2021 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL - Re-Driven, Front Wheels Only

WHEN THE LOVE FOR LIL' BUG WENT BUST:  Americans learned to love their Volkswagens sized Mammoth.

REASON FOR RE-DRIVE: Enter the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas.  A 3-Row full size American made for American tastes crossover sport utility vehicle more assertive cues and new emblem to ensure it remains a close number two on VW's U.S. charts [after Tiguan].

Driving Hits:

• Deep lungs & silky sound of single overhead bent VR-6 engine

• 8-speed torque converter automatic transaxle
• Useful ground clearance
• 465 miles highway range
• Observed fuel economy +23% vs. 4Motion all-wheel drive model
• Rides rigid MQB platform
• Heaping helping of compliance
• Eager braking
• 20" alloy wheels
• Firmly weighted helm
• Well insulated against external sounds

Driving Misses:

• Touchy throttle
• Transaxle releases low gears early on
• 21 mpg fuel economy = -13% vs. base 2.0 turbo-4
• Steering dilly dallies to inputs
• Motorway lane wander
• Body dive on braking
• 255/50-20 Goodyear Assurance tires afford quiet at a slight cost to grip
• Lacks all-terrain capability with all-season highway rubber

What It Has Got:

• From $31,675 (incl. destination) for a front-drive 8-speed tiptronic automatic 2021 Volkswagen Atlas 2.0T S FWD. The tested 2020 VW Atlas 3.6 SEL FWD pumps the bottom line up to $43,315, but saving $1900 by foregoing all-wheel drive.
• As mammoth as a crossover SUV gets
• 3 Row seating for up to eight occupants
• Row 3 access = easy peasy
• Row 3 seating = two average sized adults roomy

• Decent front seat bolstering
• Immense cargo carrying

• 60:40 split 2nd Row, 50:50 split flat folding seat backs
• Sub cargo floor storage
• Universally comprehensible switchgear with bits of Bauhaus distinction
• Above par standard feature set
  • Heated mirrors, front seats, headlamp washers
  • Keyless comfort entry, ignition
  • Cruise control
  • Power windows full express x 4
  • Bluetooth wireless communications and music stream
  • 6.5"-inch touch LCD infotainment display
  • 6 speaker audio
  • Inductive wireless device charging (SE trim and up)
  • Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink phone projection
  • Wi-Fi
• Good safety features & grades
  • IIHS Roof, side, driver small frontal overlap, occupant protection ratings = GOOD
• Driver assist tech enhanced on lower trims
  • Forward Collision avoidance w/ pedestrian & cyclist detection braking, blind spot & rear cross traffic warning
    • Available adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, park distance warning, surround camera, and auto high beams (on higher trims)
• 4 year / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty includes 2 years maintenance

What It Has Not (or Not Preferred):

• Lack of distinctive cabin finish in $40k vehicle
• Corded rather than remote cable 3rd Row seat back release
• No cargo bay remote 2nd Row seat back release
• Short door pockets
• 2nd Row seat heating only on top SEL Premium trim
• Low cabin material contrast and excessive hard surfaces
• Instrument panel illumination only adjustable via infotainment when parked
• Digital Cockpit only on higher trims
• Level 2 Driver autonomy only on SEL and SEL Premium trims
• Lane departure warning too sensitive and barely nudges to correct
• Traffic jam assist renders obsolete alerts
• 2 years / 22k miles shorter warranty from 2019 MY

NEW for 2021 Volkswagen Atlas:

• Mid-cycle refresh coincides with introduction of 2-Row VW Atlas Cross Sport

• Exterior updates include:
  • More prominent "U" front bumper cover cradles new 3 chrome bar w/ dark chain-link grille the latter neatly tying bezeling for new twin segmented LED headlamp housings. Large piano black lower front corner duct bezels are split by a lower air dam intake under and outer scored in body color.
  • New split letter "VW" front and aft badge

Standout Cool Features on tested 2021 Atlas SEL FWD:

• Digital Cockpit configurable LCD instrument cluster w/ navigation map
  • Road sign display

• 8.0" Discover LCD HDD navigation infotainment display w/ proximity gesture settings menu
• Panorama tilt and slide power moonroof
• Proximity release power liftgate
• 3-zone, including 2nd Row climate control
• 115 VAC x 1 power outlet - Row 2
• 10-way + 3 position / 8-way power adjust driver's / front passenger seats
• 2nd Row door sunshades
• Heated steering
• Rain sensing windshield wipers

ROADBLAZING.COM's SUMMATION:

2021 Volkswagen Atlas V6 SEL front-drive = People's Car maker finally figured out what sunbelt Yanks want in their large sized family vehicle, gulping far fewer gallons without all-wheel drive.

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RoadBlazingGeorge Straton