Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen Atlas at a glance

The Atlas is part of our Volkswagen catalogue, alongside the European Touareg and Tiguan.

Generations and model history

First generation. Volkswagen previewed the Atlas with the CrossBlue concept, a diesel plug-in hybrid study shown in 2013. The production car was revealed at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 17 November 2016. Series production started in Chattanooga on 14 December 2016, and the Chinese Teramont started in Ningbo on 30 November 2016. US and Canadian sales began in May 2017 for the 2018 model year. In the United States the Atlas took over from the Touareg as Volkswagen's big SUV.

The two-row Atlas Cross Sport followed for the 2020 model year: it keeps the 2.98 m wheelbase but is shorter at 4.97 m. In China the coupé-style Teramont X, shown at the Shanghai show in April 2019, has all-wheel drive as standard.

A first facelift, shown at the Chicago Auto Show in 2020, brought a new front end, wheels, rear lights and steering wheel for the 2021 model year. The larger update revealed in February 2023 for the 2024 model year redesigned the front and rear, added a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.0-inch touchscreen and a shift-by-wire selector, and dropped the VR6. From then on, the only North American engine was a 201 kW (273 PS) 2.0 TSI.

Second generation. In China the Teramont Pro was unveiled on 17 February 2025. The new US Atlas made its public debut at the New York International Auto Show in April 2026 and went on sale in late 2026 as a 2027 model. It is built on an upgraded MQB Evo platform; its body is all-new except the roof, while the 117.3-inch (2,979 mm) wheelbase is unchanged. The new two-row Atlas Cross Sport was revealed on 10 August 2026.

Engines, transmissions and performance

The North American Atlas uses an eight-speed automatic and front-wheel drive as standard, with 4Motion all-wheel drive on most versions. Chinese Teramonts use a seven-speed DSG and 4Motion. The 2.5-litre VR6 was developed for China, where engines above 3.0 litres face heavy excise tax; it is built in Germany and shipped to Shanghai.

The 2027 Atlas engine is the EA888 evo5 shared with the latest GTI and Tiguan. It gains 9 kW (13 hp) over the outgoing 2.0 TSI but has slightly less torque (350 instead of 370 Nm). Volkswagen has said a hybrid will follow at a mid-cycle update, not at launch. Towing capacity stays at 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) with the factory hitch. If you prefer horsepower or PS, our power converter translates the outputs.

Dimensions, space and boot

The Atlas was planned around American family use. The second row is either a three-seat bench that takes three child seats or a pair of captain's chairs, and the third row stays accessible with child seats fitted. With the rear rows folded, the first-generation car offers up to 96.8 cu ft, about 2,740 litres; the original Atlas even had 17 cup holders. At around five metres long and with a 2.98 m wheelbase, it is a large car by European standards: check our garage fit tool before importing one.

Fuel economy

The US Environmental Protection Agency rated the 2026 Atlas 2.0 TSI at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined (US gallons), about 11.8, 8.7 and 10.2 l/100 km. Volkswagen says the 2027 model is more efficient but had not published official figures at launch.

Trims and equipment

First-generation North American trims ran from S through SE and SEL to SEL Premium, with R-Line styling packs; standard equipment included Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2027 Atlas has a 12.9-inch central screen on the base car and a 15-inch screen above it, a gear selector moved from the console to the steering column, a new rotary Driver Experience Dial, up to 30 ambient lighting colours, a 14-speaker Harman Kardon system and heated and ventilated front and second-row seats on upper trims.

Safety

The Atlas has never been tested by Euro NCAP, because it is not sold in Europe. In the United States the IIHS named the first Atlas a Top Safety Pick: it scored "Good" in all five crashworthiness tests and "Superior" for front crash prevention. The 2027 model has seven airbags, including a new front centre airbag, and the IQ.Drive assistance package as standard. Compare European results in our safety section.

Reliability and known issues

We found no sourced data on recurring faults for the Atlas, so we do not list any.

Sales

The Atlas became one of Volkswagen's most important cars in North America. US sales rose from 27,119 in 2017 to 81,508 in 2019 and were 71,044 in 2025, with another 31,564 Cross Sports. Jalopnik counts more than 572,000 first-generation Atlases sold in the US through 2025. Worldwide production of Atlas and Teramont reached 229,339 in 2023.

Rivals

These are the three-row SUVs the Atlas competes with in North America. In Europe the closest Volkswagen alternatives are the Touareg and the seven-seat Tayron.

Photo gallery