Is the Rugged 2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition 3-Row SUV as Luxe as it is Trail-Worthy?
The 2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition is the perfect marriage between fashion and functionality, dressed in off-road readiness. I loved every bit of it.
I’ll tell you this about me: I like glam. I want the maximum out of life and my car, from modern tech, style, and function to the vibes that set the right tone. But I also love the rough-and-tumble of off-roading; it’s not necessarily my regular weekly activity, but it’s fun to get out and challenge yourself when you can.
So the sharp design and trail capability of the 2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition had me curious. Could this $48,080 soft-roader 3-row SUV give us the flexibility we need for both our daily routines and weekend drives?
For those who prefer the roads less traveled, all-terrain tires from the factory, unique bumpers with lower cladding, and black exterior accents, I say, “absolutely.”
This story is 100% human researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
What Makes the VW Atlas Peak Edition a Big Deal?
The Atlas, a popular 3-row SUV known for its space, capability, and sharp design, was enhanced a few years ago with the addition of the Atlas Peak Edition added to the lineup. The Peak Edition, with all-terrain tires, lower cladding to keep mud and rocks from damaging your paint, a trailer hitch for up to 5,000 lbs. of towing and drive modes that include snow and off-road mode offer more capability while still delivering a stylish, premium design.
Starting at $46,655, the 2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition piqued my interest as an equal parts daily driver and fun weekend getaway SUV. Our test model ran to $48,080 with the destination fee, meaning that all the key ingredients were included, even a panoramic sunroof and leatherette seating. Pricewise, it sits between the SEL and SEL Premium R-line.
Trail-Ready Power and Performance
With all-wheel drive and a turbo 4-cylinder engine, the 2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition gives you a quiet, relaxing ride without feeling the bumps too harshly. The four-wheel independent suspension makes it easier for the wheels to deliver power evenly and without a delay. The Peak Edition sits right in the middle of the Atlas trim lineup, which starts with the front-wheel drive SE model, the only one with FWD as an option. The rest of the lineup includes SE with Technology, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. All come with standard 4MOTION, which is what VW calls all-wheel drive.
The Peak Edition focuses on off-roading, or really, soft-roading since it has AWD rather than 4WD, but its suspension is ideally suited for the trail. In comparison, the SEL Premium R-Line, which I drove recently too, is more comfortable and a bit more performance-tuned for city and highway driving. The Peak Edition felt right at home on the dirt and gravel, while the R-Line felt a little out of place.
That’s not to say the Peak Edition isn’t comfortable on the highway, though the bigger tires give it a rugged feel and its larger all-terrain tires were a bit louder than the SEL Premium. Those large tires also impact MPG a bit, which is estimated at 18 in the city and 25 on the highway, averaging out at about 20 MPG combined.
Once on the trail, off-road drive mode was the way to go; it allowed me to handle the gravel roads and kick up some dust behind me. The 4-cylinder turbo engine delivered plenty of power at 269 HP and with 273 lb.-ft. of torque, it felt plenty peppy. On the pavement, though, I could dial down the AWD and switch to eco, sport, snow, or create a custom drive mode, too.
An Off-Roader that’s Glam and Edgy
The VW Atlas Peak Edition draws on familiar styling but adds its own details too. On the front, it’s notable for sharing the premium honeycomb front grille with the SEL Premium R-Line; the other models are anchored with linear slats across the grille. Its headlights and daytime running lights wrap around its front corners to connect the light bar that spans the front of the hood and an illuminated front badge, one of my favorite details.
To distinguish the VW Atlas Peak Edition, VW added bright orange stitching and bold orange-accented Peak Edition badges, as well as black bumpers, lower cladding and black roof rails. On the rear end, the taillights are connected by a red light bar and a brightly lit VW badge, one of my favorite features. It stands out, especially at night and gives Star Wars lightsaber vibes.
I also loved the handsome Avocado Green Pearl paint. Yes, Avocado—but not your grandma’s ’70’s refrigerator; this color is more military chic than questionable retro. The pearl black and orange accents give it a sense of refinement for the everyday, while also letting it look right at home on the trail, thanks also to its rugged 18” black-painted alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.
It’s Still All About The Space: Legroom, Cargo Room, and a 3rd Row
When family visits, you’re the carpool mom, or you need more space for projects, a versatile SUV is a must. But so are conveniences and features when you have 6 or 7 people along for the ride. In the VW Atlas Peak Edition, it starts with the driver’s seat, which has a leatherette-wrapped heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated powered seats, shift paddles and an adjustable steering wheel for the best fit and driving comfort.
The passenger seat is heated and ventilated but not power adjustable, in keeping with the true rugged intention of the Peak Edition. But VW didn’t skimp on the ambient lighting; it’s adjustable, allowing you to set the mood inside the car.
