I just bought one. The touchscreen and capacitive touch isn’t an issue. It’s actually somewhat nice. Key is that there’s real buttons on steering wheel.
Try saying "hey Volkswagen ... and command. " Like, hey Volkswagen, I'm cold. It will know where you are in the car and start warming you up. I have the 2024 atlas cross-over sport exceline. I love it
I bought an Atlas R Line yesterday. The touch controls are certainly polarizing, but I also have an ID4 so am used to it and have no problems. I do wish they were illuminated but I know where they are so it's a minor issue. I was able to get it for about $8K off sticker so it's a great value.
This thing is a bargain for the base SE trim (no tech package). With AWD it’s ~$41K, gets rid of the gloss black on the center column and has heated seats/steering wheel, ventilated seats, the digital instrument cluster and the same infotainment with wireless AA/Carplay. We almost picked one up but the lease offers on CX-90 PHEV Premium made it cheaper than financing the $13k cheaper Atlas.
I own a 2021 SE V6 Technology package, and although it's been in the shop 4 times for, front end bushings, a new fuel pump, and computer reprogramming, I'm still very happy with it. It has a soft and quiet ride, powerful breaks, a pretty good steering response, so it doesn't feel as big as it is. Their is plenty of room for seating and storage, I put sheepskin seat covers on, so that made the stiff seats a little bit softer, i would have likes the front passenger seat to be electric for 45K with tax but thats in the next package up. The stock radio is powerful, and I do like that the 2021 has knobs for the radio and climate control instead of computer slide controls. I put a KN air filter in, and it gave the V6 a noticeable quicker low speed pick up, and i would say a mile more per gallon. This is my first VW, so im hoping it will be realiable for about ten years 🙏
I also just bought 1 for my wife. We have taken it on 2 little trips around 600 miles each and it has been pretty comfortable. It is the R-Line with captain's chairs as our kids are older and there is plenty of room for everything we need. So far, we love it!!
I like the Atlas but I agree with your comment about the icons in infotainment. Everything being blue is boring and different colors are much more eye pleasing and relating to what you want to select
I love how you review cars as a family, showing the real world practicality and what things mean for lay people. Since you mentioned the seats are on the firm side, which family SUV do you rate to have the most comfy seats for long trip?
I hope VW can improve reliability/durability with the new design! I had the previous generation and had a love/hate relationship with it. The engine and transmission were bulletproof but almost everything else broke often more than once. It got to the point where we were reluctant to take it on long trips and took our older higher mileage Buick Envision instead because that was faultlessly reliable. The VW was the only vehicle I have ever traded when the warranty ran out. I usually drive my vehicles for years and tens of thousands of miles after the warranty expires because they're generally reliable but the VW was so unreliable I was afraid of what the potential repair cost would be after the warranty ran out.
@@xFactoryUSA A/C compressor when driving across Arizona in 100° Heat. ABS pump Sunroof motors 3 power window motors and 2 power lock actuators Heated mirrors failed Even the radio had problems
My wife complains of the engine noise a little bit. I actually kind of enjoy it, because I frequently own sports cars. They put a tuner car engine in a family SUV without suppressing the noise lol.
I've owned two VW wagons (currently in an Alltrack) and a Tiguan. The Atlast was the last VW product I was interested in for the US market, but the addition of the current infotainment plus nixing the VR6 pretty much killed my interest in it. Maybe if they hybridize it and update the infotainment again with real buttons like they're starting to do in other products next year, I'll be interested again. I do think it's the best looking of this class and price range of vehicle.
I don’t think the infotainment will be updated until and unless the next all-New Atlas is released. I also hope there is a hybrid, but I don’t believe VW makes any for North America and the two that they have in Europe are very underwhelming.
Thats a good looking...'family friendly SUV' There were some mechanical issues others have noted. I looked at an earlier one a few years back..... there was a bunch of hard shiny plastic....I chose otherwise 🤔 The one I tested had plaid seats 🤨...I was digging that.
And I don't know if there is such a thing as an overly feminine shifter, but that dainty gear selector you use with two fingers with your pinky finger raised would have to be it... Just use a column mounted at that point.
