SAUGERTIES, N.Y. – We’re typically being offered on the advantages of being higher listeners. But on this polarized, service-averse nation, the Artwork of Listening — to one another, or to enterprise prospects — could also be at a low ebb. For Volkswagen, a cussed unwillingness to actually hear what American prospects have been saying helped set off a decades-long decline in gross sales and market share.
They’re listening now. And the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport are blissful outcomes, with extra proof to return through the electrical ID. Buzz van. Greater than most mid-cycle refreshes, the three-row Atlas and two-row Cross Sport present what occurs when automakers really hear to each buyer criticism and media gripe, and select complete enchancment over window dressing or excuse-making. For these good-value, big-box household SUVs — two areas that didn’t want fixing — decisive upgrades to a previously Walmart inside, a reworked physique, a stronger and more-efficient powertrain, and a giant leap in commonplace options, give the Atlas siblings a wholesome elevate versus its multitude of two- and three-row rivals.
As a VW designed and engineered particularly for Individuals, the Atlas already opened VW’s ears, prefer it or not, to screaming demand for roomier SUVs. Only a decade in the past, passenger vehicles made up 91% of VW’s U.S. gross sales. At this time, SUVs are capturing 83% of VW gross sales. That’s led by the Tennessee-built Atlas, which (together with the slope-roofed Cross Sport) has discovered practically 500,000 patrons since its introduction as a 2018 mannequin, and generates essentially the most model income.
True to family-SUV kind, we set off from a glamping website of Airstream trailers in New York’s rustic-chic Catskills Mountains on the thick-gripped wheel of an Atlas SEL Premium R-Line, which runs $53,085 (together with $1,350 vacation spot). That’s high canine in a lineup that begins from $38,065 for a Cross Sport SE, or $38,965 with 4Motion AWD. Straight away, these Atlases felt extra deserving of a month-to-month cost, ditching groan-worthy pebbled plastic for good-looking soft-touch supplies and new coloration palettes, seat trims and decors that stream from the doorways by way of the sprint: “Valuable Walnut,” ash-like “Nord Thriller,” or a coppery fake carbon fiber. Quilted, diamond-pattern leather-based is obtainable on seats, together with bigger-bolstered chairs up entrance, and isn’t any much less welcome regardless of being a design cliché. (The entrance seatbacks may nonetheless use extra cushioning and assist). For a contact of added worth, leather-based and heated rear seats are actually commonplace on SEL fashions ranging from $48,785, one trim stage decrease than earlier than. Non-compulsory 30-color ambient lighting gives a literal glow-up. The brand new cabin gained’t be confused with a Kia Telluride in edge-of-luxury phrases, nevertheless it does meet longtime expectations that VW interiors ought to uphold the model’s German heritage and punch above their weight.
Pictured beneath left, the brand new Atlas Peak Version brings two unique colours (Avocado Inexperienced and Pure Grey), and outside adventure-looking add-ons, together with blacked-out 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires and black-and-silver physique cladding. All 2024 Atlas variations get a brawnier mug, with a tasteful, black-scalloped grille digging deeper right into a resculpted decrease fascia. Most trims get white LED mascara with an illuminated entrance gentle bar and VW brand, with a full-length rear gentle bar commonplace. These particulars add up, together with accessible 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels, heightening consideration to the Atlas’ crisp-yet-understated sheetmetal.
A 12-inch middle display screen now hovers atop the sprint. The scale is a commendable improve over what was there earlier than, however that’s all of the reward it’ll obtain. The Atlas has been blighted by Volkswagen’s new infotainment system, beforehand discovered within the ID.4 and GTI. The irritating menu construction, wonky capacitive switches, dearth of bodily buttons, voice assistant with questionable grasp of the English language … it’s all right here. As such, whereas the brand new Atlas addresses many points with the unique model, Volkswagen has added one thing arguably even worse. It’s not as if VW plugged its ears right here. High executives are conscious of how reviled your entire system is. They’ve vowed to exchange them, starting with steering wheels on a brand new Tiguan, and to replace software program as effectively. However the model can’t junk its nearly-new system {hardware} in a single day, with out squeezing some use out of it. And the Atlas was clearly too far alongside in its growth to be the recipient of an improved system (or maybe to depart the superbly serviceable previous system in place).
