Stay away. Wife got the 2024 fully loaded cross sport atlas. Engine failure within 4 months of purchase (december 2023). 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!
As a previous owner, I recommend stay away from this car, good design and roomy but will have a lot of small issues, if you are lucky enough , you may get a good one, but buy VW, like you buy a lottery ticket
Gotta love how these manufactures are just on a mission to make doing simple things like changing your climate or volume level so incredibly difficult and distracting while driving. And at least a mechanical parking brake won't break like an electronic parking brake will, we don't all want that, we want stuff that just works.
They should have put the engine from the Arteon in this with 300 hp and 295 lb ft but keep the 8 speed instead of the dsg and perhaps added a mild hybrid system
I am a 2023 2.0T awd owner... good space good price good handling but shxt powertrain... decent car for family especially in this day we can't buy Japanese 7-8 seat car without markup . Hopefully the EA888 gen4 will change something .
Very underwhelming vehicle. As a VW owner, it’s a bit disappointing. With a hybrid grand Highlander, refreshed telluride, redesigned Pilot, etc…. It’s amazing they let this be the production version.
Why, I mean it looks great In my opinion, I think it competes well with other brands like Toyota and other in this segment ,I wish it was a v6 hybrid with a bit more power but hey I'll take what I get
Had a chance to see all 3 that you listed, Kia, GH and this, even the CX90. I m in the market for one. Surprisingly, Atlas was the most appealing to me, especially the cream color interior on the SEL Premium R line. Inside felt like a luxury suv with so much space. Materials very well put together. My two concerns are the engine and touch button interface everything. Otherwise this new Atlas is pretty amazing. You guys should see the ambient lighting in this thing. GH to me felt so basic compared to the Atlas. I am going to wait for the Traverse and Acadia before deciding
The grand highlander hybrids are 10 to 20k more expensive. That is not something we could afford and we really liked the looks of the Atlas. It is also very easy to clean.
The USB up by the rear view is great - that could also be used for radar detectors. Curious why car makers don't integrate dash cams. it would be pretty straight forward
It’s so frustrating that most companies are only offering the turbo 4 cylinders. Just give me the option for something else at least. Would love to see this thing towing anywhere close to 5k pounds. Definitely looks like it’s lacking power
Current mk7 owner enjoy driving a vw and just had an SE as a rental absolutely loved it but there were some minor differences coming from what I thought was a fairly new car more modern cars have many features that seem like are great selling points but are useless touch controls were strange especially not even knowing they were there. The short shifter is the only thing I hate about all new vw cars (guess I just like having my hand on it ) but all in all for under 40k for an se model I don’t really see the need for upgrades models but I do enjoy the white r line models
I love that you showed the legroom with the middle seat up a bit because most people would be arranged in a car according to their height. I'm pretty short, therefore I would be the one in the very back.
I did a couple of test drives recently on the 2023 VR6, 2024 and Grand Highlander. The VR6 felt weak and very bouncy (soft suspension). The 2024 was more composed, but still softer than I would like, but I guess one can get used to it. The augmented engine noise was bothersome in sport mode, but I set up the custom mode for sport driving with comfort engine noise and that did the trick. I wish there was a setting to make the suspension firmer to avoid the boat riding sensation at times. Overall, I liked the 2024 a lot and will likely pull the trigger once they have the one we're looking for. I did a super quick test drive on the Toyota GH gas, it definitely feels more grounded than the Atlas and peppier too, but the brakes felt super hard and didn't inspire confidence (likely just new car thing). I would consider the GH if it had better interior colors and the dealers were not charging 5-15k markup around here...just ridiculous Toyota!
As a lead manufacturing engineer and vehicle enthusiast i don’t like the hype over the Grand Highlander. Had a chance to review an XLE trim and the quality of the interior felt way below for this new generation of vehicles. Hard plastics everywhere. It is also not made in Japan, thats another zonk for me. I am not sure how reliable that vehicle is going to be.
@@krane15 you’re absolutely right about that piano black looking horrible after a year of use. I’ve been looking for a nice new SUV the past couple of years and it’s truly amazing how many of them use too much piano black in the interior, especially in all the places that would get fingerprints and scratches on it. For this reason, I haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet.
This is a terrible offering from VW. It doesn’t help the consumer or the environment. It’s fuel economy is terrible yet it is not a V6 engine. It is not good for stop and go traffic and short trips like taking the kids to camps or other activities. The only thing it may be good for is long trips… not a good deal for everyday use. VW is not learning anything from Toyota, Tesla or even Hyundai/Kia which have electric or hybrid cars. They are throwing sand at people faces with these “refreshes” while they fail to revamp their engineering and manufacturing. Let’s hope that turbo doesn’t break…
We just received our 24 Atlas. Its amazing. Our family is very happy with the Atlas. We traded our 6 year old Atlas with this new one. We had no issues with the old one and really appreciate the value, safety a.d comfort for all 5 of us. Great family mover.
How has it held up so far ? Do you still feel the same ? And also , do you think this is good enough for 2 car seats space wise ? And 2 other younger children
POS. Have 23 Atlas R Line SEL Premium. Many electrical glitches - audio suddenly doesnt work at all, sesnor under rear bumper to open rear gate doesn't work, start/stop system has stopped while I was moving slowly in a drive thru, car has truned off while its in drive but stopped at a light, wireless phone charger almost never works, turn car off but sometimes the lights stay on now, my infotainment system settings will just randomly change. And now the seat is coming apart at the seam on the front seat. Driver door seal is loose causing wind/cabin noise right in your ear. And to top it all off this car is definitely made of recycled soda cans - i keep getting these tiny dimple like dents from god knows what but its crazy. I have a 11' vw sportwagen and have no dents like that, and no electric issues whatsoever and it is 180k mi. My atlas has under 7k mi. I'm pretty fed up with this Atlas and I'm one of the biggest VW enthusiasts youll find.
