2022 Volkswagen Atlas

Pros: Cavernous interior; good driving personality for such a large vehicle; well-sorted touchscreen infotainment system

Cons: Plus-size dimensions can make close-quarters parking a chore; mediocre fuel economy with V6 engine

CG Says: The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas drops its base S trim level and sees a few standard equipment changes. Volkswagen Atlas midsize crossover is one of the largest vehicles VW has ever sold in the U.S.; it’s bigger than most every midsize-SUV rival and its price range puts it right in the heart of the midsize crossover market. The Atlas has three rows of seating for up to seven passengers with the standard second-row bench seat, or six with the available second-row captain’s chairs. (There is also a two-row Atlas Cross Sport that is based on the Atlas, but is 5.7 inches shorter and has a sloping rear roof line [see separate report].) The base engine is a 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and the step-up engine is a 276-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Available safety features include autonomous emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic post-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Other available features include adaptive cruise control, park assist, automatic high-beam headlights, hands-free power liftgate, panoramic sunroof, overhead-camera view, and LED headlights. The Atlas’s cavernous interior provides generous passenger and cargo room, and the cabin is finished in VW’s typical classy, understated fashion—especially in the top-line SEL models. A pleasant driving personality; satisfying acceleration from the V6 engine; and a responsive, feature-rich infotainment system are other assets. Fuel economy with the V6 engine is a bit disappointing, but the Atlas’s space, performance, and European style should make it a viable alternative to rivals such as the Honda Pilot and Chevrolet Traverse.