I'll be honest I got 2018 Volkswagen Atlas for three years now and I absolutely love it this is the best 3 row SUV I ever driven that's design is definitely best if it comes to family vehicle. I'm not sure why do you guys claim that this car feels heavy and big..? My first impression when I first test to draw this car was that I'm driving a regular small car I was really surprised positively of course. And I feel the same up to this day. Build quality is very good also interior quality in my opinion is very good there's nothing to complain about unless you are extremely picky. I like the simplicity the inside design.
I have to agree with the steering it feels light and easy to maneuver. it also feels like a big vehicle like I feel safe and it feels manly. lol I love it
My answer is late but you Americans might not know, but acutally they're cost cutting again. They kinda announced it over here. The Volkswagen Golf is stil their best selling car here in Europe and they got a lot of negativ feedback for the 8th Generation. The use of plastic is getting is getting to a Golf V/Rabbit level.. In a comparisionvideo you could clearly see they got rid of the gas struts for the engine bonnet (which don't bother me), no longer cloth materials in the door pockets, they got rid of the louvrelike thing that closed the cupholder area and a so on. Here's the comparison video I'm talking about for the Golf example but the same goes for the Atlas turn signals in the front. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-X48c9lFX3NY.html&t
We bought our 2021 Atlas v6 R Line SE w/Tech with 4motion in the new Racing Green on Thursday! No Pano which is a little disappointing however will make hauling gear on the roof easier. We have the Captain Seats and wouldn't ever want to tote eight people around anyway.
Glad you described the headlight/fog light system. I was looking at them online and saw models with fog lamps.. I was thinking it sure doesn't look like it has fog lights because I was still used to the older front fascia. This makes more sense now.
The engine is direct injection and not port. VW doesn’t do just port injected motors anymore. Also, they are realistic about the 2 person rear seat. You can’t get 3 people in the rear of the telluride.
Wonder will they ever make an electric version of these large SUVs.....it gets the same gas mileage of my 2014 Ford Fusion AWD 2.0 ltr. on avg miles.....
That interior is so dated my god why didn’t they update the gauge cluster at least. Would take a Japanese or even American competitor over this in a heartbeat.
With Hyundai and Kia entering the market with their own 3 row SUVs, as well new generation Highlander, I doubt this thing will keep selling as much as 80K annually.
Current sales are still strong look it up they haven’t really fallen even with new competition and now they have the Cross Sport the two row version that’s already selling well
It looks ok, still a little but bland for me, but it look good, in can't say the same for the interior tho, it looks like it came from 2013, compared to the Highlander, Telluride and Pallisade, the interior is behind
I liked the old front and old headlights. They looked different now it looks like everything else. And the interior still looks ok but cheap. I better off working a second job and get a Audi.
If VW has learned any single lesson over the last decade (other than not to cheat on diesel emissions. Nor even try to sell tem) it's that American consumers shopping for mainstream vehicles want bigger, less expensive vehicles than their European counterparts. Thus the excellent Eurospec Passat was replaced by the larger, cheaper American version. The base Golf has been discontinued in the US for the foreseeable future and has been replaced by the current generation Jetta, a larger sedan that isn't even sold in Germany. The first generation Tiguan was dropped in favor of the larger, less expensive American Tiguan that's sold alongside the original Tiguan in Europe, known in most markets as the "All Space" and considered to be a "midsize" SUV. The extremely capable but very expensive, slow selling Touareg was replaced in the US by the much larger, less expensive Atlas built in Tennessee and like the Jetta, not even offered in Europe. Finally, when VW opted to add a two row midsize SUV they made the Cross Sport larger than virtually all its rivals. At 195.5" in length, it's longer than the three row Toyota Highlander. The result is that the only American VW's left that resemble their European counterparts are the GTI, the Golf R, and the Arteon. As far as the Atlas is concerned VW gave Americans what they appear to want; a BIG midsize three row crossover. At 198.3" in length the only rivals that are larger are the bus-like Chevy Traverse, the Dodge Durango, and (by a fraction of an inch) the incredibly inefficiently packaged Mazda CX-9. And for those who need/want to carry six or seven passengers on a frequent basis or on extended trips, the Atlas makes its case. Even the third row, unlike most rivals, can accommodate two larger than average size adults and unlike some others, lookin' at your Highlander, VW doesn't make the ridiculous claim that the third row can accommodate three passengers who aren't bound and gagged. The 20.5" cubic ft of rear cargo space doesn't match a minivan, of course, but it comes close to the Telluride (21 cf) and the Traverse (23 cf), the largest in the segment. Fold the rear seat and the cargo space is a huge 55.5 cubic feet. Fold the second row down and the 96.8 cubic ft could hold a couple's luggage and gear for a month without a trip to a laundry. Be more careful with the items carried and a couple could sleep in the Atlas. As far as engine/drivetrain offers are concerned, the narrow angle V6 is a time-tested, reliable mill. I remain somewhat skeptical about a 2.0L 4 banger in such a big vehicle. But the base EA888 turbo engine in the Atlas is a remarkable motor that matches the performance of the V6. Whether it matches the V6's durability is another question but considering the Atlas' mission as a people moving cruiser it's likely to meet those requirements. As far as "driveability" is concerned the Atlas is no canyon carver but even those who drive GTI's shouldn't expect it to be. Minimalist design and cost cutting are apparent in the interior, especially in the mid-trim version Sofyan tested. It's not surprising given that VW is especially protective of the value proposition offered by the more expensive (and more profitable) Audi brand. And even more important for 2021, VW obviously understands that keeping the top trim (SEL) MSRP within shouting distance of the Telluride and Palisade is essential. With the likely dealer discount on the Atlas compared to the Telluride and the on-going availability issues of the latter vehicle there's a sale opportunity for many VW dealers and consumers.
