It’s been a while since I’ve been behind the wheel of a VW Atlas but wanted to give it whirl after it was completely redone last year. So, I bring you the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, one of your many choices in a three-row SUV and is one of VW’s best sellers. My review vehicle is the Peak Edition, which is intended to compete with a new trend of off-road SUVs, like the Honda Passport TrailSport or the Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek.
Exterior
My tester is the based on the middle range SEL trim and I find it attractive on the exterior in an Avocado Green (memories of my Mom’s refrigerator) Pearl paint.
It has a wide chrome four-bar grille that is unique to the Peak Edition, LED headlights, daytime running lights and taillights, Adaptive front lights, and 18” black alloy wheels.
I am really liking the body lines with flares over the tires, a large spoiler in the back, but I am disappointed in the fake exhaust tips. I wished VW had made those functional.
Performance
One of the big changes last year was powertrain under the hood. Gone is the old 4-cylinder and the V6 and replacing it is a 2.0 Turbo inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers 269-horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. VW says that’s an increase of 34 horsepower and 15 lb.-ft. over the previous generation four-cylinder engine, but slightly less horsepower than the V6 but it does pack a little more torque. It’s mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission that has shift paddles attached to the steering wheel. It does have the annoying stop/start system, but you can disable it with a button.
This Atlas is the 4MOTION all-wheel drive, that is front-wheel drive biased and transfer power to the rear wheels as needed. This drivetrain setup will give you 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.
Interior
Since the last Atlas I reviewed, it offers much nicer materials and less plastic when you enter the cabin. The two-tone Black with light gray interior really looks great. V-Tex leatherette patterned seats in front are heated and ventilated.
The driver’s seat is 10-way power adjustable, but the passenger seat is manually operated. Like most of these off-roaders, including some of the Subaru packages, there is orange trim all around. The leather-wrapped, semi-flat heated steering wheel with silver trim looks great.
As you look up, you are greeted by a 10.25 digital gauge cluster that looks outstanding and is incredibly configurable and you can use it to double for settings as well. If you look straight through the windshield, you’ll see an easy-to-read head-up display with traffic sign recognition.
The center console is open underneath, and it is a good place for storage. It hosts a stubby gear shifter along with your engine stop/start button and various other controls along with two cup holders. In front of the console you’ll find two USB C ports and a wireless charger.
Center dash is a 12” Competition Media touchscreen that houses everything, including the stereo system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, vehicle settings, SiriusXM, Bluetooth, and voice commands. This is also where you choose the drive mode from eco, comfort, sport, custom, offroad, or snow. Sport mode does help with acceleration and transmission shifts. The rear camera wasn’t great quality and there was no overhead view. Strangely missing is the built-in navigation system.
The Peak Edition comes with a comfortable 2nd-row bench seat with a drop down center armrest. The second row slides and reclines, and passengers get their own A/C vents, rear window shades, and digital A/C controls. It is also easy to access the third row from a handle on the top of the 2nd-row seats. I was quite surprised by legroom in the second row.
The Atlas is without a doubt roomy. Even in the third row which actually fits adults even though you lose a little head room. The 50/50 split third row seats are comfortable too, and there are air vents and USB-Cs for the folks back there. You don’t get power-folding 3rd-row seats, but they are easy to fold flat using a lever and easy to pull up with straps.
Utility
There is plenty of cargo space in the Atlas, along with a 12 volt, with or without the 3rd-row down.
With the 2nd and 3rd-row seats down, there is a very flat load floor and a pretty amazing 96.6 cubic-feet of cargo area. The rear tailgate is power and foot operated, and there is storage underneath with a spare tire and wheel.
Standard Equipment
There are no options on my review vehicle, so everything we’ve talked about comes as standard equipment.
Other items we did not discuss include: Automatic headlights, remote start, illuminated front and rear VW logos, a huge power tilt & sliding panoramic moon roof with a power cover, heated steering wheel, and power lumbar support for the driver, and a trailer hitch.
Safety
For safety, you get stability control, crash response system, front and rear parking sensors, hill control, and the IQ. Drive, VW’s semi-self-driving system.
That includes: adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear traffic alert.
Ride and Drive
The Atlas is a larger SUV with a comfortable ride and drive, and good handling. It is also quieter inside than the last Atlas I had. The new engine delivers nice acceleration, and the Atlas delivers a nice ride in city and highway traffic.
MPG and MSRPP
Fuel economy is rated at 18 in town, 25 on the highway, and 20 overall, but remember this is all-wheel drive. Total MSRP before incentives is just over $48,000 and for what you get, that is a really good value.
Verdict
Let me lay the cards on the table. This Peak Edition looks like a true off-roader, but it comes up short in some areas that the competition shines in. I can’t ascertain that there are any performance upgrades to the Peak Edition to make it an off-roader, the tires and wheels are no optimum for that purpose, and with just 7” of ground clearance, for this writer, it just doesn’t qualify. However, as a daily driver, it’s awesome and is a great buy.
2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition
- What I liked most: Interior looks and quality, nice ride manners, and a terrific value proposition.
- What I would change: Love to see larger wheels and beefier tires.
- MSRP: Base price $46,655 as equipped $48,080 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: Rated at 18 MPG in town/25 MPG highway/20 MPGe overall.
- Odometer reading when tested: 1,700 miles.
- Weight: 4,601 pounds/GVWR 5,908.
- Spare Tire: Compact temporary.
- Length-Width-Height: 200.7” long/78.3” wide w/ mirrors folded in/70.4” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.6 gallons with filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds.
- 2025 Atlas Peak Edition in a few words: A great-looking SUV, fantastic interior, at an outstanding price.
- Final Assembly Location: Chattanooga, TN.
- Manufacturer’s website: Volkswagen
- Warranty: 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance, and two years of free maintenance.
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