I owned a 21.5 Atlas 3.6 SEL Premium. I enjoyed the vast room and technology. However, the interior bits felt low-grade, power from the VR6 was not enough especially when merging on freeways and making swift lane changes. Just a heavy SUV. I previously owned a 2013 BMW X5 which I LOVED. I sold the Atlas last March and now drive a Mercedes Benz GLE. I really do hope VW considers the CX90 as a prime target before the next generation Atlas arrives. Great review as always Micah!
Another great auto review! It's great that you demonstrate the third row seats for room comparison. It would be nice to see a real world fuel mileage comparison to factory estimates during your test drives mentioned in your videos. Thanks.
The updates are very welcome. Had a 23 for a loaner last year and wasn’t particularly impressed with it. I have a 22 GTI SE so very familiar and used to all of the newer tech stuff VW is doing. Not the best but not as bad as everyone seems to think it is.
Is the driver's seat comfortable and supportive enough for a roadtrip? To give you an idea, I have a 2006 RAV4 V6 and my back hurts after 2-3 hours. Whereas I drove a circa 2014 Lexus RX 350 for 17 hours in one day without back pains. I'm asking about the Atlas because I am looking to rent a road trip mobile that won't hurt my back and I can travel with my bike inside.
The best value 3-row SUV in this category is the Palisade SEL with the Premium package bc it still has ventilated second row seats with a bench, which this doesn't even have on the top trim. If I were a parent, I'd get the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line for my wife & the Palisade SEL with the Premium package for myself if I needed to drive a 3-row SUV
As a longtime VW fan diesel-gate and the fines associated has destroyed VW in the NA market. It pains me to say say this but I would never buy a VAG product again. I've moved on to Toyota/Lexus and Mazda.
Stay away. Wife got the 2024 fully loaded cross sport atlas. Engine failure within 4 months of purchase (december 2023). Also, navigation simply dies. No location found on in car navigation or carplay happense way to often. Got truck back a few days ago and got the following message "Error: Drive system. Please service vehicle." This is AFTER dealer replaced the engine. Truck is back in the shop. Repeat, stay away!
Oh yeah, since when Hondas and Toyotas, not to mention Mitsubishi and Mazda, haha Subaru are called vehicles in comparison to german cars?, Tell you what?, german cars are not for everyone, you either love em or hate em. Oh dont forget the driving german cars are a dream while others feel like riding a donkey. And its true!
The GTI engine is better in every way compared to the previous engines. More torque at a lower rpm. Better mpg. Proven across years of use. Great parts and aftermarket options. Most mechanics have seen it before. Yes it’s not a naturally aspirated v6. In 2024 is that really a major criticism?
@@CellPhoneCareCenter I don’t trust the long term reliability for such a small engine making that much power and pulling that large of a vehicle. My local mechanic says he sees tons 3 row SUVs with turbo 4s coming in all messed up.
Honda Pilot and Passport have entered the chat. Wondering if Honda will go to turbo 4 or simply make the v6 a mild hybrid. Really want VW to make this engine a mild hybrid. Eliminate the starter, alternator and belt driven AC compressor. Make everything electric and beltless. Pickup 1-2 mpg and simplifies maintenance. Improves reliability…
@@CellPhoneCareCenter I test drove a Pilot recently. Salesman said that Honda is telling dealers they’ll never go to a Turbo 4. They’ll probably do a hybrid Pilot, but that the V6 isn’t going anywhere.
You could slap a Jeep grill and logo on this and it wouldn't look out of place. It's a little boxy for my liking but the longer I watched this video, the more okay I was with the design. That infotainment system is a dealbreaker though.
No hybrid, no care. My Toyota Highlander hybrid, while smaller inside and outside, fits in my garage, and can get 40 mpg for my LA commute. And for trips to Mammoth Mountain, less stops for fuel is a great thing Also, 900 lumens isn't that much to brag about for its headlights. It's less than a H7 bulb that VW commonly used (around 1500 lumens)
Oh no, first the jumpy Taos and now the Atlas is jumpy too? At least Volkswagen US is well known for best in class reliability... oh, worst in class? Never mind!
