2025 Volkswagen Atlas SUV

　　2025 Volkswagen Atlas Review

　　byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　11/28/2023

　　Overview

　　The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas is a three-row midsize SUV, making it the biggest vehicle in VW's lineup and a good choice for growing families. It's supported by the compact Tiguan and subcompact Taos. There's also the Atlas Cross Sport, a slightly smaller two-row midsize SUV. The Atlas has been around since 2018, but it received a significant refresh last year to keep it up-to-date. As a result, we don't expect many changes for 2025.

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Spacious but a bit down on power

If there's one thing shoppers are seeking in a three-row SUV, it's space. The Volkswagen Atlas gets high marks in this category as you can comfortably accommodate adult-size passengers in all three rows with easy access, too. You'll also have enough room for their gear since the Atlas boasts up to 20.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row. One area where it could use a little boost is power, though. The 269-horsepower four-cylinder engine is adequate for most drivers and can tow up to 5,000 pounds, but when compared to other SUVs in the class, it might feel a bit sluggish when getting up to speed.

　　

Competitors to consider

The Volkswagen Atlas runs in a very competitive class that's dominated by the Kia Telluride and related Hyundai Palisade. Its recent refresh should help keep it competitive against newer entrants that include the Toyota Grand Highlander, Mazda CX-90 and Hyundai Santa Fe.

　　zzdcar says

　　The Volkswagen Atlas delivers the kind of space and cargo capacity that growing families need. It also delivers a lot of value in the form of its features. That said, nicer interior materials and a more powerful engine could make it more competitive with the our top picks for a midsize three-row SUV.