What We Love About the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas
Erica Mueller
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The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is Not a Mom Car.
When it comes to 3-row SUVs, Volkswagen is pretty new to the neighborhood. But they certainly aren’t new to great design and this experience shines brightly in the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. If you are shopping for a classy SUV with a roomy third row, the Atlas should be on your list of vehicles to test drive.
Read Our Full Technical Review of the 2021 Atlas Here: Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL Premium: A 3 Row Family SUV for the Rockstar Mom
What a trendy exterior! We just love those big 20″ wheels and bold lines. (Photo by Erica Mueller)
Lots of larger SUVs have a narrow front end and a rounded tail like they can’t decide if they’re a sedan or a minivan. In fact, a lot of SUVs are now more crossover than sport utility vehicles. The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is a real SUV with bold lines and a strong stance. The exterior is so classy. Elegant even.
Just look at those roomy 3rd row seats. We love that the headrests store flush with the seat-backs when not in-use to provide better visibility out the rear window. (Photo by Erica Mueller)
Best-in-class legroom and cargo space
Besting the Pilot, Ascent, and CX-9 in legroom, the Atlas has one of the roomiest third rows. The only downside is the 3rd-row seats two, not three. Of course, this means these two passengers have more space, but for those needing that extra seatbelt, this can be an issue. The Atlas is also a class leader in cargo space making it a great choice for families or couples with pets or adventure gear.
Related Reading: 2020 Kia Telluride SX 3-Row SUV: Bespoke Details at an Off-the-Rack Price
Plenty of room for a large convertible child seat behind the driver. (Photo by Erica Mueller)
Family-Friendly Features
From built-in window shades to rear climate controls in the second row, charging options in every row, a 60/40 split second-row that seats 3 and slides back and forth to increase legroom for the 3rd row, easy to use LATCH options for car seats (second row only) and a panoramic moonroof, our kids gave this one 5-stars.
Not at all van or car-like. The Atlas is an SUV in every sense. (Photo by Erica Mueller)
4 Year / 50k Mile Warranty
Not many vehicles have a warranty past the first 3 years or 36k miles. VW sets the bar pretty high with the Atlas.
We love the simplicity of the Atlas’ command center. (Photo by Erica Mueller)
More Tech. Less Dollars.
In a handy comparison chart, VW shows how they offer more safety technology and comfort in their SE (second teir trim) than several competitive models offer on their higher trim levels. Things like wireless charging, 5 USB ports, LED headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, etc are usually add-ons or reserved for higher trim levels. But not on the Atlas SE which starts at $34,905.
The model we drove was the SEL Premium R-Line which starts at $50,725. This is the top of the line and offers larger wheels, R-line badging, and extra luxury inside, but we’ve driven lower trim lines and liked them just as much!
Need Something a Little Smaller? Check out the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan: A Compact SUV With a 3rd Row for Under $30k
Disclosure: Volkswagen loaned me the 2021 Atlas to drive for a week so that I could experience how it works for a family of 5 and share my findings with you. All opinions are my own.