The Atlas has more space but feels bigger and more cumbersome to drive. Would have gone with a new Hyundai Santa Fe but they charge too much for my monthly calculations compared to a subaru ascent which in my experience has better capability, resale value, and drive feel. Mazda CX5 is a good alternative as well if you don't mind losing the 3rd row.
The design brief for these made-for-America VW specials always seems to be "don't make it look too nice" and "make sure the Americans know how bloated and big their vehicles are". The bones of a decent design are there underneath, but it's been given a cortisol shot and puffed up like a balloon. The Tiguan by comparison manages to look much more premium than its bigger sibling. The same problem afflicted the late not-that-great Tennessee Passat.
I'd probably go with a CPO Q7 over this. These felt really cheap and plasticy inside, the omission of a 6 cylinder engine as seen in the Pilot and CX90 is a downside as well.
This was the most pronounced engine sound I have recently heard in a car review. I hope this was an artificial sound from speakers. If so, my question is why? I can’t imagine anybody wants to listen to this everyday for years. VW seems to be making all the wrong choices to update their cars. Why don’t they hybridize their VR6 power unit, bring back manual circular hvac controls, replace shiny plastics, bring back high quality cloth seats. I can’t imagine any of the VW customers complained about these.
I have the same atlas and yes they are artificial sound, you can only mute it when driving in eco mode. Although you can have a customizable drive mode where can have all the performances of sport mode with eco mode engine sound(which is the mode I use the most).
Hey Micah! Love the car videos you do with your family and on KBB. Me and my friend are interested in starting a car review channel and I wanted to ask if you could give advice on starting out, how to review cars, talking to dealerships and car review stuff in general. Is there any way I can message you or email you?
I appreciate the kind words. A few years back we made a video to cover this exact topic. It's a good place to start. th-cam.com/video/53dzK-5mX34/w-d-xo.html
I just bought one. The touchscreen and capacitive touch isn’t an issue. It’s actually somewhat nice.
Key is that there’s real buttons on steering wheel.
That's good to know. I had reservations.
No brake hold? uncomfortable??
Try saying "hey Volkswagen ... and command. " Like, hey Volkswagen, I'm cold. It will know where you are in the car and start warming you up. I have the 2024 atlas cross-over sport exceline. I love it
I bought an Atlas R Line yesterday. The touch controls are certainly polarizing, but I also have an ID4 so am used to it and have no problems. I do wish they were illuminated but I know where they are so it's a minor issue. I was able to get it for about $8K off sticker so it's a great value.
This thing is a bargain for the base SE trim (no tech package). With AWD it’s ~$41K, gets rid of the gloss black on the center column and has heated seats/steering wheel, ventilated seats, the digital instrument cluster and the same infotainment with wireless AA/Carplay. We almost picked one up but the lease offers on CX-90 PHEV Premium made it cheaper than financing the $13k cheaper Atlas.
I own a 2021 SE V6 Technology package, and although it's been in the shop 4 times for, front end bushings, a new fuel pump, and computer reprogramming, I'm still very happy with it. It has a soft and quiet ride, powerful breaks, a pretty good steering response, so it doesn't feel as big as it is. Their is plenty of room for seating and storage, I put sheepskin seat covers on, so that made the stiff seats a little bit softer, i would have likes the front passenger seat to be electric for 45K with tax but thats in the next package up. The stock radio is powerful, and I do like that the 2021 has knobs for the radio and climate control instead of computer slide controls. I put a KN air filter in, and it gave the V6 a noticeable quicker low speed pick up, and i would say a mile more per gallon. This is my first VW, so im hoping it will be realiable for about ten years 🙏
I also just bought 1 for my wife. We have taken it on 2 little trips around 600 miles each and it has been pretty comfortable. It is the R-Line with captain's chairs as our kids are older and there is plenty of room for everything we need. So far, we love it!!
I like the Atlas but I agree with your comment about the icons in infotainment. Everything being blue is boring and different colors are much more eye pleasing and relating to what you want to select
I love how you review cars as a family, showing the real world practicality and what things mean for lay people.
Since you mentioned the seats are on the firm side, which family SUV do you rate to have the most comfy seats for long trip?
