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Volkswagen Atlas
Car and Driver says the Atlas is Volkswagen's do-it-all family SUV that hits all the marks, with an expansive three-row cabin for seven passengers, a voluminous cargo hold, a 5,000-pound tow rating, and a 269-hp turbocharged inline-four, but if there's one thing it lacks, it's panache, with rivals like the Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-90 offering better interior environs and more stylish sheetmetal, ranking #9 in Best Mid-Size 3-Row SUVs. MotorTrend says Volkswagen's largest SUV, first introduced in 2018 and notably refreshed for 2024 with a new turbo-four replacing the discontinued V-6, excels as a functional three-row family SUV thanks largely to its spacious interior, with ample legroom in all three rows letting even adults comfortably sit in the third row and a cabin impressing with high-quality materials, though the infotainment system is a hassle, relying too much on touch-capacitive controls that make even simple tasks like adjusting the temperature more of a headache.
Spacious and capable, but lacking panache
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the Atlas is Volkswagen's do-it-all family SUV that hits all the marks, with an expansive three-row cabin for seven passengers, a voluminous cargo hold, a 5,000-pound tow rating, and a 269-hp turbocharged inline-four, but if there's one thing it lacks, it's panache, with rivals like the Kia Telluride and Mazda CX-90 offering better interior environs and more stylish sheetmetal.
Adults fit comfortably in every row
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the Atlas excels as a functional three-row family SUV thanks largely to its spacious interior, with ample legroom in all three rows letting even adults comfortably sit in the third row, and a cabin that impresses with high-quality materials and a premium design.
Fussy touch controls are the letdown
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the infotainment system is a hassle, relying too much on touch-capacitive controls that make even simple tasks like adjusting the temperature more of a headache.
Questions buyers ask
How much horsepower does the Volkswagen Atlas have?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says 269 hp from its turbocharged inline-four.
Can adults fit in the Volkswagen Atlas's third row?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says yes, comfortably, thanks to ample legroom in all three rows.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (EA888 evo5), rated at 282 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2027 U.S. lineup has 4 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA recalls, complaints and crash ratings for the 2027 Atlas.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2027 Volkswagen Atlas
The 2027 Atlas is a full second-generation redesign: new exterior sheet metal, a reimagined cabin and an updated 282-hp EA888 evo5 2.0L turbo engine (up from 269 hp). SE and SE with Technology offer standard FWD or available 4MOTION AWD; SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line come standard with 4MOTION AWD. The base gets a 12.9-inch touchscreen, with all other trims moving up to a 15-inch display.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
3 indexed Volkswagen Atlas model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Volkswagen Atlas | 2027 record → | |
| 2026 Volkswagen Atlas | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Volkswagen Atlas.
The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the American, Chinese, and Middle Eastern markets, the vehicle is based on the MQB platform. Outside of the United States, Israel, Canada, and Chile, the vehicle is marketed as the Volkswagen Teramont.
- Safety
- The 2018 Atlas received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick" rating after earning "Good" ratings in all five crashworthiness tests, and a "Superior" rating on the front crash prevention test. This was in January 2018.
Source: Volkswagen Atlas (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Volkswagen Atlas at a glance
- Production
- 2017–present
- Model years
- 2018–present
- Class
- Mid-size crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive, Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Volkswagen Touareg (US and Canada)
- Also called
- Volkswagen Teramont (China and Middle East)
Volkswagen Atlas generations
The Volkswagen Atlas has been redesigned in 2025, gaps of 8 years, an average of 8.0 years between generations. The current generation (second generation) began in 2025.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 2017–2025 | The first generation is marketed as the Atlas in the United States, Canada, Chile, and Israel, the vehicle is known as the Teramont elsewhere, including the rest of the Middle East, Africa, as well as in Mexico, Russia, Colombia and China, where production in Ningbo began in 2017. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2025–present |
NHTSA rated the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 4 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (6 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2026, Back Over Prevention:Software. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions. As a result, the rearview camera image may fail to display as intended. Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- December 2025, Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2026 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 vehicles. The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing. Consequence: Incorrect wheel bolts can allow a wheel to detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- June 2025, Service Brakes. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport and 2023-2024 ID.4 vehicles. Certain bolts on the chassis, brake system and/or suspension (such as bolts for certain cross member, engine mount, control arm, subframe, rear brake carrier… Consequence: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 47 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas, most often about electrical system (16), power train (12), unknown or other (11).
