2024 Volkswagen Atlas Review | Consumer Reports

After a minor refresh, the Volkswagen Atlas remains a functional midsized SUV graced with a well-crafted cabin and one of the roomier third-row seats in its class.
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[@consumerreports]

Full test results of the Volkswagen Atlas here: www.consumerreports.org/cars/volkswagen/atlas/2025/overview/?EXTKEY=YSOCIAL_YT

[@cliff9745]

Thanks for the review. Our friends just bought one and I was pretty impressed in our first exposure to an Atlas (they got the “R”? version. I’m 6’4” and my wife is 5’10” and we were impressed by the ride and the legroom in the 2nd row… And as you note, seat recline in Row 2 was pretty cool. They like their new Atlas’ towing capacity too.

[@craigw8828]

You would think CR would read the owners manual, because they would see you can turn on the seat heaters with a two finger tap on the temp controls. 3:00

[@toronado455]

It's a strange new world where such large heavy vehicles have a turbo 4 cylinder.

[@ricardogil7665]

It should be a 2.0 TDI no a TSI for this vehicle

[@tommiller12345]

I hope VW improved the reliability.

[@Mr21scott]

Their reliability has been awful for pretty much their entire existence. It's never going to get any better.

[@bobstrickland4223]

I had a 2018 Atlas VR6. Great engine, which they dropped in favor of a 4-cyl turbo. Great on the highway but when taking off the transmission shifted repeatedly trying to find a gear. (The dealer said it was in spec.) It drove me crazy, as did the stop-start feature that I inevitably forgot to disable. Probably my least favorite car I've owned in decades of driving.

[@princea9615]

My mom has the SE tech she traded in a 2016 Audi q5 with 63k miles... she loves it obviously it being VW everything is familiar for her no issues what so far... the only thing is the wireless apple car play stopped working wirelessly we plan to get that fixed with the next service..it's actually better on gas and takes regular fuel!!

[@deanmitchell9568]

The Turbos are put into cars in order to meet emissions standards. Turbos take exhaust gas and put it back into the engine so less exhaust goes out the tail pipe. The smaller engines with turbos has nothing to do with MPG stop telling people it does.

[@haze1123]

The Germans should study the Koreans to understand interior controls. A volume knob and physical HVAC controls are must-haves.

[@johnyacoub69]

Nope.

[@cf5768]

Our Atlas has so many issues with the control & console. Beautiful inside & out, great driving, just so many times to the shop we traded for a Honda Pilot elite and haven't looked back.

[@anthonyesiemokhai1603]

What model year was it?

[@justinalbarron2236]

German Cars require maintenance. They are not industrial Japanese cars. They are more beautiful and rare . If you’ve ever owned a German car before it will reward you with reliability and performance. Atlas is a much better looking car inside and out. I’d say it’s worth the maintenance.

[@FranzCritchlow]

Great camera work on showing the rear interior.

[@kirahu2010]

As an owner for both V6 Atlas and the new 2.0T Atlas, I do not see the fuel economy got worse...

[@foxlake6750]

If the turbo kicks in, which can be often, mpg drops like a rock.

[@ricardogil7665]

​@@foxlake6750that's why I prefer a TDI no a TSI engines

[@KNRS927]

Probably one of the few crossovers alongside the traverse and grand highlander that can get close to a minivan in terms of hauling and seating ability, but still not quite there.

[@toronado455]

And it never will be. Even a Suburban doesn't have as much room inside as a minivan.

[@KNRS927]

@@toronado455Suburban has as much room as a minivan, actually. It just needs 2 extra feet to achieve that interior and cargo room. And it’s starting price is as much as a fully loaded minivan too. Theee crossover SUVs can try, but they’ll never get close to matching minivan space.

[@johnyacoub69]

Completely wrong on the seat heating, and yet spoken with such authority…this is why these reviews can be so damaging. It can be done with 1 touch, not 2; you simply tap the temp slider with both fingers and the heated seats are on. Simple. Why don’t you guys take the time to learn these things before doing a review?