I hope VW can improve reliability/durability with the new design!
I had the previous generation and had a love/hate relationship with it.
The engine and transmission were bulletproof but almost everything else broke often more than once.
It got to the point where we were reluctant to take it on long trips and took our older higher mileage Buick Envision instead because that was faultlessly reliable. The VW was the only vehicle I have ever traded when the warranty ran out. I usually drive my vehicles for years and tens of thousands of miles after the warranty expires because they're generally reliable but the VW was so unreliable I was afraid of what the potential repair cost would be after the warranty ran out.
What broke?
@@xFactoryUSA A/C compressor when driving across Arizona in 100° Heat.
ABS pump
Sunroof motors
3 power window motors and 2 power lock actuators
Heated mirrors failed
Even the radio had problems
ABS module fails a lot too. 500 usd only for the part.
So what’s the “big issue”? I missed it in the video!
My wife complains of the engine noise a little bit. I actually kind of enjoy it, because I frequently own sports cars.
They put a tuner car engine in a family SUV without suppressing the noise lol.
Micah - Love your reviews bro…..thinking of buying an Atlas. Thanks!!
I've owned two VW wagons (currently in an Alltrack) and a Tiguan. The Atlast was the last VW product I was interested in for the US market, but the addition of the current infotainment plus nixing the VR6 pretty much killed my interest in it. Maybe if they hybridize it and update the infotainment again with real buttons like they're starting to do in other products next year, I'll be interested again. I do think it's the best looking of this class and price range of vehicle.
I don’t think the infotainment will be updated until and unless the next all-New Atlas is released. I also hope there is a hybrid, but I don’t believe VW makes any for North America and the two that they have in Europe are very underwhelming.
Great video! I give it a 9.000
😂👍
Thats a good looking...'family friendly SUV'
There were some mechanical issues others have noted.
I looked at an earlier one a few years back.....
there was a bunch of hard shiny plastic....I chose otherwise 🤔
The one I tested had plaid seats 🤨...I was digging that.
Micah. Can you guys do this review for the VW Tiguan please.
One of the few complaints I have about my wife's RAV4 is the lack of under console storage :(
Big plus on this vid, great concept with input from the family.
Capacitive touch 🙅🏻♂️
And I don't know if there is such a thing as an overly feminine shifter, but that dainty gear selector you use with two fingers with your pinky finger raised would have to be it... Just use a column mounted at that point.
Your phone went from physical buttons to capacitive. Eventually they all will be in vehicles too
flying cellphone scooters are the future@@Rockybalboa541
Going from V6-3.6L to 2.0L turbo seem like a big jump to me. Feels like that engine is Euro spec for ULEZ type UK restrictions...?
They already had a previous version of 2.0 as the base engine.
Any reviews on the cabin noise air noise and road noise can't find much info on that from any reviews
I owned a 21.5 Atlas 3.6 SEL Premium. I enjoyed the vast room and technology. However, the interior bits felt low-grade, power from the VR6 was not enough especially when merging on freeways and making swift lane changes. Just a heavy SUV. I previously owned a 2013 BMW X5 which I LOVED. I sold the Atlas last March and now drive a Mercedes Benz GLE. I really do hope VW considers the CX90 as a prime target before the next generation Atlas arrives. Great review as always Micah!
The 4cyl pulls stronger on the fwy. VR6 just makes a lot of noise
I noticed you keep comparing the Atlas to smaller, 2-row luxury CUVs. That’s an odd thing to do. Maybe it was just too big for your liking.
Thanks@@xFactoryUSA
Another great auto review! It's great that you demonstrate the third row seats for room comparison. It would be nice to see a real world fuel mileage comparison to factory estimates during your test drives mentioned in your videos. Thanks.
The updates are very welcome. Had a 23 for a loaner last year and wasn’t particularly impressed with it. I have a 22 GTI SE so very familiar and used to all of the newer tech stuff VW is doing. Not the best but not as bad as everyone seems to think it is.
Is the driver's seat comfortable and supportive enough for a roadtrip? To give you an idea, I have a 2006 RAV4 V6 and my back hurts after 2-3 hours. Whereas I drove a circa 2014 Lexus RX 350 for 17 hours in one day without back pains. I'm asking about the Atlas because I am looking to rent a road trip mobile that won't hurt my back and I can travel with my bike inside.
