Five years after the launch, we can say that Atlas has established a pretty good position in the U.S. market. The 2024 VW Atlas will represent the seventh production year of the first generation and therefore, we are pretty sure that the current version is about to remain in production for a few more years. Considering the 2021 refresh, we may presume that the next year’s model won’t feature bigger changes. Instead, we could see a couple of minor updates, while the overall layout will certainly remain the same.
All this means that we may expect to see a familiar design. This model comes in two variants, either as a three-row SUV or as a two-row coupe SUV, known as the Atlas Cross Sport. Both variants offer good handling and overall driving characteristics, along with a spacious and well-equipped cabin. The cargo area is also very generous, while the main complaint goes to subpar interior quality.
As no bigger changes are about to come, we presume that the 2024 VW Atlas is about to arrive sometime in the last quarter of 2023.
2024 VW Atlas Facelift
Design-wise, the 2024 VW Atlas is expected to carry on in the same way. Introduced in 2018, the current model received a mid-cycle refresh in 2021, which has brought some interesting styling updates, which clearly indicate that no bigger styling changes are about to happen before the redesign. Still, we won’t exclude the possibility to see minor tweaks, things like new color options, appearance packages etc.
The same thing is with mechanics. This SUV rides on the MQB platform, with an FWD-biased drivetrain and transversally-mounted engines. Despite pretty respectable dimensions, the vehicle offers a pretty decent level of athleticism. The vehicle offers surprisingly good maneuverability and it’s easy to drive, which is something you wouldn’t expect from a vehicle of this size.
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Interior
The 2024 VW Atlas interior will carry on with familiar design and features. This means that you may count on a cabin layout that has both good and bad sides. When it comes to the bad side, the main complaint goes to the build quality. Namely, the materials are mostly low-rent, which isn’t something you typically see in a VW vehicle. The same thing is with the attention to detail, while the dashboard design feels bland and uninspiring.
On the other hand, one of the things we really like is the amount of passenger space. The Atlas features one of the largest cabins in the class, with three rows of pretty spacious seats. The first and second-row seats feature a lot of space, while the third row is also more spacious compared to rivals’ third –rows.
The same thing is with the cargo area, you may count on 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third-row seats, 55.5 cubic feet with these seats folded and 96.8 cubic feet of the total cargo volume. For comparison, that’s more than you get from the new-generation 2024 Honda Pilot or Subaru Ascent.
Features
Of course, the next year’s model could bring a couple of novelties regarding standard equipment. Still, we are pretty sure that most things are about to remain the same. For reference, the current model comes standard with goodies like a 6.5-inch touch screen, 8-inch digital gauge cluster, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, two USB ports, proximity keyless entry and push-button start.
Among upgrades, we expect to see available features like an 8-inch touch screen, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, a 12-speaker stereo, wireless device charging and three additional USB ports, as well as a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, dual- and tri-zone automatic climate control, remote start, ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof.
2024 VW Atlas Specs
Under the hood, we expect to see a couple of familiar powertrain options. Base models will carry on with a 2.0-liter turbo-four, which puts out around 235 horsepower. That’s plenty enough for daily commuting, though it would use a little bit more power on the open road. The optional 3.6-liter V6 is a much better choice, with 276 horsepower and notably better driving dynamics. Both engines come coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which does a pretty decent job.
When it comes to fuel economy, the base engine returns around 21 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway, which seems decent for a mid-size SUV. On the other hand, the V6 returns subpar ratings for the class, with 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.
2024 VW Atlas Release Date and Price
We expect that the 2024 VW Atlas will arrive sometime in the second half of 2023. Since no bigger changes are expected, we presume that the starting price will remain similar to the current model, which starts at around 35.000 dollars.
