2024 VW Atlas - 17 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

What's your favorite thing about the 2024 VW Atlas?
See how this Atlas stacks up against its rivals on Downshift: / @dwnshft
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Big changes
Mid cycle refreshes aren't usually that extensive
But this one gets some pretty serious updates like
Price
Standard features
Engine options
Interior design
Exterior styling
And we’ll talk more about each of these as we go
Exterior styling
We’ll start with styling
The most noticeable changes come to the lights
Adaptive LEDs as standard now
With the OPTIONAL IQ Lights
New grille
With light bar across and light up logo
Light up logo part of SE tech pack and up
The profile is largely unchanged
New wheel options
18-20
SEL R line only to get 21s
Wheel arch humps classic Atlas
Roof rails standard now (chrome on SEL)
Revised tailbar in back
V fake exhaust lol
SEL trim is the only one that can come with the R Line
Engine options
Last year you could get the 2.0T OR the V6
But no more V6 here
The EA888 2.0T is reworked and now the only engine
269 hp (+34)
273 lbft (more than the V6 from last year)
0-60 in under 8 seconds
MPG is 19/25 for 4motion
Up to 27 in FWD
On regular fuel
No hybrid
No PHEV
Towing
5000 lbs capacity
Used to be 2000 in the 4 cylinder last year
This year’s SE trim tops out at 2000 still
Drivetrain
FWD
4motion AWD
Trunk
Powered tailgate option
On SE tech packs and up
~20 cuft with third row up
About the same as the Koreans
Third row folds manually (pali powered)
55 cu ft with third row down
97 cu ft with everything down
CAVERNOUS
Third row
Atlas used to be the biggest in the game
But it’s older now
Like I said, 2nd facelift - still OG gen
So the third row feels cramped now
Compared to GH and Koreans
There’s only 2 seats back here like TX
You get vents (better than MDX)
Chargers weirdly only on driver side
Battle droid haedrests
Second row
Feels quite big
But technically smaller than competitors
By the numbers anyway
Bench seat only available on SE trims
Captains chairs slide and recline
Window shades
Third climate zone
HEATED, not cooled
Only heated in SEL
Chargers
Pano roof option
Slider controls like a Benz
Front seats
This is shocking to see
One of the new standard features for 2024
Heated front seats
Cooled front seats
Heated steering wheel
Interior design
Still very clean
But feels and looks more expensive
Wood trim is quite fake but is consistent
R Line only one to get a flat bottom steering wheel
Actual buttons on the steering wheel tho
Not the touch sliders - blessings
Shifter is the Gilette shaver like a Porsche 911
Gloss black center console
LOADS of storage everywhere
Screens
HUD optional
But 10 in digital cockpit STANDARD
12 in infotainment STANDARD
Same software as the GTI we tested last year
So not a HUGE fan but it’s fine
The real problem is the climate sliders
Not backlit
Ambient light
30 different colors
Whatever color you pick becomes your screen background
360 camera option
Only on SEL Premium
Drive modes
6 different modes
Seems like a lot
Especially since it doesn't have adaptive suspension
Wireless charger
Got one
Harmon Kardon only on SEL
Mirror
No digi rearview mirror
A little surprising
BUT you get USBc to plug in dashcam
Driver assist
IQ drive now standard
Peak Edition
Everyone has to have an offroad version
Hyundai XRT
Kia X line
Honda Trailsport
Subaru Wilderness
Well now VW has the Peak Edition
Which gets you unique styling
Bigger AT tires
And a couple other things
Price
Starts 37,725
Big $2500 jump from last year
But now you get a LOT of standard features
Heated and cooed seats
IQ drive
The big screens
More power
More towing
More styling inside and out
Still comes FWD standard
4Motion awd is like $1900 more
Maxed out it’s like 55k which is in line with others