The 2024 VW Atlas is a three-row crossover SUV with a smaller five-seat complement called the Atlas Cross Sport, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee five-seater and the larger Grand Cherokee L. It rivals other family haulers ranging from the Toyota Highlander to the Honda Pilot. With a spacious and handsome new interior, a stronger turbo-4, and an excellent warranty, the 2024 Atlas notches big gains. Volkswagen has refreshed both the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport for 2024, with new ends, updated tech, and a more efficient turbo-4. The old V-6 has been discontinued.
The most significant changes for the refresh arrive inside, with a standard 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen that houses the climate controls, a new tiered center console with a nubby electronic gear shifter, a deep center console, and a spartan, uncluttered dash. It’s a major upgrade for a vehicle that lagged its rivals by a considerable margin, in terms of finishes and overall impressions of quality.
Two body styles make up the Atlas line. The standard one’s a longer-roofed design with a more traditional SUV silhouette, the other’s a Cross Sport with a 5.1-inch-shorter body, two rows of seats, and a more sloping roofline. Both have the same front end, with lots of bright metallic trim and a big VW logo in the middle of a barred grille. (The logo’s illuminated in some editions, if you’re thirsty for attention.) The most interesting piece of Atlas designery comes at hip level, where its chunky fenders swell up and box out around the wheels; the front ones trail thin fender vents, the rears simply trail into a tail that’s beautifully nondescript, with big glass and big LED taillights. The roofline splits the duo in two: the Atlas Cross Sport’s tapered roof and rear glass cut into cargo space but lend it a more athletic stance.
VW’s new turbo-4 powertrain in its big SUV earns better EPA gas mileage ratings than the former V-6. But the apples-to-apples comparison with last year’s turbo-4 is less clear: the front-drive Atlas SE now gets an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 27 highway, 23 combined in both three-row and Cross Sport body styles. That compares with 21/25/23 mpg last year. With all-wheel drive, the Atlas SE checks in at 19/26/22 mpg, compared to 20/24/22 mpg last year. While last year’s V-6 topped out at 20 mpg combined, this year’s Atlas SEL gets 21 mpg combined; a Peak Edition hits 20 mpg combined.
Though it has a lot of standard safety features, the Atlas hasn’t aced crash tests. The feds give the Atlas five stars overall—but that score rounds up a subrating of four stars for front-impact protection. The IIHS calls it “Good” in most of its tests, but in the new, tougher moderate-overlap run, the Atlas gets a “Marginal” score. It still earns a Top Safety Pick award for 2024, regardless. Automatic emergency braking comes standard, though it’s dubbed “Basic” by the IIHS. Active LED headlights earn a “Good” rating; last year’s base units earned a “Marginal” IIHS score, so that rating may rise. Active lane control and blind-spot monitors are standard, as well as adaptive cruise control; a surround-view camera system appears only on the R-Line.
Size still reigns as the Atlas’ strongest virtue. The Atlas earns kudos for a vast interior with very good seats for up to five passengers, and a third row that can handle two more or convert into a huge cargo bin. At 200.7 inches long (about five inches less on the Cross Sport), the Atlas offers up wide, well-bolstered front seats with heating, cooling, and driver-side power adjustment. The driver gets a great seating position, with a low set of digital gauges neatly framed by the steering wheel. They’re wrapped in synthetic leather on most models, with upper trims converting to leather with quilting and perforation on the top R-Line—while adding power front passenger adjustment. It’s a wide vehicle and shoulder, head, and legroom abound in all directions.
A businesslike interior gains a much larger standard touchscreen this year. The 12.0-inch unit sits atop the dash, which gets wrapped in soft-touch materials, for a significantly richer appearance on all versions. A stubby transmission toggle rides the center console, hiding huge storage beneath, and a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster comes with all Atlases now. The pixels dominate retinas; everything else gets subdued and subtly improved. It’s much closer to the Telluride/Palisade paradigm, with interior trims that mimic light walnut or gray wood or carbon fiber, and leather with quilting or orange piping. Avocado green paint marks some Peak Edition vehicles, giving off peak ‘70s realness, but harvest gold is nowhere to be found.
In the second row, the stock bench seat can fit three large passengers, or be swapped for twin captain’s chairs that nearly rival the front seats for comfort. The Atlas has almost 38 inches of second-row legroom, and even with a sunroof fitted, it leaves a few inches of headroom for 6-footers. Slide the second row out of the way, and the third row in the Atlas gets enough space for 6-footers; the seat offers enough space for them, but tall passengers will make contact with the headliner and get pushed forward by the awkward lower edge of the headrest.
Volkswagen has upgraded the interior of the Atlas with much finer materials, ranging from handsome synthetic wood trim in ash or light walnut, to a metallic-printed material. The dash is clad in softer plastics, and the cabin seems more hushed as a result. Last year the Atlas earned catcalls for its plain interior; now it’s nothing but kudos for the sense of refinement that comes close to the South Korean SUVs’ benchmark.
The Atlas offers good value in SE spec. Prices have crept up to nearly $40,000, but the extra-large Atlas can be a strong value in base trims. With points for infotainment, standard features, warranty, and value. The $39,075 Atlas SE with front-wheel drive has 18-inch alloy wheels, a power driver seat, adaptive LED headlights, heated and cooled front seats, a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. It also carries a 4-year/50,000-mile warranty with 2 years of free maintenance.
All-wheel drive costs $1,900. The Cross Sport body costs about $1,000 more. A $3,940 SE Technology Package adds a power tailgate, front and rear parking sensors, remote start, a tow hitch, and more USB ports—including one in the rearview mirror for accessory dash cams. A sunroof costs $1,200; black wheels are $595; and second-row captain’s chairs cost $695. The $47,905 Peak Edition gets black wheels, black trim, the sunroof, ambient lighting, and its own interior color. The $53,805 Atlas SEL R-Line offers leather seats, 21-inch wheels, Harman Kardon audio, navigation, a power front passenger seat, a sunroof, a head-up display, and heated second-row seats.
The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas continues to be a strong contender in the midsize SUV market, especially for those prioritizing space, comfort, and practicality. While it may not be the most performance-focused vehicle in its class, it excels in offering a family-friendly interior, comprehensive safety features, and a refined design. With its blend of updated technology, competitive pricing, and solid all-around capabilities, the Atlas remains a practical and attractive option for a wide range of SUV buyers.
