2023 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2023 Atlas is the last pre-facelift first-generation year (the 2024 refresh replaced both engines with a 269 hp 2.0T), and its volume trims use the 235 hp EA888 2.0T. That is low for a three-row mid-size SUV whose rivals mostly carry 280-295 hp V6s.

The turbo four's 258 lb-ft arrives low in the rev range and is close to the VR6's 266 lb-ft, so the volume engine gives up little low-end shove to the six.

A roughly 4,400 lb three-row SUV with 235 hp is slow by class standards, trailing V6 rivals like the Highlander, Telluride and Pilot, which run in the high-6 to low-7 second range.

The 2.0T is smooth and its low-end torque suits around-town driving, but it runs out of breath and sounds strained on highway merges or with a full load. The VR6 is smoother but no quicker and drinks more fuel.

The Aisin-supplied 8-speed automatic shifts smoothly in normal driving but can be slow to kick down, which makes the modest 2.0T feel more sluggish than it is.

The VR6 is rated to tow 5,000 lbs, in line with mid-size three-row rivals. The volume 2.0T is rated for only 2,000 lbs, so buyers who tow need to step up to the six.

4Motion all-wheel drive is available with both engines on every trim and comes with an Active Control drive-mode selector that includes Snow and Off-Road settings. There is no low range and no torque vectoring.

With about 8 inches of ground clearance, no dedicated off-road trim, and no skid plates or lockers, the Atlas is a pavement-oriented family hauler. Its 4Motion Off-Road mode handles light gravel and snow only.

There are two gas engines, a 2.0T four and a 3.6L VR6, each with FWD or 4Motion. That is a real choice, but there is no hybrid or electrified option.

The volume 2.0T 4Motion is rated at 22 MPG combined. That is below the class's efficient V6 rivals and well short of hybrid three-rows, and the VR6 drops to 20 MPG.

City economy is the Atlas's weakest figure: the heavy body leans hard on the small turbo engine in stop-and-go traffic.

Highway economy is poor for the class. The boxy three-row body and short-geared powertrain hold the AWD 2.0T to 24 MPG, below the high-20s many rivals reach.

A large 18.6-gallon tank makes up for the mediocre fuel economy, giving about 409 miles of combined range. That is mid-pack for a mid-size three-row SUV.

This is EPA's current annual fuel-cost estimate at 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline. It is high for the class because of the modest MPG.

Both engines run on regular unleaded. VW quotes the 2.0T's 235 hp on premium, but premium is not required, so there is no mandatory fuel-grade cost.

NHTSA tested both 2023 Atlas drivetrains and gave each a 5-star overall rating. The 4-star frontal and rollover sub-ratings keep it from being a clean sweep.

This is the pre-refresh 2023 Atlas, the last year before the 2024 facelift. It rates Good in the small-overlap, original moderate-overlap, side, roof and head-restraint tests. It is Marginal in the updated moderate-overlap test (rear passenger) and Poor for seat-belt reminders, and it earned no 2023 Top Safety Pick. That puts it in the middle band, unlike the facelifted model's TSP+.

Front Assist AEB with pedestrian monitoring is standard across the range. However, the full IQ.DRIVE bundle (Travel Assist lane centering, Emergency Assist) is standard only from the SEL up. Blind-spot monitoring and Rear Traffic Alert were also deleted from some SE/SE w/ Technology builds during the chip shortage. So on the volume SE w/ Technology trim, the core features are present but the suite is incomplete.

Vehicle-to-vehicle AEB rates Superior. Pedestrian detection is only Basic in both the daytime and nighttime IIHS tests, so the overall result sits at the bottom of the middle band.

Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Traffic Alert were planned as standard, but chip-shortage deletions left some SE-level 2023 builds without them. Active steering intervention (Active Side Assist) comes only with SEL IQ.DRIVE, and there is no trailer-aware coverage.

On the volume trim, lane departure/keep assist is the extent of it. Travel Assist lane centering is standard only from the SEL, and even there reviewers describe it as functional with some wander and frequent hands-on prompts rather than confident.

ACC with Stop and Go is available on the volume SE w/ Technology trim. Combined highway assist (Travel Assist) is reserved for SEL and above, and reviewers note somewhat abrupt braking in traffic. Capable, with rough edges.

Volkswagen offered no hands-free highway driving system in the US for 2023. Travel Assist is explicitly hands-on and uses steering-wheel detection.