Sir I was hoping not to find a comment like this one but seems like the change was cosmetic as the recent years Atlas have had same problems! These electrical problems very very expensive to fix once the warranty ends!
Rented a SE with tech package and was shocked as to how many features it came with and how refined it felt. Lower trims is definitely the way to go with this car. Even with the leatherette seats, it felt really premium and softer than a lot of "leather" seats nowadays.
Our 2019 VR6 4-Motion SE w/tech has been fantastic. But unfortunately getting rid of the VR6 and moving to the newest infotainment which has proven to be a disaster would preclude us from considering another one.
We have never liked the VR6 in our 2019. It lacks any sort of power for daily driving and the 2.0 feels much stronger everywhere but the last 2,000rpm. We have a 24 coming very soon, just like this red SEL premium but with 2nd row bench. Try to find a top trim of anything with 2nd row bench is near impossible and the Atlas is one of the few cars you can easily get 3 car seats in the 2nd row without buying all brand new slim fit seats.
Haha, keeping the dream alive, the 3.0 tdi would make this vehicle the number one choice, I get 26mpg in my ram ecodiesel, the atlas would easily get 30 combined and 35pmg on the highway would be achievable
@@joshuakerstein9573 yep. I’m refusing to part with my Jeep GC with Ecodiesel. I tow my travel trailer, and even if I didn’t tow, I have no use for a large SUV with a gasoline engine. No way. If they put a TDI in it, I’ll be at the dealership tomorrow with my cashiers check in hand. 😂😂
I have a Tiguan R line and the controls are all digital and it’s really not as bad as people say except in Golf R I think the Tiguan does a pretty good job and they are not fussy at all .The 2024 Atlas screen looks much better and easier to use then GTI or R and you have buttons in steering wheel
My 2019 VW Alltrack was purchased from a VW dealer in 2021 with 7,755 miles on it. It now has 29,400 miles on it. The sunroof’s drains were clogged, and leaked into the headliner and rear hatch carpeting. VW Manhattan says this will cost me $6,100. This car is still under warranty and is covered under the extended sunroof warranty, as well as being one of the models included in the sunroof class action lawsuit. I have taken this car for all of its regularly scheduled maintenance as recommended by VW. I called VW USA and they are telling me that they consider leakage due to clogged drains to be a maintenance issue and they will not cover the damage. This is outrageous. This problem is not limited to the Alltrack model, but is a problem across VW's lineup.
All cars with sunroof have those drains. You're supposed to clean them regularly. A good dealership would have shown you how to do it and as a consumer there's a lot of info on this as well.
I have a 2021 Tiguan SE. I was looking at the Atlas as I am expecting another baby next year. I had no idea that Atlas had a 3rd row which is what I am mostly interested in. The 3rd row for the Tiguan is useless. Far too tight and you don't have the aisle space between the seats to get to the back like this car has. Thanks for the review. I need to go test drive this.
No one, and I mean NO ONE buys these things for drag racing people. It could do 0-60 in ten seconds and most customers wouldn't care. The point of the new 2.0T is to offer a more usable torque curve and make it peppier in everyday driving. After seeing the massive changes to the engine, suspension, and interior of the upcoming Tiguan, I think the next Atlas will be a killer. This one is just a holdover till that model is ready.
Seems like a good looking well made vehicle. I test drove the 23 with the V6 and it was an absolute slug. Yes I know there is a new powerplant but its a glorified (turbo) lawn mower engine. 120 cubic inches. Not nearly enough power for this size vehicle. I was on the interstate doing 70 and hit the gas- lots of noise but not much else. Sorry but I don't see this 265 HP engine doing any better, even with a bump in torque. Put the Inline V6 turbo in it instead and now we have something.
@aarzu10 I stand corrected. Would be nice if it had either, preferably one with enough juice to move this thing when you need it to. Like I said the 23 was a huge disappointment on the road, and I dont see a relatively tiny 2L turbo with 269 hp, regardless of the bump in torque, being much better.
I want one, but not with a 4 cylinder. needs more power. at least 300+ hp/tq. wish this had an inline 6, and inline 6 diesel, a v8, something stronger that sounds good.
Was considering the Atlas along with the Traverse, Telluride, Palisade, and Grand Cherokee L to replace wife's 2013 Odyssey. Ended up with the Traverse Premier Redline Edition. Not the most cutting edge interior, but the thing has more room than all of them and definitely more zip, especially at highway speeds when you need to pass. And the price was right. Never thought I'd buy a Chevy, as Toyota has always been my default (however good luck finding one), but this has sure grown on me. The Atlas, while good looking and seemingly well made, was an absolute dog to drive. I wanted so hard to like it, but it wasn't going to happen.
It’s crazy to think that the same engine VW uses to power the 5,000 lbs Atlas is the same one they put on a 3,000 lbs Golf 🤯 No wonder why the GTI and R are so insanely quick.
