Premium edition (as tested) will set you back $49,415.00 (that includes destination charge) which is great pricing for a full-size with all the available options.
The Atlas Has a Cute Little Sister Named Tiguan!
The Volkswagen Tiguan has been around for a minute but the 2018 edition has a fresh new look and we like it! We drove the 2018 Tiguan on day #2 of our Maine SUV road trip from Camden to Bangor. It rained as we started our trip but thankfully it cleared up as we arrived in Bar Harbor.
The Tiguan is considered a compact SUV but feels more like a midsize SUV due to its spacious interior. First thing I loved about the Tiguan was the vibrant color. It’s called Habanero Orange and it’s simply gorgeous. The new body style for the 2018 edition is borrowed straight from its big sister, the Atlas. It truly looks like a mini Atlas and we like it!
Read More: The Future of Automotive Design-Where Fashion and Technology Meet
Comfortable on the Inside Too
Like the Atlas, the Tiguan has the comfortable leather interior with available/optional 3rd row seating for 7. It also has the awesome Fender Premium Audio system, the Volkswagen digital cockpit and the HD touchscreen (home to your navigation and audio controls).
If you’re not in the market for a full-size family SUV, the Tiguan is perfect for you. It’s a great size for everyday commuting needs but can accommodate the need for more on a road trip.
So, what will a fully equipped 2018 Tiguan set you back? Fully loaded (as tested) the Tiguan costs $39,250. But a nicely equipped Tiguan starts at only $25,000.
All 2018 Volkswagens come with the “Peoples First Warranty.” That gives owners (limited) bumper-to-bumper coverage for 6 years/72,000 miles.
Which Volkswagen 7-passenger SUV would you like to take home?
Categorized:Car Reviews