The headlights on the S and SE trims (the volume range) rate only Marginal. Good-rated lamps come only on SEL, SEL R-Line and SEL Premium, matching the 'Good on upper trims, Marginal on volume' description at the bottom of the middle band.

The pre-refresh Atlas's boxy body, tall glass area and upright pillars give it some of the best natural sightlines among three-row mid-size SUVs. An Area View 360-degree camera is limited to the top trim.

The roomy second row, large rear doors and the ability to tilt and slide the second-row seat with a child seat still installed are real family strengths. However, IIHS rates its LATCH hardware only Marginal for anchor ease of use, which holds it in the middle band.

The 2023 Atlas is the last year of the pre-2024-refresh first generation. It is a three-row SUV with a 60/40 second-row bench as standard, and second-row captain's chairs drop it to six seats.

The boxy cabin gives generous front headroom for the mid-size class. The volume SE w/Technology has no sunroof, so this figure applies to it.

Front legroom is mid-pack for the class, because the Atlas spends its length on the second and third rows.

Second-row headroom is at the top of the mid-size SUV band, thanks to the upright roofline.

Second-row legroom is competitive rather than class-leading. The bench slides, so owners can trade second-row room for third-row room.

With 33.7 in of legroom and 38.3 in of headroom, the third row seats adults on real trips. That is among the best third rows outside a minivan. Access is easy because the second row tilts and slides forward even with a child seat installed. The one complaint is that the third-row headrests sit too far forward.

Cargo space behind the second row is well above the mid-size average, and the 20.6 cu ft behind the third row is usable with all seats up.

This is one of the largest maximum cargo holds among mainstream mid-size three-row SUVs, with a long, square load floor.

Everyday storage is competitive: big door bins, a center console bin and an underfloor cargo well. The SE w/Technology adds a wireless charging pad and a 115-volt outlet in the second row. There is no standout storage innovation.

Reviewers call the front seats spacious and comfortable, the second-row bench is accommodating, and the third row is comfortable for the class. Third-row headrests that push on occupants' upper backs, and a 10-way power driver's seat without lumbar memory on the volume trim, keep it short of the top tier.

The ride is smooth and absorbent on the highway and over broken pavement, with good body control for a tall three-row SUV. The SE w/Technology rides on 20-inch wheels, and R-Line trims on 21s pick up more impact harshness.

Wind and road noise are well suppressed at cruise, but the volume 2.0T four-cylinder gets noticeably loud when worked to move this 4,400-lb SUV.

Heated front seats are standard from the base SE, and the volume SE w/Technology adds tri-zone automatic climate and remote start. A heated steering wheel arrives on the SEL, and ventilated front seats and heated outboard second-row seats only on the top SEL Premium R-Line.

The 2023 Atlas is the final pre-refresh first-generation year, and the entry 2.0T SE FWD undercuts most mainstream three-row rivals on sticker price.

SE w/Technology is the volume trim (adds hands-free liftgate, remote start, tri-zone climate, adaptive cruise). Most buyers add 4Motion, which costs about $1,900.

VW parts and labor cost more than Japanese and Korean rivals, and Edmunds' projections for the first-generation Atlas are at the high end of the class. CarEdge's lower figure only covers scheduled maintenance.

The Atlas depreciates faster than its Toyota, Honda and Kia rivals, a pattern made worse by heavy incentives and rental-fleet volume. The retention figure is set slightly below CarEdge's projection to reflect that.

VW's 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty beats the 3/36 offered by Toyota, Honda and GM, but falls short of Hyundai and Kia's 5/60.

VW offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty, so the engine and transmission are covered for only 4 years/50,000 miles. That is the shortest powertrain coverage among mainstream three-row SUVs.

VW Carefree Coverage includes 2 years/20,000 miles of scheduled maintenance, plus 3 years/36,000 miles of 24-hour roadside assistance and a Car-Net trial. That is useful, but the mileage cap is tight.

$41,965 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $19,724) leaves about $22,241 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $29,741 in total.

2023 is the last carry-over year of the first-generation Atlas after its 2021 refresh, so the design was mature with launch-era bugs largely worked out. Consumer Reports' used-car verdict puts the 2023 Atlas above average for its model year while J.D. Power rates its Quality & Reliability only Average, and CR has historically rated the nameplate below average across most of the generation — mixed signals that land in the middle of the average band.