@@PopcornbeetleI think you’re well aware that the average person isn’t driving around in sub 3 second cars. Be reasonable here. The GTI and Golf R are VERY quick cars. Don’t be haughty. 🙄
The Atlas has one MAJOR problem, it's fuel economy STINKS. Why VW never put a TDI enginer in this vehicle is beyond me. That would put this vehicle in the 30mpg plus category. A GM 1500 series truck with a 3L duramax almost doubles the torque, gets a LOT better fuel economy and seats about the same number of people. Put a TDI engine in this vehicle and they really have something special. GM has a take rate on their duramax crossing 25%. One in four light duty trucks are now diesels. LOTS of people want the fuel economy and the torque. VW HAS the technology, but just will not bring it. We are PAST the whole dieselgate crap. Forget the past. Use the current technology and provide a vehicle with the "Correct" engine for a vehicle of this size.
Bwahaha... in what universe does this new front end have the appearance of a 'pickup truck?' Not this one. Looks like a clone grill of the Ford Explorer. It looks 'ok'..... and it shouldn't look like a truck anyway - it is an SUV..... essentially, a manlier version of a mini van.
If you really think hard about the future of vehicles, it would silly of of any manufacturer to not start adopting the use of more screens and less buttons. Everyone and everything in our modern world revolves around touch screens. If you really look at some of the manufactures still utilizing hard buttons and it’s often redundant e.g., having hard buttons for “Nav” and “Map” that both only work with the onboard navigation and not CarPlay/Android - which is what the vast majority of people want to use. From my experience, the move away from hard buttons practically doesn’t make accessing features like climate / volume any harder than it was previously. And the Atlas, for example, still has some buttons for immediately controlling/accessing those features. It just makes sense to adopt it.
I'll have to push back on this. Physical button and knobs are much more intuitive and can be used without having to look away from the road. The biggest issue with vehicle manufacturers and having touch buttons or having to use the screen is that they will hide the most basic functions (A/C, Volume, Radio Tune) controls under 3 and 4 different menus and the the software will be trash and slow or nonresponsive. Most consumers are demanding physical buttons for those basic functions but vehicle makers don't wanna have to engineer dashes and consoles around buttons and knobs so they keep trying to force menus and screens down our throats calling it "Premium."
I’ll agree with you that manufacturers shouldn’t sell it as a ‘premium feature’ when they are clearing reducing cost. But to be fair, I haven’t seen an example where they tout no buttons as a premium feature. Just trying to say that the future will certainly require less physical touch interaction, and thus the reduction of physical buttons makes sense. Soon we will only be talking to our cars, and that will seem weird at first (even though we have been building to that for a long time). Also, if you have practically ever used a car with only a screen I find it hard to believe it is that distracting. Maybe it’s harder for some people than others.
@@revbyte Well said. And I wouldn't say it's distracting, but you do have to move your eyes from the road for a longer interval to adjust some basic function than to just push a button. If I'm driving and want to turn my heated seats on, I should be able to just push a button. But nowadays? Push home button to leave radio/nav. Push comfort setting to find heated seats. Push seat I want to turn on. Push multiple times to get to desired level. Push button to go back to radio/nav. It's ridiculous and there HAS to be another way. I don't understand how these vehicle makers with millions of dollars between development and software costs and then the system is convoluted. Just seems odd to me.
I don't have any problem with fake wood and fake leather, but fake exhausts is a big no for me... Looks so stupid and cheap. And many "premium" manufacturers does it.
I've seen alot of it spreaded in Toronto but to me they just look like the Chinese version of an ugly Q8. Sorry but that's just my humble opinion on its design. 😏
The touch buttons under the screen at night are not visible I mean the Blue, Red, and White lines used for up and down the volume and up and down heat and cold, they should be turning on at night but I can't see them while I'm driving. VW Atlas2024 forgot the lighting for this part car This is unbelievable, Who is the car lighting designer?
I got a SEL Premium on 2/25 and I notice a wind/fan/buzzing noise while driving, specifically when accelerating. In minute 19:08 in your video, the "vacuum cleaner" sound you mentioned I think is an issue with the Atlas. I hate that noise, it's anping and it sound like a fan working really hard.
I don’t understand why you continuously want manufacturers to make the third row seat sit three across. It’s like you see two comfortable seats yet you want to make them three uncomfortable seats just for the sake of being able to say it seats three?
The decision to change the ergonomics and usability of a traditional shifter, to create a cubby where someone will most definitely stuff some shit in there that will dislodge while driving and block the accelerator or brake pedal is beyond me. Keep it simple. Please.
As someone who owns a VW with the Haptic Touch steering wheel I’m actually upset to see it go. Most owners haven’t had the issues like the reviewers have (unintentional selections, non-responsive) and I found swiping over the buttons to be easier than having to push a single button multiple times. Hopefully they make it an option 🤷♂️
@@sammyg4806 that’s my assumption as well. Doug DeMuro and Alex on Autos are the only reviewers I’ve heard say they don’t think it’s bad you just need some time with it.
Outgoing model was better in exterior looks. The vw 2 ltr engines are not long lasting after 100000km.. keep the VR6 if you got one.Its a good lasting engine although not as powerful as some others
There are so many Atlas in Vancouver. I have one too, the power is meh but the room, quietness and comfort wise it's superb and they are the main reason I chose it.
