Used 2018 Volkswagen Atlas for sale 

The Volkswagen Atlas comes in 6 trim levels. Four of the mid-range trims offer two drivetrain options - front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive. The base trim - S, only offers a front-wheel-drive and the top-of-the-line trim V6 SEL Premium offers only an all-wheel-drive. There are also two engine options both providing adequate power. Along with this, there are lots of features for you to select from.

The Volkswagen Atlas comes with two engine options. The smaller turbocharged 2.0 liter Inline-4 making 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The second engine is a 3.6 liter V6 with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque.

Both the engines are paired to an 8-speed automatic which manages and directs the power to either the front wheels or to the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, depending on the configuration. 

The most powerful of the above is the Chevrolet Traverse making 310hp. Then comes the Honda Pilot making 280hp, Volkswagen Atlas making 235hp, and then comes the Toyota Highlander making 185hp. 

Regardless of the engine, a silky smooth 8-speed automatic is the only available transmission. While the base 2.0L I4 is only available with FWD, the 3.6L V6 can be equipped with the Volkswagen 4Motion All-Wheel-Drive system. The VW Atlas AWD offers excellent traction even in slippery situations and is a worthwhile upgrade for handling inclement weather conditions.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Acceleration

The Atlas does 0-60 in 7.2 seconds and the quarter-mile in 15.6 seconds. Surprisingly, the Atlas V6 is slower to 60 taking 7.9 seconds and the quarter-mile in 16 seconds, despite having 41 hp more power and 8 lb-ft more torque.

Cars like these are rarely made to blitz the tarmac. Staying true to the statement, the VW Atlas is largely an uninteresting piece of kit, made for a different purpose.

The Honda Pilot does 0-60 over a second faster in 6.1 seconds then comes the Chevy Traverse taking 6.5 seconds, the Volkswagen Atlas taking 7.2 seconds, and then comes the Toyota Highlander taking 8.9 seconds to do 0-60 mph.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Ride and Handling

The Atlas rides with excellent compliance and all bumps are smoothened out effortlessly, thanks to the strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension. This combined with excellent noise insulation and famed German high-speed stability to make this VW SUV a true long-distance liner.

This does not imply the Atlas can't handle corners, it comes equipped with front and rear anti-roll bars. The driver-selectable Sport Mode sharpens up the steering, throttle, and transmission transforming this German SUV into a machine capable of handling corners well.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Braking Performance

The Atlas comes with 13.2-inch brake rotors up front and 12.2-inch brake rotors at the rear wheels. These bring the Atlas to a stop from 60 mph to 0 in 115 feet.

The front brake rotors are vented i.e. ventilated so that they can cool quickly without any issues. They also have the features of brake assist and ABS.

The Volkswagen Atlas has the shortest stopping distance of 115 feet. Then come the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse both with a distance of 126 feet, followed by the Honda Pilot with the longest stopping distance of the above cars - 128 feet.

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Towing Capacity

The VW Atlas has a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds when it comes to having the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine under the hood. When equipped with the bigger engine the towing capacity increased to a maximum of 5,000 pounds, when equipped properly.

The Chevrolet traverse has the largest towing capacity when equipped properly of 5,200 pounds, the rest of the SUVs have a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which is enough to tow an airstream trailer behind it. 

With the base 2.0 liter inline-4 engine, the Atlas delivers 22 mpg in city, and 36 mpg on the highway for a combined 24 mpg. The Atlas V6 is significantly thirstier delivering 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. Volkswagen with either of the engines under the hood will equip the Atlas with an 18.6-gallon fuel tank.

The Volkswagen Atlas has the most combined range (when it comes with the smaller engine) of 446 miles. Following this is the Toyota Highlander with 429 miles, the Honda Pilot with 409 miles and then the Chevrolet traverse with 407 miles. 

The Volkswagen Atlas can seat up to 7 occupants in the cabin between the three rows. However, the last row is best for children or teenagers, adults will definitely feel cramped in the last row.