Year by year
The Volkswagen Atlas across 10 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Volkswagen Atlas | 23–25 | $2,600–$2,800 | 4 | |||
| 2026 Volkswagen Atlas | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 6 | 2 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Volkswagen Atlas | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 6 | 5 | 42 | 5 stars |
| 2024 Volkswagen Atlas | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 6 | 8 | 167 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Volkswagen Atlas | 20–23 | $2,700–$3,100 | 8 | 5 | 129 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Volkswagen Atlas | 19–23 | $2,700–$3,300 | 8 | 7 | 178 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas | 18–22 | $2,850–$3,450 | 8 | 17 | 464 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Volkswagen Atlas | 19–22 | $2,850–$3,300 | 7 | 4 | 27 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Volkswagen Atlas | 19–22 | $2,850–$3,300 | 3 | 11 | 473 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Volkswagen Atlas | 19–24 | $2,600–$3,300 | 3 | 16 | 461 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Volkswagen Atlas, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 to 2027 | 6 to 4 | 22.0 to 24.0 | Labels: Atlas 4motion | Labels: Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, Atlas SE 4motion, Atlas SEL 4motion |
| 2025 to 2026 | 21.5 to 22.0 | |||
| 2023 to 2024 | 8 to 6 | Labels: Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, Atlas SE 4motion, Atlas SEL 4motion | Labels: Atlas 4motion; Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl SIDI | |
| 2022 to 2023 | 21.0 to 21.5 | |||
| 2021 to 2022 | 20.0 to 21.0 | Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | ||
| 2020 to 2021 | 7 to 8 | 20.5 to 20.0 | ||
| 2019 to 2020 | 3 to 7 | Labels: Atlas Cross Sport, Atlas Cross Sport 4motion; Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | ||
| 2018 to 2019 | 21.5 to 20.5 | Size classes: Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Size classes: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
Buying used
What the Volkswagen Atlas recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | wheels (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs); back over prevention (software) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2025 | 5 | power train (automatic transmission); engine; back over prevention (sensing system); 2 more | None |
| 2024 | 8 | engine and engine cooling; air bags (sensor); back over prevention (software); 4 more | None |
| 2023 | 5 | air bags (side/window); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); engine and engine cooling; 2 more | None |
| 2022 | 7 | air bags (side/window); fuel system, gasoline (fuel injection system); back over prevention (sensing system); 4 more | None |
| 2021 | 17 | seats; exterior lighting (headlights); tires (sidewall); 11 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2020 | 4 | equipment (other); air bags (side/window); tires (pressure monitoring and regulating systems); 1 more | None |
| 2019 | 12 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); suspension (rear); air bags (side/window); 7 more | None |
| 2018 | 17 | fuel system, gasoline (storage); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); air bags (frontal); 11 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2018, campaign 18V-369 (Jun 2018): service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components). A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
- 2021, campaign 20V-712 (Nov 2020): steering. A damaged steering knuckle can fail, causing a loss of steering, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2026, campaign 25V-835 (Dec 2025): wheels (lugs/nuts/bolts/studs). Incorrect wheel bolts can allow a wheel to detach from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 474 | 24% | 2021 (145) |
| air bags | 366 | 19% | 2019 (141) |
| engine | 364 | 19% | 2018 (97) |
| service brakes | 351 | 18% | 2021 (95) |
| unknown or other | 300 | 15% | 2021 (77) |
| forward collision avoidance | 239 | 12% | 2019 (72) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Volkswagen Atlas trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,317 | – | 25 | $43,135 |
| SE 4MOTION | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,484 | – | 23 | $45,135 |
| SE w/Tech Pkg | FWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,317 | 5,000 | 25 | $47,135 |
| SE 4MOTION w/Tech Pkg | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,484 | 5,000 | 23 | $49,135 |
| SEL R-Line 4MOTION | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,636 | 5,000 | 23 | $53,635 |
| SEL Premium R-Line 4MOTION | AWD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 273 | 4,636 | 5,000 | 23 | $58,135 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Volkswagen Atlas model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 6 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 4,317–4,636 | 5,000 | – |