@Daniel Zhang It's important to remember that VW is a European manufacturer with a focus primarily on European markets where it is the best selling brand in almost all European nations. It would be wrong to say that the American market is an afterthought for VW but it's obvious that the US is far less important to VW than it is to American, Japanese, and Korean brands. VW has apparently concluded they can make a reasonable profit in the US without competing in terms of features, styling, or bells and whistles if they offer generous interior room and a competitive price point. That formula holds for the Atlas, the Cross Sport, the Passat, and the Jetta. I'm not an enthusiastic fan of the Atlas but if my highest priority was interior space including passenger and cargo capacity, I'd consider it even with its shortcomings.
We bought our 2021 Atlas v6 R Line SE w/Tech with 4motion in the new Racing Green on Thursday! No Pano which is a little disappointing however will make hauling gear on the roof easier. We have the Captain Seats and wouldn't ever want to tote eight people around anyway.
Despite the over priced tag, the Touareg it's a 100% German, and this crap is US. You can tell on its design, and quality of materials. German built is better, yet is not a luxury car as many people still thinks they are. Not because it's German, it means is premium. Sad to see the excitement that this American crap it creates in many people there.
The fact that VW moved 80,000 of these last year is mind boggling to me... lackluster powertrain to say the least, boring design, low quality on materials.
@@20gravedigger11 - That isn’t really true. Not sure what you’re basing this opinion on. We came out of a highlander and got the Atlas. We like the minimalist cabin for the same reason I like BMW interiors. The Toyota engine is reliable but the new Highlander is small and narrow. The pilot is absolutely boring. I don’t dislike it and it drove ok, but I really didn’t care for it. Explorer? I don’t know. Not sold. It’s a nice engine and looks cool, but the build quality isn’t any better than the Atlas. Glad you didn’t say the Hyundai or he Kia! 😂 . Can’t for the life of me understand why everyone loves those cars. Just because you put a bunch of plush-ish material inside doesn’t mean it’s nice. Plus I just do not like the way those cars look. Anyway, the Atlas is far from perfect, but in the higher trims it’s close to being comparable with some luxury vehicles (my other car is a Lexus and I think the Atlas is just as “nice”), I think it looks cool, and has the size to make it more comparable with full-size SUVs like the Expedition and Tahoe. Which for me with a family who likes to ski and camp pretty important.
You can tell Sofyan hated this suv lmao. Now go watch his Honda Passport review and you see a smile on his face. So easy to tell when he’s not digging the ride. Great review as always, sofyan!
I do notice he has a bit of bias towards Honda cars, but otherwise i still love watching his reviews. But in this case, i can't really blame him. This SUV honestly looks very dull and unexciting.
Je suis, I respectfully disagree. When he had reviewed the first Atlas that was released, he spoke highly of it and stated that VW had set the bench mark with it
Je Suis Un Ananas it’s because Honda cars are usually kinda fast when compare to other competitors, like Honda Fit, Civic, CRV, Accord and Pilot, although HRV is pretty slow(he said it’s boring to drive HRV), also he does hate 9 speed on Pilot, so it’s not like he loves Honda as much as you think. He also hate the smaller 7” screen on Civic and other Honda models.