One of the WORST rated models (the sport version is even THE worst rated) on the market according to actual OWNERS, extremely unreliable VW management: "Atlas isn't selling well bc it is one of the least reliable models, how do we fix this?" "Let's reduce the engine size by 40% but keep the tow rating the same, add our new infotainment and electronics that have proven to be even less reliable than before, remove all buttons and light up the logo!"
Why’re you copy pasting this nonsense on every video of this Atlas?? I saw you comment this on the Alex On Autos video too. The Atlas is consistently rated as having average or above average reliability by reliability surveys by reputable companies like consumer reports.. consumer reports even recommends the Atlas. This 2.0T engine has been on the Atlas from the start, the VR6 was an option, the 2.0T itself is used in many VW group cars and proven to be quite reliable, including in the Atlas. Why are you copy and pasting blatantly wrong information on every Atlas video like you’re trying to spread some agenda you have for some reason????
The bad points of my VW Atlas are You can’t put the seat heat ON at night in order to have a warm seat or steering once you start the engine at morning inside your house Secondly You can’t put the car on Eco mode permanently But we have to change to eco mode every time we start the car
Stay away. Wife got the 2024 fully loaded cross sport atlas. Engine failure within 4 months of purchase (december 2023). 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!
Lemon for you buddy
That’s your problem
Mazda CX-90 Is Much More Better Than This Atlas 👉💯
As a previous owner, I recommend stay away from this car, good design and roomy but will have a lot of small issues, if you are lucky enough , you may get a good one, but buy VW, like you buy a lottery ticket
Gotta love how these manufactures are just on a mission to make doing simple things like changing your climate or volume level so incredibly difficult and distracting while driving. And at least a mechanical parking brake won't break like an electronic parking brake will, we don't all want that, we want stuff that just works.
Blame Tesla.
@@krane15no. Blame Volkswagen since they are literally the ones doing it.
@@anthonykiedis1765blame everyone everyone is doing it
how often have you heard of an electronic parking brake breaking?
Not really all these cars have voice recognition, so you can just press the button and say whatever you want the car to do
Just bought one, R line . Excellent refresh. Drives great even with 2.0. Interior redesign is beautiful.
I'll give you 6 months before you'll want to exchange it for a different car 😂
Too small engine. Must be making unwanted noise and may not last long as v6
What do you say
Hey any issues apart from service. Have you had the vechile in shop ?
@@beamboy420So far not, I have almost 17000 miles on it
@@bojanvasovic1635are you still satisfied with your decision to get this car ?
They should have put the engine from the Arteon in this with 300 hp and 295 lb ft but keep the 8 speed instead of the dsg and perhaps added a mild hybrid system
This is perfect for the soccer moms, and this is the target demographic.
I am a 2023 2.0T awd owner... good space good price good handling but shxt powertrain... decent car for family especially in this day we can't buy Japanese 7-8 seat car without markup . Hopefully the EA888 gen4 will change something .
Front end looks like ford explorer
More like a 2018 Expedition
Base price Atlas with AWD: $41k - 2.0 T i4 engine - 19-25 MPG
Base price Mazda CX-90 with AWD: $40k - 3.3 T i6 engine - 24-28 MPG
Exactly, no brainer!!
Unless you prioritize interior space, in which case CX-90 shouldn't even be a consideration.
There’s just one problem: interior space. The Atlas dominates the CX-90 in that alone.
@@faheemabbas3965 Most people don't need the extra space. And for those who do there are plenty of other options.
@@Mgoblagulkablong Wide-bodied American? I think so.
Very underwhelming vehicle. As a VW owner, it’s a bit disappointing. With a hybrid grand Highlander, refreshed telluride, redesigned Pilot, etc…. It’s amazing they let this be the production version.
Why, I mean it looks great In my opinion, I think it competes well with other brands like Toyota and other in this segment ,I wish it was a v6 hybrid with a bit more power but hey I'll take what I get
Had a chance to see all 3 that you listed, Kia, GH and this, even the CX90. I m in the market for one. Surprisingly, Atlas was the most appealing to me, especially the cream color interior on the SEL Premium R line. Inside felt like a luxury suv with so much space. Materials very well put together. My two concerns are the engine and touch button interface everything. Otherwise this new Atlas is pretty amazing. You guys should see the ambient lighting in this thing. GH to me felt so basic compared to the Atlas. I am going to wait for the Traverse and Acadia before deciding
The grand highlander hybrids are 10 to 20k more expensive. That is not something we could afford and we really liked the looks of the Atlas. It is also very easy to clean.
The USB up by the rear view is great - that could also be used for radar detectors. Curious why car makers don't integrate dash cams. it would be pretty straight forward
That's a very nice touch, I've been really thinking about getting a camera but the charging wire would really bother me.
@@davevolz6138 Ok player. Are you saying this thing can't reach 80mph?
This is a VW after all. Can't upstage the Audi.
Probably a cost consideration
Great review. I watched the whole video but crossed the Atlas off my list when you said only a turbo 4.
It’s so frustrating that most companies are only offering the turbo 4 cylinders. Just give me the option for something else at least. Would love to see this thing towing anywhere close to 5k pounds. Definitely looks like it’s lacking power
I'm just not a fan of accessing the AC through the screen as well as the volume settings.
No one it. But Tesla says otherwise. I suppose you should be glad you don't need it to open your glove box.
