WASHINGTON — Choosing a seven-seat SUV is about to get more complicated with the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas.
If you’re looking for a midsize crossover or SUV, first you have to decide what size you are looking for. There are different-sized three-row crossovers. Some have room for six or seven adults, and many are made with room for kids but only in the way back.
So how does the new Volkswagen Atlas size up?
The interior is nicely laid out, with leather interior on the top-of-the-line SEL premium trim level. With this, you get heated and ventilated front seats that seem comfortable in the few short trips I took during the press launch of this vehicle.
That said, the second-row seat bottom seems a bit hard, while the third row had room for someone 5 feet 8 inches tall without much of an issue at all. There is some cargo space behind the third row, and both rows fold flat, offering even more space. The controls seem well laid out and easy to use, with knobs for the radio and climate controls.
The styling of the Atlas looks more like a tough SUV than a crossover, with a more-muscular stance than most in this class. The wheel arches are flared, and there is a large grill with a lot of chrome trim up front. Large wheels on this close-to-$49,000 SUV help add to the look and say, “This is no minivan.”
The rear doors are large, too, making it easier to get in or out of the third row, compared with some of the competition. The sides and rear have some chrome accents to help break up its large size a bit.
I only spent a half-day driving the Atlas, so a full impression of the drive will come later, when I can get a week with it. Even in this short time, the six-cylinder engine seems peppy enough and has a nice muted growl at higher rpm.
My takeaway: It’s a very quiet ride with little wind or road noise — even on Virginia State Route 28 in Herndon, where the right lane is being milled. It handles pretty well, but I noticed a bit of lean or tighter, quicker turns that are about normal for the size and class.
As the newest seven-seat midsize crossover about to hit the market, the 2018 Volkswagen Atlas looks like a solid competitor at first glance. With rugged looks, a starting price under $35,000 and a six-year/72,000 mile warranty, the all-new Atlas has VW on track again.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