Black Whirlwind Civic? The 1.5 turbo maybe, but the k20 non turbo... Nope. The fit is also pretty slow even for a subcompact. Great fuel economy though.
It's not even German. It's made in Chattanooga -- The most American place since white people pushed the Native Americans off their land and into internment camps.
kev ersatz - That’s a good thing bud, the people in Chattanooga are thankful for their jobs! Let’s hope this trend continues as opposed to everything moving overseas.
Erin Thor no it’s not, American built cars are recall central and garbage quality, especially when they’re foreign cars. My parents have a F15 X5 and the build quality is anything but BMW
Sofyan's face at that 18:42 mark while flooring it was epic!!! 😂😂😂 I don't think he could've looked any more unenthused!! 😂 I'm happy to see Redline go back to the original format though (exterior, interior, test drive). I appreciate how he tried to switch it up but this really is the best format.
I disagree completely with your requirement that there be three seats in the third row. No one is putting 3 people into row three in these suvs. Instead of cramming 3 into a tight space (that you were complaining about not being enough space) when you can provide a little more room for 2 makes sense. Also, not sure I understand how in one breath you note the poor fuel economy and then you complain about it not having more horsepower (which would result in even worse mpg). People shopping 3 row suvs don't care if it takes 7 seconds or 7.5 seconds to 60.
Exactly. He's 5'7" and squarely takes up half of the third row, and I love and own performance cars but the power on our VR6 Atlas is perfectly adequate for family duty.
I wanted to comment on how I don't like the Atlas that I own but after reading the comments I don't feel they are correct at all. The interior plastic is what you get at that price point, and it doesn't rattle much if at all on my 2018. It isn't getting dried out. The thing I don't like about it is that it gets a CEL for a o2 sensor not being ready or something. Overall it's a great SUV for the price. You have to realize it's about 4 times as big as a GTI and costs the same (30k), oh wait, no mine is 4WD with a V6 and costs the same as a GTI, so, not sure how you can complain.
I really like the exterior tweaks they've made. Looks great! But, then you get inside and realize this is no match for the class leaders. The Korean twins and the Highlander are far superior.
@@Tread69 So what! This SE with R-Line and tech package stickers for what a fully loaded Palisade Limited (with MANY more features and a far better interior) stickers for. No comparison.
We’ve had our 2019 Atlas SEL FWD since Dec of 18 and the wife and I still love it. Especially with 3 kids. I average 25-26mpg on trips. It has plenty of power to pass and move when I need it to. I enjoy the V6 sound as well. Nice and slightly aggressive.
me and my family is interested in the atlas. curious as to how many miles youve put on yours and any issues youve ran into. appreciate your feedback, thanks!
Aaron Ward bought our 2019 SEL Premium after renting a 2018. And after test driving a dozen SUV’s the 19 Atlas was the most comfortable. Only 5k on it due to stay at home during pandemic, no problems so far.
Robbie Hong bought our 2019 atlas SE with tech pack this April. Did not pick the 2020 or 2021 version because the warranty and we got pretty good deal on the over stocked 2019 atlas due to the pandemic. The 2018 and 2019 model atlas all have 6 year warranty. VW changed the warranty to 4 years on 2020 and 2021 model. The interior is exactly the same, me and my wife are actually prefer the old box looking design. Had over 5k miles for the past 6 month. Not a single problem.
I love the Atlas and I would take one in a heartbeat, even with my kids slowly moving out. I had a brand new 2003 VW Eurovan with the 24 valve VR6 and 201hp. It was a great engine. The fake exhaust on the Atlas needs to go OR utilize the good looking(but fake) exhaust exits.
Actually this is what you buy when you want the biggest 3 row SUV short of going Suburban/Expedition Max, that'll fit normal adults in 3rd row and still have decent cargo room. And you can fold the 2nd row seat forward with a booster seat installed for easy 3rd row access. Most SUVs, only option is to go in the other side or climb over the seat if you have 2 car seats. Also, now can get the AWD 2.0 turbo and tune to 300hp/380lbft easily. Are there better looking and more well equipped SUVs. Sure, but functionally, this is hard to beat.
It would appear VW hired Dodge's interior designers from the Durango to design the Altas, its plain and cheap looking. This thing looks worse the the entry level Kia and Hyundai options. VW needs to update the engine, it was great 10 years ago. The whole interior looks like a mid-range SUV from 2009. This goes for the vast majority of VW vehicle in the US. The bang for the buck is at the bottom of the pile when it comes to content and features. I would not buy one of these. I actually bought a Grand Cherokee instead.