Current mk7 owner enjoy driving a vw and just had an SE as a rental absolutely loved it but there were some minor differences coming from what I thought was a fairly new car more modern cars have many features that seem like are great selling points but are useless touch controls were strange especially not even knowing they were there. The short shifter is the only thing I hate about all new vw cars (guess I just like having my hand on it ) but all in all for under 40k for an se model I don’t really see the need for upgrades models but I do enjoy the white r line models
I love that you showed the legroom with the middle seat up a bit because most people would be arranged in a car according to their height. I'm pretty short, therefore I would be the one in the very back.
All those haptic/slider infotainment and HVAC controls are garbage.
Anytime the volume knob is deleted, you know the manufacturer has lost the plot.
I did a couple of test drives recently on the 2023 VR6, 2024 and Grand Highlander. The VR6 felt weak and very bouncy (soft suspension). The 2024 was more composed, but still softer than I would like, but I guess one can get used to it. The augmented engine noise was bothersome in sport mode, but I set up the custom mode for sport driving with comfort engine noise and that did the trick. I wish there was a setting to make the suspension firmer to avoid the boat riding sensation at times. Overall, I liked the 2024 a lot and will likely pull the trigger once they have the one we're looking for. I did a super quick test drive on the Toyota GH gas, it definitely feels more grounded than the Atlas and peppier too, but the brakes felt super hard and didn't inspire confidence (likely just new car thing). I would consider the GH if it had better interior colors and the dealers were not charging 5-15k markup around here...just ridiculous Toyota!
As a lead manufacturing engineer and vehicle enthusiast i don’t like the hype over the Grand Highlander. Had a chance to review an XLE trim and the quality of the interior felt way below for this new generation of vehicles. Hard plastics everywhere. It is also not made in Japan, thats another zonk for me. I am not sure how reliable that vehicle is going to be.
The Atlas is so much better than the Grand Highlander, it's all hype and the reliability will be worse than VW 💯
I love the new interior changes of the Volkswagen Atlas 😍😍😍
I just wish they didn’t go buttonless…
Its getting there. Still hanging on to the piano black as if its gold plated. After a years use that stuff's gonna look nasty.
@@krane15 you’re absolutely right about that piano black looking horrible after a year of use. I’ve been looking for a nice new SUV the past couple of years and it’s truly amazing how many of them use too much piano black in the interior, especially in all the places that would get fingerprints and scratches on it. For this reason, I haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet.
They should’ve just redesign the whole thing, all this extensive changes… means this generation is gonna be around longer!
This is a terrible offering from VW. It doesn’t help the consumer or the environment. It’s fuel economy is terrible yet it is not a V6 engine. It is not good for stop and go traffic and short trips like taking the kids to camps or other activities. The only thing it may be good for is long trips… not a good deal for everyday use. VW is not learning anything from Toyota, Tesla or even Hyundai/Kia which have electric or hybrid cars. They are throwing sand at people faces with these “refreshes” while they fail to revamp their engineering and manufacturing. Let’s hope that turbo doesn’t break…
We just received our 24 Atlas. Its amazing. Our family is very happy with the Atlas. We traded our 6 year old Atlas with this new one. We had no issues with the old one and really appreciate the value, safety a.d comfort for all 5 of us. Great family mover.
Ah, and so the new car love affair begins.
How has it held up so far ? Do you still feel the same ? And also , do you think this is good enough for 2 car seats space wise ? And 2 other younger children
POS. Have 23 Atlas R Line SEL Premium. Many electrical glitches - audio suddenly doesnt work at all, sesnor under rear bumper to open rear gate doesn't work, start/stop system has stopped while I was moving slowly in a drive thru, car has truned off while its in drive but stopped at a light, wireless phone charger almost never works, turn car off but sometimes the lights stay on now, my infotainment system settings will just randomly change. And now the seat is coming apart at the seam on the front seat. Driver door seal is loose causing wind/cabin noise right in your ear. And to top it all off this car is definitely made of recycled soda cans - i keep getting these tiny dimple like dents from god knows what but its crazy. I have a 11' vw sportwagen and have no dents like that, and no electric issues whatsoever and it is 180k mi. My atlas has under 7k mi. I'm pretty fed up with this Atlas and I'm one of the biggest VW enthusiasts youll find.
Sir I was hoping not to find a comment like this one but seems like the change was cosmetic as the recent years Atlas have had same problems! These electrical problems very very expensive to fix once the warranty ends!
Typical VW, JUNK
Rented a SE with tech package and was shocked as to how many features it came with and how refined it felt. Lower trims is definitely the way to go with this car. Even with the leatherette seats, it felt really premium and softer than a lot of "leather" seats nowadays.
Check the reliability… not great
Rodriguez George Hernandez Matthew Wilson Jennifer
Great looking vehicle! BUT…that’s a lot of car for a 4 cylinder to pull. I’m out until they bring back the VR6.
Drive a 4 cylinder Silverado.
🤣
So you can complain about the "horrendous" fuel economy?
Our 2019 VR6 4-Motion SE w/tech has been fantastic. But unfortunately getting rid of the VR6 and moving to the newest infotainment which has proven to be a disaster would preclude us from considering another one.
You’ll just have to do and check it, test drive and then make an informed decision. You’d be surprised!
It was a disaster at first. Now it has been improved a lot. Yet the touch bar still exists.
We have never liked the VR6 in our 2019. It lacks any sort of power for daily driving and the 2.0 feels much stronger everywhere but the last 2,000rpm. We have a 24 coming very soon, just like this red SEL premium but with 2nd row bench. Try to find a top trim of anything with 2nd row bench is near impossible and the Atlas is one of the few cars you can easily get 3 car seats in the 2nd row without buying all brand new slim fit seats.
