What's New
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas receives an exterior refresh, including a bolder grille and cleaner front and rear fascias. Also, the base four-cylinder engine is standard on more models this year and can now be paired with all-wheel drive. The upper trims gain traffic jam assist and road sign display. The seven-seat VW Atlas remains the largest vehicle in the brand's lineup.
Choosing Your Volkswagen Atlas
The Atlas comes in eight trims levels: S, SE, SE with Technology, SE with Technology R-Line, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL Premium, and SEL Premium R-Line. Pricing starts at $32,565 including destination for the base S model and goes to $51,715 for the SEL Premium R-Line.
Engine Choices
The VW Atlas S, SE, SE with Technology, SEL, and SEL Premium models come standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The three R-Line trims carry a V6 engine, which is optional on the SE with Technology ($1,400) and the SEL and SEL Premium ($1,800).
Engine Type | Horsepower | Torque | Max Towing | Fuel Economy (Combined) |
2.0L Turbo 4-Cylinder | 235 hp | 258 lb-ft | 2,000 pounds | 22 mpg |
3.6L V6 | 276 hp | 266 lb-ft | 5,000 pounds | 19 mpg |
Both engines are paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard on the SEL Premium and SEL Premium R-Line, and optional for $1,900 with either engine throughout the rest of the lineup. Those other trims utilize front-wheel drive as standard.
Passenger and Cargo Capacity
The VW Atlas provides ample room for seven passengers across three rows. The second-row captain's chairs, a $695 option starting with the SE with Technology, reduce seating capacity to six.
The Atlas can handle 20.6 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row. With it folded, there's 55.5 cubic feet of space. Capacity tops out at 96.8 cubic feet with both back rows down. These figures place the Atlas firmly in the largest class of crossovers.
Safety Features
When it comes to active safety features, the Atlas starts out with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Stepping up to the SE with Technology brings adaptive cruise control and front and rear parking sensors. SEL models also get lane keeping assist, an automatic high beams, traffic jam assist, and road sign display. The SEL Premium and SEL Premium R-Line add a surround-view camera system and an automated parking system.
Connectivity
The VW Atlas S carries a 6.5-inch touchscreen, two USB ports, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. In all other trims, buyers get an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless device charging, satellite and HD radio, and five USB ports. The SEL trim and above also come with navigation and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which is called Volkswagen Digital Cockpit.
The entry-level Atlas S offers quilted cloth seats, a six-speaker audio system, dual-zone manual climate control, rain-sensing windshield wipers, roof rails, 18-inch alloy wheels, power and heated side mirrors, and LED headlights and taillights. It shows its base trim status with the 6.5-inch touchscreen, a six-way manual driver's seat, a four-way manual passenger seat, and a manual liftgate.
The SE carries expanded comfort and convenience features, including the 8-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, push button start, three-zone automatic climate control, and a power liftgate.
SE with Technology - From $37,915
The SE with Technology trim adds adaptive cruise control, remote start, a hands-free power liftgate, a household-style 115-volt power outlet, front and rear parking sensors, and 20-inch silver wheels. Models equipped with the V6 engine also get heated washer nozzles.
A panoramic sunroof becomes available for $1,200.
SE with Technology R-Line - From $40,715
Along with standard V6 power, the sporty SE with Technology R-Line is an option that wears aerodynamic bumpers, side skirts, R-Line badging, a gloss black rear spoiler, and stainless steel pedal caps.
The sunroof comes standard on the SEL, along with navigation, lane keeping assist, an eight-way power passenger seat, memory for the driver's seat, a heated steering wheel, heated washer nozzles, automatic high beams, traffic jam assist, road sign display, and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit.
The SEL R-Line combines the SEL features with the R-Line treatment, including the standard V6. Exclusive to this trim are 21-inch alloy wheels.
The SEL Premium gets a genuine leather interior with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. It also adds a 12-speaker Fender audio system, ambient lighting, a surround-view camera system, an automated parking system, and puddle lights on the side mirrors. It reverts back to 20-inch wheels.
SEL Premium R-Line - From $51,715
The range-topping SEL Premium R-Line model combines the upscale features of the SEL Premium with the sporty R-Line components. It also gets the same 21-inch alloy wheels as the SEL R-Line.
Compare Atlas Trims Side-By-Side
The four-cylinder engine in the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is overtaxed by a vehicle of this size, which leaves the S and SE out of the running in our view. The SE with Technology with the V6 added offers the best ratio of price to equipment.