2024 VW Atlas First Drive Evaluation: Fixes points by means of the artwork of listening

SAUGERTIES, N.Y. – We’re typically being offered on the advantages of being higher listeners. But on this polarized, service-averse nation, the Artwork of Listening — to one another, or to enterprise clients — could also be at a low ebb. For Volkswagen, a cussed unwillingness to actually hear what American clients have been saying helped set off a decades-long decline in gross sales and market share.

They’re listening now. And the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport are completely happy outcomes, with extra proof to return by way of the electrical ID. Buzz van. Greater than most mid-cycle refreshes, the three-row Atlas and two-row Cross Sport present what occurs when automakers really pay attention to each buyer grievance and media gripe, and select complete enchancment over window dressing or excuse-making. For these good-value, big-box household SUVs — two areas that didn’t want fixing — decisive upgrades to a previously Walmart inside, a reworked physique, a stronger and more-efficient powertrain, and an enormous leap in normal options, give the Atlas siblings a wholesome carry versus its multitude of two- and three-row rivals.

As a VW designed and engineered particularly for Individuals, the Atlas already opened VW’s ears, prefer it or not, to screaming demand for roomier SUVs. Only a decade in the past, passenger automobiles made up 91% of VW’s U.S. gross sales. At this time, SUVs are capturing 83% of VW gross sales. That’s led by the Tennessee-built Atlas, which (together with the slope-roofed Cross Sport) has discovered almost 500,000 consumers since its introduction as a 2018 mannequin, and generates probably the most model income.

True to family-SUV kind, we set off from a glamping website of Airstream trailers in New York’s rustic-chic Catskills Mountains on the thick-gripped wheel of an Atlas SEL Premium R-Line, which runs $53,085 (together with $1,350 vacation spot). That’s high canine in a lineup that begins from $38,065 for a Cross Sport SE, or $38,965 with 4Motion AWD. Immediately, these Atlases felt extra deserving of a month-to-month fee, ditching groan-worthy pebbled plastic for good-looking soft-touch supplies and new coloration palettes, seat trims and decors that circulation from the doorways by means of the sprint: “Treasured Walnut,” ash-like “Nord Thriller,” or a coppery fake carbon fiber. Quilted, diamond-pattern leather-based is obtainable on seats, together with bigger-bolstered chairs up entrance, and is not any much less welcome regardless of being a design cliché. (The entrance seatbacks may nonetheless use extra cushioning and assist). For a contact of added worth, leather-based and heated rear seats at the moment are normal on SEL fashions ranging from $48,785, one trim degree decrease than earlier than. Non-obligatory 30-color ambient lighting gives a literal glow-up. The brand new cabin gained’t be confused with a Kia Telluride in edge-of-luxury phrases, however it does meet longtime expectations that VW interiors ought to uphold the model’s German heritage and punch above their weight.

Pictured under left, the brand new Atlas Peak Version brings two unique colours (Avocado Inexperienced and Pure Grey), and outside adventure-looking add-ons, together with blacked-out 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires and black-and-silver physique cladding. All 2024 Atlas variations get a brawnier mug, with a tasteful, black-scalloped grille digging deeper right into a resculpted decrease fascia. Most trims get white LED mascara with an illuminated entrance gentle bar and VW brand, with a full-length rear gentle bar normal. These particulars add up, together with accessible 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels, heightening consideration to the Atlas’ crisp-yet-understated sheetmetal.

A 12-inch heart display screen now hovers atop the sprint. The scale is a commendable improve over what was there earlier than, however that’s all of the reward it is going to obtain. The Atlas has been blighted by Volkswagen’s new infotainment system, beforehand discovered within the ID.4 and GTI. The irritating menu construction, wonky capacitive switches, dearth of bodily buttons, voice assistant with questionable grasp of the English language … it’s all right here. As such, whereas the brand new Atlas addresses many points with the unique model, Volkswagen has added one thing arguably even worse. It’s not as if VW plugged its ears right here. Prime executives are conscious of how reviled the complete system is. They’ve vowed to switch them, starting with steering wheels on a brand new Tiguan, and to replace software program as nicely. However the model can’t junk its nearly-new system {hardware} in a single day, with out squeezing some use out of it. And the Atlas was clearly too far alongside in its improvement to be the recipient of an improved system (or maybe to depart the peerlessly serviceable outdated system in place).