The exterior LED LIGHTING *is fabulous*
Imagine if this thing had an engine comparable to power/performance similar to the MDX Type S. I'd buy one yesterday.
So many good family SUVs out there now. Tough segment
No doubt why VW is offering so much more standard equipment.
Hard to beat the V6 Highlander or Pilot. Everything else is a house of cards waiting for your warranty to expire.
@@phatgringo2.0 except the Mazda
@@sappyjohnson or the new Pathfinder.
Nissan pathfinder is by far the best.
HP/TQ can easily be fixed with an APR’s ECU flash which matches the manufacture’s warranty.😎
Wow, I liked the beautiful gears of the Volkswagen Atlas 😍😍😍😍
Dont buy Worse shit dont buy. after two months. check light . over heated. rear AC . its a big bull shit
Now my perfect SUV to afford one someday.
Amazing job with your videos anyway Sofyan.
4600 lbs and gets 27mpg? Wow just imagine if it was 3600 lbs.
Love V-dubs but the fake wood grain is a deal breaker for me. It’s cheap looking.
Only problem with this car is it's massive weight 4343lbs for FWD and 4663 lbs for the AWD. needs the golf R engine. I'll stick to my 3570lb FWD Rav4.
A Rav4 ia not a 3 rows SUV
Doesn’t look completely different but I’ll probably upgrade my 19 to a 24 model.
Wouldn’t touch this thing without a diesel option.
Haha, keeping the dream alive, the 3.0 tdi would make this vehicle the number one choice, I get 26mpg in my ram ecodiesel, the atlas would easily get 30 combined and 35pmg on the highway would be achievable
@@joshuakerstein9573 yep. I’m refusing to part with my Jeep GC with Ecodiesel. I tow my travel trailer, and even if I didn’t tow, I have no use for a large SUV with a gasoline engine. No way. If they put a TDI in it, I’ll be at the dealership tomorrow with my cashiers check in hand. 😂😂
I have a Tiguan R line and the controls are all digital and it’s really not as bad as people say except in Golf R I think the Tiguan does a pretty good job and they are not fussy at all .The 2024 Atlas screen looks much better and easier to use then GTI or R and you have buttons in steering wheel
How come nobody ever asked for them? Did you?
My 2019 VW Alltrack was purchased from a VW dealer in 2021 with 7,755 miles on it. It now has 29,400 miles on it. The sunroof’s drains were clogged, and leaked into the headliner and rear hatch carpeting. VW Manhattan says this will cost me $6,100. This car is still under warranty and is covered under the extended sunroof warranty, as well as being one of the models included in the sunroof class action lawsuit. I have taken this car for all of its regularly scheduled maintenance as recommended by VW. I called VW USA and they are telling me that they consider leakage due to clogged drains to be a maintenance issue and they will not cover the damage. This is outrageous. This problem is not limited to the Alltrack model, but is a problem across VW's lineup.
All cars with sunroof have those drains. You're supposed to clean them regularly. A good dealership would have shown you how to do it and as a consumer there's a lot of info on this as well.
I have a 2021 Tiguan SE. I was looking at the Atlas as I am expecting another baby next year. I had no idea that Atlas had a 3rd row which is what I am mostly interested in. The 3rd row for the Tiguan is useless. Far too tight and you don't have the aisle space between the seats to get to the back like this car has. Thanks for the review. I need to go test drive this.
Wow they telluridified the front end. That 4cyl looks absolutely tiny under that giant hood lol.
Wilson Margaret Lewis Gary Young Cynthia
I cant be the only one that sees the ford expedition at the front
edit: nvm he said it 😂
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No one, and I mean NO ONE buys these things for drag racing people. It could do 0-60 in ten seconds and most customers wouldn't care. The point of the new 2.0T is to offer a more usable torque curve and make it peppier in everyday driving. After seeing the massive changes to the engine, suspension, and interior of the upcoming Tiguan, I think the next Atlas will be a killer. This one is just a holdover till that model is ready.
Seems like a good looking well made vehicle. I test drove the 23 with the V6 and it was an absolute slug. Yes I know there is a new powerplant but its a glorified (turbo) lawn mower engine. 120 cubic inches. Not nearly enough power for this size vehicle. I was on the interstate doing 70 and hit the gas- lots of noise but not much else. Sorry but I don't see this 265 HP engine doing any better, even with a bump in torque. Put the Inline V6 turbo in it instead and now we have something.
You just showed you have 0 idea what you’re talking about. The end made it more clearly “inline v6”
@kevs2good133 whatever "the end more clearly inline v6" is supposed to mean. Thanks for the clarification
I agree the V6 was a slug a turbo 4 will be a noisy buzzy disaster in a vehicle of this size. Imagine full of people and towing a 5000lb trailer.....
"Inline V6" is... not a thing. It's *2* things. Either an inline (straight) 6, or a V6. But not both 😂😂😂.
@aarzu10 I stand corrected. Would be nice if it had either, preferably one with enough juice to move this thing when you need it to. Like I said the 23 was a huge disappointment on the road, and I dont see a relatively tiny 2L turbo with 269 hp, regardless of the bump in torque, being much better.
Why does the presenter wear short pants? Less than professional. Maybe he is going to the beach after recording?