[@RDSSPIEGEL]

What a shocker that the 4 CYL is not field efficient for the size of the vehicle😂 only makes the V6s more desirable

[@foxlake6750]

The manufacturers are going to turbos because they have lower emissions. The turbo fours can be worse for fuel economy, every time the turbo kicks in. I had a 1.5L turbo Escape that was getting the same gas mileage as my V6 Highlander.

[@robertehlers3757]

Thorough and well presented. Let's see more of these with Steve.

[@JackSmith-qi7dr]

The old V6 was sportier? How?

[@ATLOffroad]

I like the interior room and materials. I do wonder about if the turbo 4cyl is working hard and if so, the longevity of that engine. The host of this video reminds me of McLovin from Superbad.

[@johnyacoub69]

I do t find it underpowered at all; perfectly adequate for the class, and reasonably responsive, at least in the CrossSport. And again, you miss the obvious solution to your criticism, as with the heated seat control; if you don’t like the fake sound, go into custom mode and put it on its lowest setting! It can also be completely, physically disabled…

[@al28854]

should of added a mild hybrid option for this higher trim model

[@dianabarreto9167]

I follow several athlas blogs….. this beautiful SUV is only problems on wheels, electrical problems, head lights and tails lights get cracks and water inside, infotainment screens turns on off, multiple problems, leather seats gets unstitched, and more and more….

[@montam26]

All of the interior vs Honda pilot vs Toyota Grandhighlander

[@markjwil]

This segment is crowded and the Atlas is an also-ran compared with better options from the big 3 and the Asian imports.

[@sssssneaker]

Interesting (and disappointing) that VW don't offer the Atlas in Europe. The closest thing they do offer is actually not a VW but the Skoda Kodiaq. While not quite as roomy, thankfully it still has a TDI :)

[@barryobrien7935]

Of course, Skoda is a VW variant.

[@nickolastiguan]

0:41 VR6 no?

[@sssssneaker]

yes, a VR6 *is* a V6.

[@louiep9862]

Geez that infotainment/HVAC setup would drive the wife crazy.This is not practical nor safe 👎🏾

[@davcuts2897]

They replaced the V6 with a 4-cylinder turbo yet it made fuel economy worse, and the transmission shifts less smoothly with the new 4 turbo. So VW made it worse. Sounds like something they would do.

[@johnwhitney2431]

Wow is that all they cost! Give me 2

[@Em_Dee_Aitch]

You’re reviewing a 2024, when the 2025s are out…. 🤦‍♂️

[@neuro.weaver]

Kindly, stop calling FAKE and synthetic materials as "Leather".

[@foxlake6750]

It’s “vegan leather”😂

[@cfg7777]

I wouldn't buy a VW even if they cut the price in half.

[@markbloss3702]

If I would have a SUV with a turbo charged 4 cylinder motor I'd get a subaru instead

[@glennm449]

If you want electrical issues, buy the Volkswagen 😂

[@wilsondaniels1368]

Or any Stellantis

[@Norden_king]

​@@wilsondaniels1368 you should check consumer reports and Dodge... They scored VERY high

[@chasethecarguy]

none of those are as embarrassing as driving a Subaru at least

[@Roonertooerrands]

You have to be kidding me. A sea of black plastic inside and you are telling me that vinyl VW has been peddling for years feels good? This looks nothing upscale, please let’s stop trying to put lipstick on a pig.

[@J.W.W.]

Lease, don’t buy

[@babool1979]

Never getting a VW again the engines are not reliable they will be In the work shop most of the time. Design is amazing, drive is super, transmission is fine, space is good but the engines are bad they dont last. I switched to the PALISADE and much better value and reliability

[@georgeg.7124]

Took away my thumbs up when you said you wish the SE had automatic high beams. Those are freaking stupid and blind pedestrians because the system doesn't pick them up well. Everything else was fine with this review, but that comment was a big negative.

[@paulh6096]

Yeah because it's better to not see pedestrians at night

[@HeyyImMatt]

You shouldn’t be using auto brights where pedestrians are anyways - they’re for highway use and country roads.

[@SaraK_69]

Sloppy camera work CR, come on!

[@ItsTheSidJ]

An infotainment with monochromatic icons seems like a recipe for disaster 🫠