Volkswagen has sat in the lower third of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings and below the industry average in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study across recent study years, with electronics and infotainment the most-cited problem areas. A persistent multi-year pattern rather than a single bad year.

The 2023 Atlas is covered by several campaigns, two of them serious: an engine connecting-rod-bearing defect on the 2.0T that can cause engine failure, and two separate air-bag campaigns (front-passenger occupant detection mat deactivating the air bag; corroding door-harness contacts delaying side air-bag deployment). Smaller-population brake-line-leak and under-torqued chassis/suspension bolt campaigns add to an above-normal, safety-system-heavy record.

The volume 2023 Atlas uses the 235-hp 2.0L EA888 turbo-four with an 8-speed automatic; the optional 3.6L VR6 is an old, well-proven if thirsty design. The EA888 family is high-volume and broadly durable but carries known water-pump/thermostat-housing and carbon-buildup service items, and this model year is subject to a connecting-rod-bearing recall for engine failure — a real knock on the specific engine being scored.

The pre-refresh 2023 cabin is roomy and logically laid out but plain, with reviewers routinely noting abundant hard plastics on the doors and lower dash, especially on lower trims — competitive for a mainstream three-row but behind Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade and Mazda CX-90. The 2024 refresh's upgraded interior had not yet arrived.

Chattanooga-built Atlases are generally solid in panel fit and structural feel with no systemic rattle pattern, and the mature first-generation tooling helps consistency in 2023. The deduction reflects VW's below-average initial-quality standing and a pair of assembly-torque recalls (chassis bolts) affecting a small number of 2023 units.

Volkswagen's US network of roughly 600-650 dealers is about half of Toyota's, leaving coverage gaps in rural markets where three-row SUVs sell well. Metro coverage is adequate, and J.D. Power owners rate the dealership experience only middling.

VW parts and labor price above mainstream Japanese and domestic rivals and independent repair-cost indices place the brand above average for annual repair spend, but the shared MQB/EA888 parts pool and a large aftermarket keep availability good. Warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles bumper-to-bumper.

The 2023 Atlas uses an 8-inch touchscreen throughout the lineup. That is small next to rivals' 10–12 in screens, and the jump to a 12-inch display only came with the 2024 refresh.

The MIB3 system's simple, logical layout keeps physical climate controls and a volume knob, but it is a small screen and responses are slow. Reviewers also dislike the steering-wheel button layout and the tiny volume knob.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (App-Connect) are standard on every trim, and wireless App-Connect is standard from the volume SE w/Technology up. Only the base SE is wired-only.

Native navigation is clumsy: it requires a city for points of interest and is slow to respond. Voice commands are limited and recognition is poor, so most owners will default to phone projection.

The standard six-speaker system is underwhelming for a vehicle this size. The optional 12-speaker Fender premium audio is a worthwhile upgrade, but it is limited to the top trim.

New for 2023, the volume SE w/Technology gets the configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro with full-screen map view, which reviewers called 'fantastic'. The base SE keeps a smaller digital cluster.

The pre-refresh Atlas has no meaningful whole-vehicle over-the-air update program. Map and software updates come through the dealer or the connected-services platform, not as feature-adding OTA updates.

The VW Car-Net app provides remote lock/unlock, vehicle status, parking location and, with a Remote Access subscription after the trial, remote start. There is no digital key.

The volume SE w/Technology has USB-C charging ports in all three rows, a wireless charging pad and a 115-volt household outlet in the second row. That is a strong spread for the class.

Keyless access with push-button start is standard. Remote start and a hands-free Easy Open liftgate come on the volume SE w/Technology. Phone-as-key is not offered.

The volume trim has a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines and front/rear Park Distance Control. The Area View 360-degree camera and automated Park Assist are reserved for the top SEL Premium R-Line.

No head-up display is offered on any 2023 Atlas trim.

This is one of the easiest non-minivan family haulers to live with. Large rear doors, a second row that tilts and slides forward with a child seat still installed, and an adult-usable third row make daily car-seat logistics easy.

Front Assist automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alert are standard on every trim. Adaptive cruise and Travel Assist (IQ.DRIVE) arrive on the volume SE w/Technology. The aging first-generation structure trails the newest rivals' crash credentials.

Tri-zone climate, USB charging in all three rows, a 115-volt outlet, adult-sized second and third rows, and 20.6 cu ft of luggage space even with all seats up make for good long-trip family duty. The weak base audio and the lack of a rear entertainment system are the gaps.