Also, setting the mood is three-zone climate control, one zone for each row. Climate in the 3rd row can be controlled from the front seat, though passengers have plenty of air vents to adjust flow.
Passengers who need to stay powered up have ample charging: USB-C ports in all three rows plus a 115V household outlet in the second row. The power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof lets in the sun or starlight. And even though this SUV is built for adventure, passengers will find it quiet enough to take a nap when they’re tired.
Versatile Cargo Space Depends on Rows Up and Who Comes Along
The magic of 3 rows is all about that cargo space. And that’s a must in an adventure SUV that may need to also haul all the gear and goodies in the cargo area.
For maximum space, you can fold both the second and third row seats for a total of 96.6 cubic feet. Or if you need just the second row, fold down the third row and you’ll have 55.5 cubic feet of space. If you need all three rows up, you’ll have 20.6 cubic feet of space, which is enough for a carpool of middle schoolers and their backpacks.
If that’s not enough, a roof rack can be easily added to the roof rails, and with ground clearance of 6.3”, it’s not an overly tall SUV, making it easier to reach the rack.
Easy to Set Up Tech and Third-Row Charging is a Dream
While the Atlas SE Technology and SEL models are known for tech, the Peak Edition isn’t a luddite; it gives you everything at your fingertips: keyless access with approach unlocks, hands-free easy open and close liftgate and a push-button remote engine start. These features leave you with the ease to get things in and out of the cargo area and let you quickly hop into the driver’s seat and go.
The front seat is comfy, and the visual aesthetic is mission-control-lite, but what wowed me was the ‘digital cockpit’ driver display and multimedia touchscreen. The driver display is visual, colorful, and informative, with typical gauges, plus driver-assistance features and even a reminder to check the back seat for passengers when you turn off the car.
Having the 12” multimedia touchscreen is an unsung hero in this car. I loved that it was easy to setup via Bluetooth or USB-C. Having Apple CarPlay makes it easy and familiar to swipe through and access my maps, music, and calls without having to learn another system. There is also a Qi wireless charging pad for the phone—and wire-free elegance. While it makes charging more convenient than fighting for who has dibs on charging, it’s still not the fastest way to charge your phone. I hope it gets better over time.
Kids Can Sit Comfortably, But You’ll Need to Decide on Row Accessibility
The biggest question for many families will be configuring child safety seats and deciding who gets to sit where. Our test model had a center row bench with slide-and-tilt seats that are designed to move forward with a forward-facing child car seat installed, but of course, before you put the baby in the seat.
With rear-facing car seats in the outboard seats, it gets a little stickier; families with two rear-facing seats may need to put them side by side in an outboard and middle seat, though the middle seat looks like it would be a tight squeeze. VW designed the Atlas to fit three car seats across the middle bench and there are 3 full sets of LATCHES, but whether or not your seats will fit depends on the size of the car seats, of course.
However, with all those car seats, how will third-row passengers get in or out? Many families go with a captain’s chair setup that allows passengers to pass through the center of the car. However, then you’re losing one seat.
Here’s What We Loved Most
There are a ton of tech features to love in the VW Atlas Peak Edition, including:
- The camera system gives you a rear view to ensure you’ve got a clear path to back up and park.
- 45W fast charging across the USB-C ports
- Adaptive cruise control, especially for longer drives
- Light assist for high beam control with your headlights
- Park distance control in the front and rear
If you’re going for the adventure-ready Atlas Peak Edition, here are some considerations:
- The adaptive front lighting system has dynamic cornering lights, but the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line also get the dynamic headlight range control
- Only the Peak Edition gets heated, foldable, power-adjustable side mirrors
- Only the Peak Edition gets the 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with lumbar support
- Similar tech, but if you want the Harman Kardon sound system, opt for the SEL Premium R-Line
- Peak Edition and SEL get the rear-view camera system, but if you need the overhead view camera, opt for the SEL Premium R-Line
Balance Your Need for Tech and Off-Roading with the VW Atlas Peak Edition
In all, VW did a nice job balancing the Atlas Peak Edition with all the things families really need with the rugged adventure-focused features that many want. It becomes a sort of third space, where you and your family and friends can all get in, charge, adjust their settings, and sit back and relax. With flexible cargo space, plenty of safety features and driver assist and safety features it keeps you feeling safe and confident on the road, or on the trail.
I loved driving this midsize SUV in the city, highway, and on dirt trails around town. It’s exciting to see the versatility in a car, and this 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition is the sensible way to approach everyday driving and weekend fun without needing to hit an off-road park for a thrill. Sometimes, enjoying the little things like playing our favorite songs via Apple CarPlay ends up being the most sentimental moments, and having the tech and comfort allows us to be more present as a family. For under $50K, I’d say that makes the drive that much more valuable over time.
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