“That’s a VW SUV!” These words echoed in the background almost every time I parked the 2018 Vokswagen Atlas V6 SEL and proceeded to walk away. During this test drive, it appeared that this particular SUV’s very existence was the answer to a trivia question that needed to be answered on the spot.
I must admit that when I think of VW, images of sedans, hatchbacks and smaller, rounder vehicles come to mind. I’ve driven multiple VW SUVs within the last six months, including the very roomy Tiguan, so I know they exist. If only in the last couple of decades, VW, like other manufacturers, is bumping up its portfolio to meet the demand for SUVs in the U.S.
And they are doing so in a stylish way with this Atlas’ classic clean lines inside and out.
I just so happen to be behind the wheel of the R-Line package with Pure White exterior and a Titan Black Leatherette interior full of enough storage spaces for a long road trip to comfortably hold belongings for the seven people that it seats. The R-Line package throws in a sporty attitude with a stainless steel pedal cluster, 20-inch alloy wheels, front and rear bumper, and badging.
This three-row, front wheel drive with four-wheel independent suspension is equipped with a 3.6 liter, V6 engine and offers a solid SUV experience with 276 horsepower and 266-lb feet of torque. The towing capacity is up to 5,000 pounds.
While driving on the highway and in the city, I could barely feel the road.
The amenities include a healthy dose of technology and safety features that drivers have come to expect from in-demand SUVs, including forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking, rear view camera system, lane departure warning, and park distance control.
The list continues with: three-zone climate control, hands-free tailgate, power adjustable side mirror with integrated turn signals and driver’s seat with 10-way power with lumbar support. Just as important for me was the 12.3 inch digital cockpit to easily view the fuel gauge area and the 6.5 inch display of large icons to navigate the infotainment system.
For a lot of people, the game changer may very well be the three truly useable rows. This Atlas features a 60/40 split-folding second row seat with extremely easy access to the 50-50 split folding third row. Your tall friends and family will be happy to sit on any row. You can create 96.8 cu. ft. of cargo room with both rows down. The huge panoramic roof spans all three rows and opens up the space even more.
This SUV is actually quite large at roughly 16.5 feet. I discovered what this size meant while in downtown Denver looking for street parking to attend a short meeting. I was initially annoyed when I realized that I couldn’t zoom in to any parking spot. Anxiety took over as I realized I should have left more time for this exercise of driving an SUV in a downtown area. This was going to be a problem.
But steering was so silky that I relaxed into my solo parade, slowly driving around the block two, three maybe four times. With 15 minutes to spare I pulled up to an empty spot in front of the building for my meeting.
I was inside at the meeting table in time to see other people rush in complaining about parking. I responding by letting them know I also had a problem trying to find a spot to park my VW SUV.
They said, “VW SUV? It must be nice to have those kinds of problems.”
2018 Atlas V6 SEL MSRP: $40,890; Combined City/Highway MPG: 20.
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