I want one, but not with a 4 cylinder. needs more power. at least 300+ hp/tq. wish this had an inline 6, and inline 6 diesel, a v8, something stronger that sounds good.
Wish the pilot had a bigger screen like this one. One big gap in the pilot package.
Trash compared to toyota highlander hybrid & Honda pilot 😂
Atlas sized unreliability!!!
And there goes the VR6, for what? 1-2 mpgs?
If only they didn’t go buttonless and knobless on the dash…
I think VW and Chevy Traverse for the win on the segment
Was considering the Atlas along with the Traverse, Telluride, Palisade, and Grand Cherokee L to replace wife's 2013 Odyssey. Ended up with the Traverse Premier Redline Edition. Not the most cutting edge interior, but the thing has more room than all of them and definitely more zip, especially at highway speeds when you need to pass. And the price was right. Never thought I'd buy a Chevy, as Toyota has always been my default (however good luck finding one), but this has sure grown on me. The Atlas, while good looking and seemingly well made, was an absolute dog to drive. I wanted so hard to like it, but it wasn't going to happen.
Too small engine. Must be making unwanted noise and may not last long as v6
It’s crazy to think that the same engine VW uses to power the 5,000 lbs Atlas is the same one they put on a 3,000 lbs Golf 🤯 No wonder why the GTI and R are so insanely quick.
Insanely quick? Uh sure
@@Popcornbeetle my guess is you’ve never driven a Golf R 🤷♂️
@@luisjalvareztorres8481 don’t need to, have had three cars that do sub 3.5 0-60 runs. One under 3.
@@PopcornbeetleI think you’re well aware that the average person isn’t driving around in sub 3 second cars. Be reasonable here. The GTI and Golf R are VERY quick cars. Don’t be haughty. 🙄
Good review, as always unbiased, love this car😊
This video was very insightful as I try to find a new family car. Thanks
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I want a turbo vr6 atlas with 450 hp all wheel drive....
The Atlas has one MAJOR problem, it's fuel economy STINKS. Why VW never put a TDI enginer in this vehicle is beyond me. That would put this vehicle in the 30mpg plus category. A GM 1500 series truck with a 3L duramax almost doubles the torque, gets a LOT better fuel economy and seats about the same number of people. Put a TDI engine in this vehicle and they really have something special.
GM has a take rate on their duramax crossing 25%. One in four light duty trucks are now diesels. LOTS of people want the fuel economy and the torque. VW HAS the technology, but just will not bring it. We are PAST the whole dieselgate crap. Forget the past. Use the current technology and provide a vehicle with the "Correct" engine for a vehicle of this size.
Bwahaha... in what universe does this new front end have the appearance of a 'pickup truck?' Not this one. Looks like a clone grill of the Ford Explorer. It looks 'ok'..... and it shouldn't look like a truck anyway - it is an SUV..... essentially, a manlier version of a mini van.
You spill everything at once, take a breather once in a while so viewers can digest the review, unnecessarily fast paced
You can slow it down on TH-cam. Sounds good to me. Straight to the point and no extra words. Great review.
4 cylinder…sounds disgusting for a car this si3
Stage 1 tune will make this Atlas awesome!
Love the review, but you just speak way too fast for me. I found myself constantly pausing and rewinding to understand what you said.
This thing is junk. Sorry, but VW is not built well. Even Kia/Hyundai are better.
If you really think hard about the future of vehicles, it would silly of of any manufacturer to not start adopting the use of more screens and less buttons. Everyone and everything in our modern world revolves around touch screens. If you really look at some of the manufactures still utilizing hard buttons and it’s often redundant e.g., having hard buttons for “Nav” and “Map” that both only work with the onboard navigation and not CarPlay/Android - which is what the vast majority of people want to use. From my experience, the move away from hard buttons practically doesn’t make accessing features like climate / volume any harder than it was previously. And the Atlas, for example, still has some buttons for immediately controlling/accessing those features. It just makes sense to adopt it.
I'll have to push back on this. Physical button and knobs are much more intuitive and can be used without having to look away from the road. The biggest issue with vehicle manufacturers and having touch buttons or having to use the screen is that they will hide the most basic functions (A/C, Volume, Radio Tune) controls under 3 and 4 different menus and the the software will be trash and slow or nonresponsive. Most consumers are demanding physical buttons for those basic functions but vehicle makers don't wanna have to engineer dashes and consoles around buttons and knobs so they keep trying to force menus and screens down our throats calling it "Premium."
I’ll agree with you that manufacturers shouldn’t sell it as a ‘premium feature’ when they are clearing reducing cost. But to be fair, I haven’t seen an example where they tout no buttons as a premium feature. Just trying to say that the future will certainly require less physical touch interaction, and thus the reduction of physical buttons makes sense. Soon we will only be talking to our cars, and that will seem weird at first (even though we have been building to that for a long time). Also, if you have practically ever used a car with only a screen I find it hard to believe it is that distracting. Maybe it’s harder for some people than others.
@@revbyte Well said. And I wouldn't say it's distracting, but you do have to move your eyes from the road for a longer interval to adjust some basic function than to just push a button. If I'm driving and want to turn my heated seats on, I should be able to just push a button. But nowadays? Push home button to leave radio/nav. Push comfort setting to find heated seats. Push seat I want to turn on. Push multiple times to get to desired level. Push button to go back to radio/nav. It's ridiculous and there HAS to be another way. I don't understand how these vehicle makers with millions of dollars between development and software costs and then the system is convoluted. Just seems odd to me.
