2027 Volkswagen Atlas Starts at $41,610 With 282-HP Turbo Four

A front-wheel-drive SE is the cheapest way into Volkswagen’s redesigned 2027 Atlas, at $41,610, CBT News reported in a review by Lauren Fix. This second generation of the three-row family hauler runs on gasoline only. Volkswagen plans to add a hybrid in some later model year, and for now buyers get more gear as standard and better mileage than before.

At the top of the range, the SEL Premium R-Line that Fix drove came to $58,135, a figure that leaves out taxes, destination and extras. According to the review, prices are higher for the new model.

What each 2027 Atlas trim costs

• Base SE, front-wheel drive: $41,610
• SE with 4MOTION all-wheel drive: $43,610
• SE with Technology: $47,135
• SEL R-Line: $53,635
• SEL Premium R-Line, the reviewed vehicle: $58,135

Out of the box, a bench in the middle row gives room for seven. Buyers who prefer two individual middle seats pay $695 extra and lose one place, for six in total.

Single powertrain, two mileage estimates

All trims share a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It is rated at 282 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and drives through an eight-speed automatic. The front wheels do the work unless the buyer pays for 4MOTION, Volkswagen’s name for all-wheel drive. Volkswagen estimates 25 mpg combined for the front-drive version and 23 mpg combined for the all-wheel-drive one. With the right equipment, the Atlas can pull a trailer of up to 5,000 pounds.

No gas-electric Atlas is on sale for 2027, so buyers who rank mileage first may end up comparing it with hybrid three-row models from other brands, the review noted.

Bigger screens and more help from the car

Every Atlas now comes with a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.9-inch central touchscreen. Buyers can add a 15-inch head-up display, which shows speed and other readouts on the windshield in the driver’s line of sight. Phone mirroring works without a cable for both iPhone and Android users, and the cabin gets a pair of cooled Qi2 charging pads, USB-C sockets and an in-car hotspot. Nine speakers are standard; a 14-speaker Harman Kardon setup is optional. Pricier trims can light the interior in 30 colors.

The shifter now sits on a stalk by the steering wheel, which leaves more storage room between the front seats. Volkswagen also built in Air Console games and voice functions powered by ChatGPT.

On safety, Volkswagen’s IQ.DRIVE package is included on all trims. It brakes on its own for vehicles and pedestrians, helps keep the SUV in its lane, warns of cars in blind spots or crossing behind when reversing, and adds parking sensors. A new airbag between the front seats cushions people in some side crashes. Emergency Assist Plus watches for a driver who stops responding; when conditions allow, it can ease the Atlas toward the right edge of the road and bring it to a halt.

A little longer, same practical box

Volkswagen stretched the body by roughly one inch and left the width, height and wheelbase close to where they were. The squared-off shape carries over, now with crisper creases, a narrower grille, a badge that lights up and a light bar across the tail. Larger 20- and 21-inch wheels are optional. Three paints are new: Blackberry Metallic, Sacramento Green and Sandstone.

Behind the third row there is 21 cubic feet of luggage space. Folding that row gives 56 cubic feet, and folding the second row as well opens 95.4 cubic feet. The tailgate is powered. Inside, a new dashboard design and optional genuine wood trim aim for a more upscale feel, and the list of extras includes a 12-way power driver’s seat, seats with massage, middle-row seats that heat and cool, and shades for the rear windows.

What it means for families shopping three-row SUVs

CBT News reports that approximately 80% of what Volkswagen sells in the U.S. is an SUV, so the Atlas carries a big part of the brand’s American business. Volkswagen builds it in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and shaped it for U.S. buyers. Shoppers will likely cross-shop the Honda Pilot, Toyota Grand Highlander, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-90.

Warranty terms as listed: basic and powertrain protection for four years or 50,000 miles, roadside help for three years or 36,000 miles, free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles, and rust coverage for seven years or 100,000 miles. Fix advises checking those terms with a dealer before buying.

Source: CBT News