6/24/2023 0 Comments 2021 volkswagen atlas![]() At the tippy-top, the SEL Premium tacks on a surround-view camera and automatic parking assist. The SEL trim adds lane-keep assist and traffic jam assistant and it will also display road signs in the cabin. The Atlas S starts with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring, while the SE/Tech trim picks up full-speed adaptive cruise control and parking sensors. While plenty of safety systems come standard, the loadout only gets better as you throw down more dough. The SEL trim adds Digital Cockpit, replacing the gauge cluster with a screen that offers a wide variety of data, from basic fuel economy info to a full map. The SE/Tech trim adds creature comforts like three-zone climate control, keyless entry, remote start and the Car-Net 2.0 connected-car system that lets you use your phone to do things like lock and unlock the doors or start the engine from afar. There are some other clever tricks in here, depending on how much you want to spend. You can wirelessly charge your device with the Qi charger that appears on SE trims and up. It also doesn't have USB-C, so hopefully your old cables are still kickin' around. A third-row USB is nowhere to be found, which isn't exactly keeping up with the Joneses. USB-A ports double up in the center console cubby, with another under the armrest and two more for second-row occupants. Again, the S trim gets the shaft with just two USB-A ports, but every other trim ramps that up to five. Real-world city economy remains as mediocre as the feds' best efforts.Ĭharging options abound for most passengers. Thankfully, my V6-toting tester is an overachiever on the highway, showing closer to 24-26 mpg at the flow of traffic (75-80 mph). It's nice that the parasitic loss from the AWD system isn't very large, but those numbers are not magna cum laude territory. The four-cylinder models achieve 20-21 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg highway, while the V6 variants see 16-17 mpg in the city and 22-23 mpg on the highway. No matter the powertrain, the Atlas doesn't exactly have stellar fuel economy. The transmission is smooth, but gear changes show up a little later than I'd like, especially in conjunction with this specific engine. Catch the V6 in one of its flat spots and it'll just putt about idly until you provide enough throttle for a downshift to kick in. The 3.6 is happy to accelerate, but only in the corners of the tachometer where it actually generates motive force. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard across the board, while buyers get the choice of two or four driven wheels. While a 235-horsepower, 2.0-liter I4 is the base engine, this Atlas carries the upgraded 3.6-liter V6 that produces 276 hp. Some of that likely comes from my tester's powertrain. Junk storage is ample, too, thanks to a deep center console and multiple cubbies scattered about the cabin. There's suitable cargo space behind the third row, thanks to the fact that the Atlas is about 3 inches longer than before, but lowering the seats when they aren't needed offers up positively cavernous amounts of storage for suitcases, sports equipment, you name it. The second row's tilt-and-slide function lets smaller passengers offer up a bit more legroom to the third row, but even in its default position, my 6-foot frame is decently comfortable way back there, with both headroom and legroom that would make longer trips tolerable. The leatherette seats are supportive, and the Atlas' upright silhouette means there's plenty of visibility on all sides.Īn upright design means there's loads of space inside the 2021 Atlas. Plus, the heated steering wheel finally receives its own button, breaking free from the shackles of the heated-seat controls. There's a new steering wheel (with VW's new logo), and I appreciate the fact that the switches feel premium. 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. In the last five years, the refreshed Atlas' cabin will be immediately familiar.
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