No less than it joins an eye-friendly 10.25-inch reconfigurable driver’s show with full-screen navigation readouts (for nav-equipped variations) and an non-compulsory head-up show. New normal gear contains three-zone automated local weather management, heated and ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive entrance lighting, height-adjustable passenger seat, voice controls, wi-fi charging and VW’s wi-fi AppConnect. A typical IQ.Drive driver-assistance system brings options resembling adaptive cruise, lane-keeping help, blind-spot warning and automated emergency braking that for 2024 higher detects cyclists and pedestrians. As much as eight USB-C ports can be found, with zippy 45-watt charging velocity, within the sprawling inside that brings the household limitations of smaller SUVs (and even some rival midsizes) into stark aid.

The three-row Atlas can beckon normal-sized people into the way-back, and nonetheless discover room for almost 21 cubic ft of bags house behind the third row (it ought to stay one of many greatest and most versatile on this regard), and a class-crushing 96.8 cubes with all seats folded. For each fashions, second-row legroom rivals some full-size luxurious sedans and SUVs, with 7.7 inches of fore-and-aft sliding and 14 levels of rear recline. In the meantime, its difficult folding motion not solely permits for a larger-than-usual pass-through to the third row, however lets dad and mom maintain many youngster seats put in when in use.

As iffy because the outdated inside may very well be, the Atlas’ greatest subject was beforehand discovered below the hood. Most variations had a narrow-angle VR6 good for 276 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, whereas a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four that regularly discovered its approach into extra variations had 235 hp and 258 lb-ft. It simply wasn’t sufficient to encourage an SUV that might high 4,600 kilos. Each engines at the moment are performed for, changed by the modernized, 2.0-liter turbo-four from the Golf R and Arteon. Even detuned to 269 horses and 273-pound ft, this engine lastly offers the Atlas greater than a shrug in response to heavy throttle: 60 mph arrives in 7.5 seconds in AWD trim, versus the 8.3 seconds of departed VR6 fashions, a palpable acquire in stress-free tempo. At 1,550 rpm, the four-cylinder generates 28% extra torque than the departed six-cylinder, lowering the earlier urge to cane the Atlas simply to get issues shifting round city or getting into a freeway.

On grizzled-but-glorious Catskills roads, dashing by means of inexperienced curtains of surrounding ridges, the Atlas pulls strongly in second, third or fourth gear. Fourth gear will flirt with triple-digit speeds, simply sufficient grunt for this SUV’s chosen mission. The eight-speed automated provides by-wire shifting, the earlier (considerably clunky) scepter-size console lever has been changed by a vestigial piano-black toggle, and paddle shifters at the moment are normal. Gas economic system wasn’t nice earlier than, both, and it too rises, to twenty mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 23 mpg mixed for front-drive fashions, and with 4Motion all-wheel-drive, 19/26/22 mpg for SE trims, 19/25/21 for Atlas SEL trims, and 18/24/20 mpg for the Peak Version and its all-terrain tires. Towing capability holds regular at 5,000 kilos.

As ever, the Atlas’ gentle, virtually dainty-feeling steering and absorbent journey — once more, ask Individuals how they like their SUVs — precludes any sense of being in a supersized GTI, or perhaps a Mazda CX-90. This goes for each variations, by the way in which, regardless of “Sport” being within the two-row’s identify. Pretending they’re, in truth, a GTI elicits a chilly splash of understeer to deliver you again to earth, parental accountability or each. The brake pedal’s preliminary utility can be cush sufficient to keep away from upsetting child; however a firmer step delivers surprisingly brief and assured stops. But the Atlas will circle a yard as faithfully as a golden retriever: Regular, watchful, no surprises, no surprising strikes.

As a lot as the brand new infotainment system dampens the temper, the comfort for Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport consumers or buyers is that historical past’s greatest Volkswagen now has far more going for it than sq. footage for-the-dollar: Sharper appears, stronger efficiency, extra stuff, and a cabin that may maintain its head up in opposition to key rivals. Pay attention intently, and chances are you’ll hear a Volkswagen model that, after years of static and missteps, is lastly getting on Individuals’ wavelength.

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