Used 2021 Volkswagen Atlas for sale 

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas will be offered in seven trims: S, SE, SE w/Technology, SE w/Technology R-Line, SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium. An SEL Premium R-Line trim of the 2021 Atlas, Volkswagen says, will be sold only on order. Prices of the 2021 VW Atlas start at an MSRP of $31,555 for its base S model.

Standard features of the 2021 Atlas include LED head and taillights, next-gen Car-Net telematics system, 18-inch wheels, WiFi capability, blind-spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, front assist, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. You have the option to choose available features like Volkswagen Digital Cockpit, 20-inch and 21-inch wheels, heated rear seats, ACC, remote start, and Easy Open rear hatch among others.

The Easy Open feature allows you to open the rear hatch with just a kick below the rear bumper. It is available on the mid-spec SE w/Technology models, which even has the option of a panoramic sunroof. These features are standard on the top-spec SEL and SEL Premium models.

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The base S and SE trims of the new Volkswagen Atlas are now a lot better equipped in terms of features for safety and comfort. But our top pick is the SE w/Technology R-Line model offering R-Line-specific badging, a sportier appearance enhanced by unique front and rear bumpers, and side skirts making the SUV look a lot more premium.

"The Atlas doesn't suffer with the base four-cylinder engine as you might expect. Acceleration can actually be quicker than the VR6 model, and we found that having less weight to lug around makes the four-cylinder Atlas lighter on its feet and less cumbersome around corners." - Autoblog

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas does not make any alterations to its choice of powertrain options. But the 235 hp 2.0L turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine is now available on all variants of the 2021 VW Atlas. It was offered only on the S and SE trims earlier,

Even the 4Motion AWD is now offered as an option on all models of the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. So owning a VW Atlas AWD in 2021 becomes $1,300 less expensive as compared to before. The other choice of powertrain is the 3.6L V6 that makes 276 hp and 266 lb-ft torque.

Both engines feature start/stop technology, however, remote start is standard from the SE w/Technology trim onwards, optional on S and SE models. The only choice of transmission offered with this three-row SUV is an eight-speed automatic. With the factory-installed trailer hitch, the 8AT can help the Atlas to tow a maximum of 5,000 pounds.

Rivals like Chevrolet Traverse and Toyota Highlander offer more power than even the V6 equipped Atlas. But the VW Atlas feels more engaging to drive once off the line. Its precise steering makes jostling around in a utilitarian SUV a lot more fun, but not as much as the Honda Pilot. With its 14.9 seconds quarter-mile time, the 2021 Atlas V6 manages to finish right after the Honda Pilot in a drag race, beating both the Chevy Traverse and Toyota Highlander by 0.6 and 0.4 seconds respectively.

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"But when it comes to efficiency, Atlas shrugged. The V-6 with all-wheel drive I tested had an EPA-rated 18 mpg combined. That's the worst in the mid-size three-row SUV class." - The Car Connection

The FWD models of the Atlas with the 2.0L motor return EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. The 2021 VW Atlas S and SE AWD models will return the same EPA estimates on the highway and combined, but the city mpg number drops to 20.

The 2021 model gets a bigger 19.5-gallon fuel tank while the 2020 model got an 18.6-gallon tank. This will improve the range of the FWD models equipped with the 2.0L motor by 19 miles in the city, 22 miles on the highway, and 20 miles in mixed driving conditions.

The V6 engine with the FWD drivetrain returns 17 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 19 mpg combined. These numbers are reduced by 1 mpg, in each case, when the same motor sends power to all the wheels. The Chevrolet Traverse is more economical but the bigger tank of the 2021 Atlas allows the V6 to offer more range than before.

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"If you've been inside any other Volkswagen in the last five years, the Refreshed Atlas' cabin will be immediately familiar. From the HVAC switchgear to, uh, all the other switchgear, VW relies heavily on its parts bin inside, which has benefits from a familiarity standpoint but can feel a little stale at the same time." - CNET

Apart from the new VW badge on the re-designed steering wheel, the 2021 VW Atlas brings a refreshed list of features and tech for its interior. The standard Car-Net feature adds Remote Access, Safe & Secure, Hotspot, and Guide & Inform systems on all models. There's 10-way power-adjustable seats from SE trim onwards, and ambient lighting feature is offered as standard on the SEL Premium.

Otherwise, from the cloth-wrapped seating surfaces in the base model to real leather thrones in the top-spec Premium trims, the 2021 Atlas is no different. And comfort factor has never been a point of concern for the previous owners. But captain's chairs are available from the SE w/Technology trim onwards to make things roomier in the second row.

The VW Atlas is among the most spacious vehicle for carrying passengers and cargo. It offers 96.8 cubic feet of storage behind its third row, which is smaller than only the Traverse by 1.4 cubic feet. When it comes to tech, the 8.0-inch touchscreen uses "capacitive touchscreen" technology to make operation hassle-free.