Smooth brakes and shifts, good visibility and a light, accurate helm make it easy to drive day to day. The modest 2.0T and the hesitant kickdown make merging feel labored, and the Atlas's bulk is always apparent.

At 21/25/23 MPG (2.0T FWD), with 4Motion slightly lower, fuel costs are average-to-poor for a mid-size three-row. There is no hybrid option to soften commuting costs.

At 200.7 in long and 78.3 in wide, with a 40.5-ft turning circle, the Atlas is one of the bulkier mid-size SUVs. Front/rear sensors on the volume trim help, but a 360 camera is top-trim only.

The volume 2.0T is rated to tow only 2,000 lbs. The VR6 tows 5,000 lbs, but it is not the volume engine. The huge 96.8 cu ft cargo hold helps with bulky loads.

This is a family-oriented crossover on the transverse MQB platform with no fleet or work-duty reputation. The first-generation Atlas also has a below-average reliability record.

A 115-volt outlet, cargo-area tie-downs, standard roof rails and a dealer hitch are the extent of its work provisions. There is no upfit ecosystem.

A smooth highway ride, comfortable seats, and adaptive cruise with Travel Assist on the volume trim make it a capable tourer. Engine noise under load and roughly 430 miles of range from an 18.6-gal tank at 23 MPG hold it back.

4Motion AWD with Snow and Off-Road modes, standard roof rails and about 8 in of ground clearance handle gravel and snow. There is no off-road hardware, and the volume engine's 2,000-lb tow rating limits toys.

With 96.8 cu ft maximum and 55.5 cu ft behind row two, flat-folding second and third rows, standard roof rails and an available hitch, this is among the best gear haulers in the mainstream mid-size class.

It is surprisingly composed and sure-footed for its size, with good body control in turns. Dynamically it is secure rather than engaging.

The steering is quick and nicely weighted for a three-row SUV, but it offers little real feedback.

Reviewers describe the brakes as smooth and confidence-inspiring in daily driving. No standout instrumented stopping figure was found for this year.

The 2.0T's low-end torque suits town driving, and the 8-speed shifts smoothly. It runs short of breath on highway merges and loaded, and slow kickdowns make the 235-hp four feel more sluggish than it is.

The engine is unobtrusive at cruise, but the turbo four becomes noticeably loud and a bit coarse when worked hard to move the Atlas's weight.

The large turning circle reflects the Atlas's 117-in wheelbase and is on the wide side for the class.

The commanding, upright seating position gives excellent sightlines, and most drivers find a comfortable position easily. Physical climate controls are retained. The unintuitive steering-wheel button layout and small volume knob are the main ergonomic misses.

It is a pleasant, competent family appliance, but the underpowered volume engine and its sheer size leave little to enjoy behind the wheel.

The base SE comes with a digital cockpit, LED headlights, forward-collision and blind-spot assist, and heated front seats. However, the full IQ.DRIVE suite and adaptive cruise require the SE w/Technology or higher, and Telluride and Palisade give more at a similar price.

The Atlas offers the most third-row and cargo space in its class for a competitive price. That is offset by a weak 235 hp 2.0T engine, a plain interior, short powertrain coverage, and below-average resale.

There are five trims (SE, SE w/Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line Black, SEL Premium R-Line), two engines, FWD or 4Motion, and a choice of captain's chairs or a bench. The lineup is well spaced from about $36k to about $54k.

The Atlas is one of VW's two volume models in the US and sells steadily in the mid-pack. It sells well below the Explorer, Highlander, Telluride and Pilot, and 2023 sales were tied to the last year of an aging design.

Volkswagen has a neutral mainstream image in the US. It carries some European cachet but also lingering doubts about reliability and dealer service, which hold down Atlas resale.

VW regularly backed the Atlas with financing and lease offers, and 2023 runout stock was discounted ahead of the 2024 refresh. Industry-wide supply constraints did limit discounts early in the model year.

MY2023 is the sixth year of a generation that launched for 2018, refreshed for 2021. A heavy 2024 refresh with a new interior, a 269 hp 2.0T and a 12-inch screen was revealed while the 2023 was still on sale, so the 2023 was outdated almost immediately.

Reviewers consistently praise the Atlas's adult-usable third row and huge cargo hold. They criticize its sluggish engines, plain interior and dated infotainment, and it rarely wins comparison tests against the Telluride, Palisade or Pilot.