The best value 3-row SUV in this category is the Palisade SEL with the Premium package bc it still has ventilated second row seats with a bench, which this doesn't even have on the top trim. If I were a parent, I'd get the Atlas SEL Premium R-Line for my wife & the Palisade SEL with the Premium package for myself if I needed to drive a 3-row SUV
I prefer the Audi etron 8S SUV but this VE is also a very nice e car. Terrific video and excellent comprehensive info! Thanks!
19/25 MPG for turbo 4... What's the point? Just keep the V6.
The VR6 was actually quite a bit worse. Most people got 12-16 on it.
I'm getting 29+ on highway and a long term of 23+ on my r line(5000 miles)
v6 is bad in the city, great on the hwy.
@@vipse1984 How is it great on the highway? It gets nowhere near 30mpg!
I prefer the V6 their is no replacement for displacement
The sound actor (fake engine noise) is wild in this thing 😅
As a longtime VW fan diesel-gate and the fines associated has destroyed VW in the NA market. It pains me to say say this but I would never buy a VAG product again. I've moved on to Toyota/Lexus and Mazda.
VW 2023 sales were up over 9% from 2022, and Q1 2024 sales were up 21% from Q1 2023. Atlas up 43%. The brand ain’t dead yet.
Micah..... i'm considering the VW Atlas Cross Sport vs the Toyota Venza Limited..... your thoughts?????
cross sports with after market wheel and chrome delete looks like SQ8 or Lamborghini URUS
Stay away. Wife got the 2024 fully loaded cross sport atlas. Engine failure within 4 months of purchase (december 2023). Also, navigation simply dies. No location found on in car navigation or carplay happense way to often. Got truck back a few days ago and got the following message "Error: Drive system. Please service vehicle." This is AFTER dealer replaced the engine. Truck is back in the shop. Repeat, stay away!
I can’t wait to get rid of mine
4 months? jeez that is brutal
Oh yeah, since when Hondas and Toyotas, not to mention Mitsubishi and Mazda, haha Subaru are called vehicles in comparison to german cars?,
Tell you what?, german cars are not for everyone, you either love em or hate em.
Oh dont forget the driving german cars are a dream while others feel like riding a donkey.
And its true!
that is german cars, love it or hate it..I love vw no matter what
Reliability is a plus 🙀
your daughter is so adorable
No harness issue in this one?
Micah the LED light bar on the front and rear isn’t standard. It’s missing from the base model.
Excellent video!😸
Reliability and maintenance makes vw a nightmare. Not a road trip car but a to b get to your job grocery getter lol
@japanwatchconnection everyone knows it's true. VW has crap reliability and parts are crazy expensive 🤣.
@japanwatchconnection it's facts you can look it up. Quality and reliability are low to average compared to Japanese and some American manufacturers
Does the car have fog lights?
Yet another great looking 3-row SUV ruined by swapping out a V6 for a turbo 4 (see also, Chevy Traverse, GMC Acadia).
The GTI engine is better in every way compared to the previous engines. More torque at a lower rpm. Better mpg. Proven across years of use. Great parts and aftermarket options. Most mechanics have seen it before. Yes it’s not a naturally aspirated v6. In 2024 is that really a major criticism?
@@CellPhoneCareCenter I don’t trust the long term reliability for such a small engine making that much power and pulling that large of a vehicle. My local mechanic says he sees tons 3 row SUVs with turbo 4s coming in all messed up.
Carbon build up, plastic pcv valve failure and timing chain stretch.
Honda Pilot and Passport have entered the chat. Wondering if Honda will go to turbo 4 or simply make the v6 a mild hybrid. Really want VW to make this engine a mild hybrid. Eliminate the starter, alternator and belt driven AC compressor. Make everything electric and beltless. Pickup 1-2 mpg and simplifies maintenance. Improves reliability…
@@CellPhoneCareCenter I test drove a Pilot recently. Salesman said that Honda is telling dealers they’ll never go to a Turbo 4. They’ll probably do a hybrid Pilot, but that the V6 isn’t going anywhere.