Not less than it joins an eye-friendly 10.25-inch reconfigurable driver’s show with full-screen navigation readouts (for nav-equipped variations) and an non-obligatory head-up show. New commonplace gear consists of three-zone computerized local weather management, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive entrance lighting, height-adjustable passenger seat, voice controls, wi-fi charging and VW’s wi-fi AppConnect. A normal IQ.Drive driver-assistance system brings options resembling adaptive cruise, lane-keeping help, blind-spot warning and computerized emergency braking that for 2024 higher detects cyclists and pedestrians. As much as eight USB-C ports can be found, with zippy 45-watt charging velocity, within the sprawling inside that brings the household limitations of smaller SUVs (and even some rival midsizes) into stark reduction.
The three-row Atlas can beckon normal-sized people into the way-back, and nonetheless discover room for practically 21 cubic toes of baggage house behind the third row (it ought to stay one of many greatest and most versatile on this regard), and a class-crushing 96.8 cubes with all seats folded. For each fashions, second-row legroom rivals some full-size luxurious sedans and SUVs, with 7.7 inches of fore-and-aft sliding and 14 levels of rear recline. In the meantime, its tough folding motion not solely permits for a larger-than-usual pass-through to the third row, however lets mother and father hold many youngster seats put in when in use.
As iffy because the previous inside may very well be, the Atlas’ greatest difficulty was beforehand discovered underneath the hood. Most variations had a narrow-angle VR6 good for 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, whereas a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four that step by step discovered its approach into extra variations had 235 hp and 258 lb-ft. It simply wasn’t sufficient to encourage an SUV that would high 4,600 kilos. Each engines are actually finished for, changed by the modernized, 2.0-liter turbo-four from the Golf R and Arteon. Even detuned to 269 horses and 273-pound toes, this engine lastly provides the Atlas greater than a shrug in response to heavy throttle: 60 mph arrives in 7.5 seconds in AWD trim, versus the 8.3 seconds of departed VR6 fashions, a palpable acquire in stress-free tempo. At 1,550 rpm, the four-cylinder generates 28% extra torque than the departed six-cylinder, lowering the earlier urge to cane the Atlas simply to get issues shifting round city or getting into a freeway.
On grizzled-but-glorious Catskills roads, dashing by way of inexperienced curtains of surrounding ridges, the Atlas pulls strongly in second, third or fourth gear. Fourth gear will flirt with triple-digit speeds, simply sufficient grunt for this SUV’s chosen mission. The eight-speed computerized provides by-wire shifting, the earlier (considerably clunky) scepter-size console lever has been changed by a vestigial piano-black toggle, and paddle shifters are actually commonplace. Gas financial system wasn’t nice earlier than, both, and it too rises, to twenty mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed for front-drive fashions, and with 4Motion all-wheel-drive, 19/26/22 mpg for SE trims, 19/25/21 for Atlas SEL trims, and 18/24/20 mpg for the Peak Version and its all-terrain tires. Towing capability holds regular at 5,000 kilos.
As ever, the Atlas’ gentle, virtually dainty-feeling steering and absorbent journey — once more, ask Individuals how they like their SUVs — precludes any sense of being in a supersized GTI, or perhaps a Mazda CX-90. This goes for each variations, by the way in which, regardless of “Sport” being within the two-row’s identify. Pretending they’re, in actual fact, a GTI elicits a chilly splash of understeer to convey you again to earth, parental duty or each. The brake pedal’s preliminary software can also be cush sufficient to keep away from upsetting child; however a firmer step delivers surprisingly brief and assured stops. But the Atlas will circle a yard as faithfully as a golden retriever: Regular, watchful, no surprises, no surprising strikes.
As a lot as the brand new infotainment system dampens the temper, the comfort for Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport patrons or buyers is that historical past’s greatest Volkswagen now has far more going for it than sq. footage for-the-dollar: Sharper seems to be, stronger efficiency, extra stuff, and a cabin that may maintain its head up in opposition to key rivals. Pay attention intently, and it’s possible you’ll hear a Volkswagen model that, after years of static and missteps, is lastly getting on Individuals’ wavelength.
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