This technology enables gesture and multipoint touches like swipe, zoom in, or out. However, Volkswagen has confirmed that it will launch the Atlas with the next-generation MIB3 infotainment system. That will not make any changes to the screen but add nifty features like wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Sirius XM with 360L integrations. Some of the infotainment features in the 2021 VW Atlas are:

• Bluetooth® Music Streaming technology for compatible devices with the ability to connect 2 phones simultaneously
• App-Connect smartphone integration
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• MirrorLink®
• SiriusXM® w/360L integration
• One-shot voice and typed destination entry with search and auto-complete
• 480-watt, 12-speaker, 12-channel amplifier Fender Premium Audio System

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"Volkswagen's Atlas benefits from an exterior and interior refresh for 2021, but the German brand plans to further improve its three-row crossover SUV midway through the model year." - MotorTrend

The Volkswagen Atlas gets refreshed exterior styling cues for 2021. It has a front-end that resembles the Atlas Cross Sport quite closely. Upfront, you have a bolder three-bar grille that goes deep into the front light signature. The 2021 Atlas also includes full-LED lighting for high beams, low beams, DRLs, and turn-signal indicators as standard for all models.

On the SEL and SEL Premium trims that setup includes 900-lumen LED headlights with VW's Adaptive Front-lighting System. Even the front and rear bumpers of the SUV have been restyled. Other standard features include roof rails, in black or silver depending on the choice of trim, and 18-inch wheels.

You have the option to go for 20-inch or 21-inch wheels. But the 21-inch rollers have the tendency to harshen up the ride. The 20-inch wheels are the ideal choice according to us. They will come in at an extra price of $1,140. If you want your 2021 Atlas to stand-out even more, opt for the R-Line models that add sportier touches like unique bumpers and side skirts.

The 2021 model rides on the same MQB platform. But the length of the three-row SUV, at 200.7 inches, has gone up by 2.4-inch in comparison to the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas. So it is now the second-longest SUV after the Traverse measuring 204.3 inches. However, the 8.0-inch of ground clearance offered by all models of the 2021 Atlas remains intact. Other notable exterior features include:

• Full-LED lighting system for front and rear
• Panoramic sunroof
• 18-/20-/21-inch wheel designs
• Power tailgate
• Roof Rails

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• 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Infotainment, Seating, and Interior Features
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"Driver aids work well overall and are easy to switch on and off. Adaptive cruise maintains tight gaps and doesn't overreact to changing traffic conditions." - Edmunds

The 2021 VW Atlas features two new safety features, Traffic Jam Assist and the Dynamic Road Sign Display. Its trims will also include other safety features like blind-spot monitoring, mechanized emergency braking, and alerts for rear cross-traffic.

All models also get rearview camera as standard. It features dynamic guidelines on SE and above models. Owners can even opt for features like adaptive cruise control and active lane control at an additional price. Just like the 2020 Atlas, the 2021 model gets full 5 stars from the NHTSA.

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2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The base trim of the 2021 Atlas is less costly than the Honda Pilot and offers better mileage in the city. Meanwhile, the Honda Pilot provides more horsepower and torque, and comes at a lower curb weight than the Atlas. Together, that makes for some robust performance from the Pilot in this segment.

But the VW Atlas is not a lot far behind in terms of performance. In fact, the addition of AWD across the lineup has tipped the scales in the favor of this three-row SUV from VW. The addition of multiple new standard features only further helps Atlas's case.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Atlas has a more efficient powertrain than the Chevrolet Traverse. But the Traverse compensates it with better horsepower, torque, and more cabin space. But that is about it for the Chevy as it is not very fun to drive.

The VW Atlas offers a much more composed ride. And now more than ever, the 2021 Atlas turns things around in its favor by offering AWD across the lineup. Even the suite of safety and driver-assistance tech offered by the Atlas is a lot better.

2021 Volkswagen Atlas vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas offers more fuel tank capacity than the Toyota Highlander, which means more range. It even comes at a lower price. Then again, the list of standard features also puts it at a higher pedestal than the Highlander three-row SUV.

However, the latter provides better horsepower, torque, and still manages to turn up as the more frugal one. It offers more range than the Atlas despite its smaller tank. Clearly, the utilitarian nature of the Toyota Highlander can not be ignored. It is also more reliable.

The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has many improvements, and that too for no extra cost in comparison to before. But it still doesn’t match its competitors under many categories. These mainly include horsepower, torque, acceleration time, and driving around edgy corners.

But it compensates for its setbacks with a range of comfort, convenience, and a redesigned outlook. Therefore, anyone who wants a feature-loaded three-row SUV offering great driving range should opt for the new Volkswagen Atlas. Otherwise, the Honda Pilot is the most obvious choice.

Check Out Used Volkswagen Atlas For Sale in the US Starting From $17,900 >>