Heh heh I paid low 26k otd for a new 19 S model front drive 2.0 . listed for 31/32 I think. Guess those days are over. I'm keeping what I got.
I don't have any problem with fake wood and fake leather, but fake exhausts is a big no for me... Looks so stupid and cheap. And many "premium" manufacturers does it.
“$25,000 and you’re getting all this” … getting what? 2 tiny ass screens and fabric all over the dash and doors? It has no features!
I've seen alot of it spreaded in Toronto but to me they just look like the Chinese version of an ugly Q8. Sorry but that's just my humble opinion on its design. 😏
Harman/Kardon is only available on top trim, which is over 50k. No, thank you.
The touch buttons under the screen at night are not visible I mean the Blue, Red, and White lines used for up and down the volume and up and down heat and cold, they should be turning on at night but I can't see them while I'm driving.
VW Atlas2024 forgot the lighting for this part car
This is unbelievable, Who is the car lighting designer?
I’ve heard this complaint from others as well , that’s unfortunate
I got a SEL Premium on 2/25 and I notice a wind/fan/buzzing noise while driving, specifically when accelerating. In minute 19:08 in your video, the "vacuum cleaner" sound you mentioned I think is an issue with the Atlas. I hate that noise, it's anping and it sound like a fan working really hard.
I don’t understand why you continuously want manufacturers to make the third row seat sit three across. It’s like you see two comfortable seats yet you want to make them three uncomfortable seats just for the sake of being able to say it seats three?
VW a best nightmare suv
sounds like a vacuum cleaner 😂
Most people who would buy this will use it for driving kids and family so power doesnt really matter . Stop complaining.
Would you recommend replacing the 2019 for the 2024? Thank you. 😂
Front end very much like the Ford expedition
The worse engine!!! Turbo with direct injection!! Ull get lucky if u hit 100k in this
The decision to change the ergonomics and usability of a traditional shifter, to create a cubby where someone will most definitely stuff some shit in there that will dislodge while driving and block the accelerator or brake pedal is beyond me. Keep it simple. Please.
As someone who owns a VW with the Haptic Touch steering wheel I’m actually upset to see it go. Most owners haven’t had the issues like the reviewers have (unintentional selections, non-responsive) and I found swiping over the buttons to be easier than having to push a single button multiple times. Hopefully they make it an option 🤷♂️
It could be that there is a learning curve. The reviewers only have the car for a short amount of time, and they don’t get used to the controls.
@@sammyg4806 that’s my assumption as well. Doug DeMuro and Alex on Autos are the only reviewers I’ve heard say they don’t think it’s bad you just need some time with it.
Agreed. The haptic systems works flawlessly once you use it a couple of times. I hate the physical buttons
I agree. I’m not a fan of the physical buttons. It’s a downgrade with this new design imo.
Terrible infotainment
What is the gig with panoramic sunroof? What if a bird poops 💩 into it? I never opened even the standard one in my car
Outgoing model was better in exterior looks. The vw 2 ltr engines are not long lasting after 100000km.. keep the VR6 if you got one.Its a good lasting engine although not as powerful as some others
No v6, no bueno. Heavy car and vw decided to scrap the v6 engine🤔. Which genius decided on that?
Have y’all ever sat in the back of a Tahoe and expedition? NO leg room. There is not a third row vehicle on the map that is comfortable on the 3rd row
There are so many Atlas in Vancouver. I have one too, the power is meh but the room, quietness and comfort wise it's superb and they are the main reason I chose it.
@@justinianyi3838 Yes, there is not only no mark up on the atlas, but also negotiable.
Agree on the quiet statement. We do a lot of road trips and the Atlas is great for that.
Had an argument with the wife last night. She closed the bedroom door with a solid sounding thunk.
One of the WORST rated models (the sport version is even THE worst rated) on the market according to actual OWNERS, extremely unreliable
VW management:
"Atlas isn't selling well bc it is one of the least reliable models, how do we fix this?"
"Let's reduce the engine size by 40% but keep the tow rating the same, add our new infotainment and electronics that have proven to be even less reliable than before, remove all buttons and light up the logo!"
Not only vw even every European brands have same issues
Why’re you copy pasting this nonsense on every video of this Atlas?? I saw you comment this on the Alex On Autos video too.
The Atlas is consistently rated as having average or above average reliability by reliability surveys by reputable companies like consumer reports.. consumer reports even recommends the Atlas.
This 2.0T engine has been on the Atlas from the start, the VR6 was an option, the 2.0T itself is used in many VW group cars and proven to be quite reliable, including in the Atlas.
Why are you copy and pasting blatantly wrong information on every Atlas video like you’re trying to spread some agenda you have for some reason????
The bad points of my VW Atlas are
You can’t put the seat heat ON at night in order to have a warm seat or steering once you start the engine at morning inside your house
Secondly
You can’t put the car on Eco mode permanently
But we have to change to eco mode every time we start the car
I was just thinking Sofyan doesn’t do many Volkswagen reviews and sure enough, just did one 2 weeks ago lol.
Will never trust this company with what they tried to pull a few years ago.
Trying to decide between atlas and jeep grand Cherokee L. Help!!!
Big and comfy. I dig the Atlas Cross AKA bootleg Urus 😂
Atlas in the MQB platform like the Golf, Tiguan , Q3 while the Urus is on the same platform as the Q5, Cayenne and Touarag
@@vwbora26 I am aware.