| 2026 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 4,317–4,636 | 5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 4,317–4,643 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2024 | 8 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 269 | 4,343–4,663 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2023 | 7 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.6-liter V6 | 235–276 | 4,261–4,594 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2022 | 8 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.6-liter V6 | 235–276 | 4,262–4,612 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2021 | 28 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.6-liter V6 | 235–276 | 4,248–4,612 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2020 | 13 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.6-liter V6 | 235–276 | 4,233–5,417 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2019 | 13 | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) / 3.6-liter V6 | 235–276 | 4,222–4,502 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
| 2018 | 11 | 3.6-liter V6 / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 235–276 | 4,336–4,502 | 2,000–5,000 | 18.6 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Model-year recall record
Volkswagen Atlas: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
Fewer recalls than this model’s own average
- 2026 Volkswagen Atlas : 2 recalls on file (average across published years is 8.3).
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2021 Volkswagen Atlas : 17 recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags and backup camera.
- 2018 Volkswagen Atlas : 16 recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags and brakes.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | wheels, backup camera |
| 2025 | 5 | 42 | backup camera, powertrain, engine, brakes |
| 2024 | 8 | 167 | backup camera, brakes, engine cooling, airbags |
| 2023 | 5 | 129 | airbags, brakes, engine cooling |
| 2022 | 7 | 178 | airbags, fuel system, backup camera, trailer hitch |
| 2021 | 17 | 464 | airbags, backup camera, steering, wheels |
| 2020 | 4 | 27 | airbags, equipment, tires |
| 2019 | 11 | 473 | airbags, tires, fuel system, suspension |
| 2018 | 16 | 461 | airbags, brakes, fuel system, unspecified |
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Volkswagen Atlas model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Volkswagen Atlas?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2026 carried fewer recalls than this model's own average, while 2021, 2018 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Volkswagen Atlas model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas has 17 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags, backup camera, steering; The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas has 16 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags, brakes, fuel system. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03Which Volkswagen Atlas model years have the cleanest federal recall record?
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas has 2 recalls on file: below this model's own average of 8.3. A shorter list on file as of this page's data pull is not a guarantee against a future recall.
Q04What are common recall-related problems on the Volkswagen Atlas by model year?
2026: wheels, backup camera. 2025: backup camera, powertrain, engine, brakes. 2024: backup camera, brakes, engine cooling, airbags. 2023: airbags, brakes, engine cooling. 2022: airbags, fuel system, backup camera, trailer hitch. 2021: airbags, backup camera, steering, wheels.
Q05Why do some Volkswagen Atlas model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Volkswagen Atlas model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Engine and cooling, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Climate and electrical and Brakes, tires and steering.
2018 Volkswagen Atlas owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering and Engine and cooling.
Compared with
Models this Volkswagen Atlas is most often compared with.
Nearest Volkswagen models
Other Volkswagen models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2027 Atlas come in?
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas (three-row SUV) comes in 4 trims: SE, SE with Technology, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium R-Line.
Q02What are the 2027 Atlas trims?
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas trims are SE, SE with Technology, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium R-Line, listed from the entry SE up to the top SEL Premium R-Line.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2027 Atlas use?
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is built around 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (EA888 evo5), rated at 282 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2027 Atlas have?
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is rated at 282 horsepower (2.0L turbo four-cylinder (EA888 evo5)).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2027 Atlas?
The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is offered with FWD / 4MOTION AWD.