With its tiny third row, my Dodge Journey only fits 5.500 humans.
Piano black needs to be banished to the Delta Quadrant 😊
Controls not illuminating at night AND they’re touch capacitive? Poor.
They have fixed the lack of illumination for the new infotainment starting with the 2024 ID4. And they've revamped the UI to require less digging
So what is the 1 big issue?
It's the infotainment.
4 year overall warranty? That's bold for a VW
Micah, your daughter looks exactly like you. Those are some strong genes!! Wow!!!
You could slap a Jeep grill and logo on this and it wouldn't look out of place. It's a little boxy for my liking but the longer I watched this video, the more okay I was with the design. That infotainment system is a dealbreaker though.
Why deal-breaker
@@Mo-ym1wz It doesn't have physical buttons, which means your eyes spend too much time off the road when using it.
No hybrid, no care. My Toyota Highlander hybrid, while smaller inside and outside, fits in my garage, and can get 40 mpg for my LA commute. And for trips to Mammoth Mountain, less stops for fuel is a great thing
Also, 900 lumens isn't that much to brag about for its headlights. It's less than a H7 bulb that VW commonly used (around 1500 lumens)
I use to be a huge VW fanboi owning 3 MK4 cars and 1 Mk6. I have no desire to own another VW these days. Their modern offerings are just garbage.
Oh no, first the jumpy Taos and now the Atlas is jumpy too? At least Volkswagen US is well known for best in class reliability... oh, worst in class? Never mind!
The Atlas has more space but feels bigger and more cumbersome to drive. Would have gone with a new Hyundai Santa Fe but they charge too much for my monthly calculations compared to a subaru ascent which in my experience has better capability, resale value, and drive feel. Mazda CX5 is a good alternative as well if you don't mind losing the 3rd row.
Yeah… the Golf seems to be a little more nimble than the Suburban. Strange…
Surely that was piped in engine sounds, right?
Also think VW will turn the page once they release the brand new Tiguan (global Tayron)
What was the one big issue
Infotainment
The design brief for these made-for-America VW specials always seems to be "don't make it look too nice" and "make sure the Americans know how bloated and big their vehicles are". The bones of a decent design are there underneath, but it's been given a cortisol shot and puffed up like a balloon. The Tiguan by comparison manages to look much more premium than its bigger sibling. The same problem afflicted the late not-that-great Tennessee Passat.
Looks great at night, but looking at it during the day 🤮
I'd probably go with a CPO Q7 over this. These felt really cheap and plasticy inside, the omission of a 6 cylinder engine as seen in the Pilot and CX90 is a downside as well.
Gonzalez Brenda Walker Donna Robinson Barbara
This was the most pronounced engine sound I have recently heard in a car review. I hope this was an artificial sound from speakers. If so, my question is why? I can’t imagine anybody wants to listen to this everyday for years. VW seems to be making all the wrong choices to update their cars. Why don’t they hybridize their VR6 power unit, bring back manual circular hvac controls, replace shiny plastics, bring back high quality cloth seats. I can’t imagine any of the VW customers complained about these.
I have the same atlas and yes they are artificial sound, you can only mute it when driving in eco mode. Although you can have a customizable drive mode where can have all the performances of sport mode with eco mode engine sound(which is the mode I use the most).
Thompson Donna Allen Michelle Thompson Donna
I'm bagging 1 fucknit 😂
This 2.0 is their go to for everything now. That motor carrying around 5000lbs won’t tolerate much.
Looking more like jeep cheeokee
I’d take a used touareg over this
Big issue… it looks like a Ford? Totally looks like a rebadged Ford.
Hey Micah! Love the car videos you do with your family and on KBB. Me and my friend are interested in starting a car review channel and I wanted to ask if you could give advice on starting out, how to review cars, talking to dealerships and car review stuff in general. Is there any way I can message you or email you?
I appreciate the kind words. A few years back we made a video to cover this exact topic. It's a good place to start. th-cam.com/video/53dzK-5mX34/w-d-xo.html
@@MicahMuzio thank you Micah! Will watch👍🏽