Somehow, Volkswagen combined a minivan and a station wagon and came up with the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas. What does this three-row midsize SUV have for you?
The Atlas brings good driving manners and impressive features that make it easy to enjoy the ride on any road. You’ll have room for the entire family to ride along and those in the second row will have plenty of legroom for the journey. When you don’t need the third row, there’s ample cargo space for everything you need to take along during your drive. Overall, this Volkswagen SUV is accommodating and functional, making it easy to enjoy wherever you go.
Capable driving the way you want it
Among the three-row midsize SUVs, the Atlas might not be your first choice, but it has a long list of appealing qualities. This SUV comes standard with FWD in the lower trims, but AWD is offered if you want it. Higher trims come standard with AWD, and the Atlas can tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it easy to take a trailer filled with camping gear to the wilderness for a weekend away from home.
Has anything changed for 2025?
The Volkswagen Atlas was refreshed for 2024, which means it rolls into 2025 with only mild changes to give you a few more items to enjoy. For this new model, wireless device charging is standard across the board. The SEL Premium R-Line trims have added luxury items, including:
- Perforated headrest upholstery
- Four-way adjustable lumbar support
- Front-seat massaging function
You’ll also enjoy two new colors which are Mountain Lake Blue and Avocado Green, which give you additional ways to enjoy the look of the Atlas. Most new models added voice assist powered by ChatGPT, but to have this function, you must have an active subscription to VW’s Car-net connected vehicle software.
One powertrain for them all
Every version of the Atlas uses the same powertrain. This is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup sends power to either the front wheels or all four wheels depending on the layout chosen. You’ll have 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque on tap to give you enough power to handle most driving situations.
Models set up with FWD return 20 city/27 hwy mpg, while AWD versions reduce that number to 19 city/26 hwy mpg. The Peak Edition trims take an additional hit in fuel mileage, delivering 18 city/24 hwy mpg.
In addition to the impressive power, the Atlas has an admirable steering system to feel right when you push it quickly around corners while also giving you the smooth and enjoyable ride out on the highway.
How much stuff can you fit?
The Volkswagen Atlas has 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, which is more than you’ll find in some full-size three-row SUVs. This spacious area is good enough for a load of groceries. Of course, if you need more room, folding down the two rear rows opens up the cabin and gives you 96.6 cubic feet of room to carry what you need when you’re behind the wheel. This means the Atlas can be a good SUV for a weekend project or carrying everything you need when it’s time to bring some stuff home.
Plenty of tech from VW
Every model of the Atlas has the stuff you need to be well-connected on the road. A 12.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard and you’ll have the connectivity of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Music is pumped throughout the cabin through a six-speaker audio system, making it easy to enjoy the sounds you want to hear. The Atlas come with wireless device charging, and six USB-C ports to keep other devices charged and ready to go.
In addition to the connectivity and entertainment items, this Volkswagen SUV has several impressive driver-assist features. You’ll enjoy the benefits of:
- Forward collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane centering
Which Atlas has what you need?
You can choose any version of the Volkswagen Atlas that’s offered, but the trim with the most value could be the SE with Technology. You’ll need to add 4Motion AWD to the mix, but this trim gives you 20-inch wheels, a trailer hitch package, remote engine starting, and USB charging ports for the third row. It could be a good idea to have second-row captain’s chairs in this model to give your passengers more comfort during your time on the road.
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