Being a Volkswagen the interior design is simple and very functional and sophisticated. Front row seats are a 6-way adjustable driver's seat and a 4-way adjustable front passenger seat.  

As you go higher up in the trims the top of the line Volkswagen SEL premium you get a 10-way power driver and front passenger seats with the heated and ventilation function. There is also two-zone automatic climate control.

The Volkswagen Atlas has the second most legroom in the front row, the least amount of legroom in the second row, and the most space in the third row. It loses out the Toyota Highlander in the first row and all three in the second row. 

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Cargo Capacity

Apart from the impressive passenger volume, the Atlas also impresses with its capacious trunk space. Behind the third row, the Atlas offers 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding third-row seats in a 50/50 configuration liberate 55.5 cubic feet of space. Finally, with the second and third-row folded, Atlas offers an impressive 96.8 cubic feet of luggage capacity.

The Chevrolet Traverse offers the most luggage and cargo space in the trunk and the last two rows folded down. Following this is the Volkswagen Atlas, the Honda Pilot, and then comes the Toyota Highlander with the least cargo space of the above SUVs. 

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Infotainment System

The base Atlas S gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, and a six-speaker audio system. Splurging to the Atlas SE gets you a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 8-speaker audio system, three USB ports, and Sirius XM satellite radio, and also Navigation.

The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit is available exclusively in Atlas SEL Premium. The SEL Premium also gets a 12-speaker Fender Premium audio system and voice controls for the system.

The Atlas is styled like a typical Volkswagen product with clean lines and an understated demeanor. It relies on proportions to exude a confident stance. However, this Volkswagen SUV also has plenty of muscular details befitting its size. Thanks to Volkswagen keeping the car classy across all the trims the major changes noticeable are the wheels. 

The base trim features 18” wheels with some design options going all the way to 20” wheels fitted stock on the SEL Premium trim with available design options. In dimensions, the Atlas is 198.3 inches in length and 78.3 inches in width. At 69.7-inch it's just as tall as any other SUV here.

In terms of dimensions, the Volkswagen Atlas is on par with the other SUVs in the table. The difference does come in ground clearance where it rides higher and in weight, where the Volkswagen Atlas is on the lighter side of the scales

The new Volkswagen Atlas has an overall 5-star safety rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS has also awarded high scores for the Volkswagen Atlas and did get IIHS top safety pick. The high scores mean that the atlas is well built and also as a lot of safety features, these include:

• StabiliTrak electronic stability control system Airbag system.
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
• Rollover sensor system Rear Vision Camera
• Child security rear door locks
• Passenger Sensing System
• Rear seat reminder
• LATCH System. Teen Driver.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS)

Volkswagen Atlas SUV vs Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is one of the most well-rounded midsize SUVs with well-equipped, spacious seats, and high-quality materials. An efficient and powerful engine pulls the pilot briskly along the road.

On top of that, the Pilot comes with Honda's reputation for reliability and has great resale value too. However, the Atlas comes with a better third row and it's almost as good in other areas.

Volkswagen Atlas SUV vs Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse blends charismatic styling with plenty of passenger space and cargo capacity. The seats are supportive and higher trims cover them in soft materials. This is accompanied by a plush ride and composed highway manners.

Also, the traverse is one of the quietest in the class. That said, the Atlas is nearly in many ways and better in some - like handling.

Volkswagen Atlas SUV vs Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander packs an upscale interior, a powerful V6 engine, and plenty of advanced active safety features as standard.

While its V6 is strong, it's also available with an efficient four-cylinder motor. However, while the Highlander can seat 8, its third row is significantly tighter than the third row in Atlas.

After a long time, Volkswagen has a product that's competitive in the segment. It's immensely spacious inside with a third row that's easily among the best in the segment. On top of that, the cabin is impressively quiet even at high speeds and rides of supple suspension. The Volkswagen Atlas offers a genuinely appealing package and is an easy recommendation if you want a family-friendly SUV.