Isn't the grand Cherokee old though? I almost got a used one but it felt pike it had trans issues and older 2000s grand Cherokees had fitting issues and one had a leak in the wind shield. My dad was surprised when I wanted to go with a sedan instead.
@hiroshima thompson They killed it this year, which is a much needed mercy killing. It could have been more, but Dodge let it go and didnt do much with it.
It highly needs an update in the powertrain. It's well overdue and outclassed. Esthetic and interior/exterior update though appealing, does not suffice. Ford's new Explorer powertrain starts at 300 HP, Kia Telluride/Hyundai Palisades at 291 HP. VW, time to step up the in the powertrain segment.
@@joshua9073 Maybe, but you can get a similar specced explorer for like $40k like this one is and get the base 290HP engine + better gas mileage. I cant believe VW's higher end engine is still so weak
Consumer Reports also gives the Jeep Wrangler a low rating but it has incredible resale value and owners and reviewers love them Consumer Reports don’t mean shit
The CR rating is taken from surveys of existing owners and reliability reports. Kia and Toyota scored the highest. German cars are great to lease. But they depreciate fast because of the cost of parts and labor. Scotty Kilmer calls them "Endless Money Pits". That's why Hooviie's Garage always buys German Cars to fix. Usually they have spectacular and numerous problems. The Car Wizard refuses to fix BMWs.
Love the Atlas! We have a 2019 SE with tech package and 4 motion and it's been great. No problems or issues and we couldn't be happier with our decision. Great review!
Nein, nein, nein mein Freund. Der Atlas hat so viel mit Deutschland zu tun, wie die Bratwurst mit Brasilien 😜 Das Ding gibts hier nicht! Das ist ein rein amerikanischens Auto! Greetings my friend, luv your channel 💛
I rented fully loaded Atlas for 5 hours to get my Telluride from the dealership and I liked the ride. But after driving the Telluride, I would say Atlas has been out matched. Overall interior feelings, ride quality, and supervisor Lane keep assist was just so much better than Atlas. I'm glad I bought Telluride.
Everyone raise your hand if you’re over “reviews” talking about the lower door and lower dash “hard plastic” No shit. That’s what it’s made of in EVERY non luxury car. Is where you touch the car day to day soft? Cool move on and quit whining about stuff nobody cares about.
I was about to buy the highlander and had driven all the big names in the 3 row crossovers. I driven the 20 Atlas a month ago and drove the 21 yesterday. Night and day difference. I went home with an SEL Premium out the door for 46k.
Like me. We were coming out of a Highlander and were thinking of moving up to a Q7, MDX, or XC-90. We also considered the Explorer, Highlander, Pilot, and Palisade. We hated the looks of the Hyundai, and in the end we really liked the Atlas in comparison to the others for the money. Got the SEL Premium with the 21” wheels and we live the way it drives and the space. Most people commenting here about the “hard plastic” are just parroting back what they hear. The SEL P trim is great. Is there some hard plastic? Yes. Is it a big deal? No. I’m owned 4 BMWs and also on my 2nd Lexus and they’ve all had some hard plastic. Plus I like the “minimalist” interior. It’s not a perfect car, but I really like it so far and it looks really nice. I and another thing. So far the VW customer service has been phenomenal. We’ll see how the reliability goes, but so far so good.
Very informative review. Can you please let me know if VW Atlas has a German engine or American engine? Can you do a comparison video of 2021 Atlas with 2021 Kia telluride?
Thanks for mentioning the car seat feature. That is the reason why we bought one as we have three kids in car seats and for someone to get into the back can leave them in. Unlike other others, except the Chevrolet Traverse has one Sid egos can get in one with seat installed.
They probably put 98 Premium gas mixed with some additives or 100 octane so the press would think it's more responsive. I have this engine/tranny in my Touareg, it's slow. This VR6 is a dead-end in terms of power output, It will never be upgraded by VW. It's a reliable and proven engine since 2005, which in itself is an upgrade from 3.2 VR6. Pretty sure it's Direct Injected and not port injected. I really wish VW would've brought back the 5 cylinder 2.5 liter engine paired with a small turbo (detuned TT RS?) for Atlas R
I like its upscale interior and exterior compared to my Toyota Highlander but my Highlander accelerates faster on the fwy than the older 2020 VW atlas that I rented. VW screwed up by not bringing the plugin hybrid version to the U.S.