Starts at $37,995
FAST FACTS
MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. Ordered by price from low to high, here are the versions of the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas that you need to be aware of, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.
The Atlas is such a big boy that we're surprised it doesn't offer an eight-passenger seating layout, but there's definitely plenty of room for seven. Just note that the entry-level SE doesn't come with a trailer hitch and is limited to 2,000 pounds of max towing, so if you want the full 5,000-lb maximum that the Atlas is capable of, you'll have to pony up for at least the SE w/Technology ($42,100) to unlock it.
The all-wheel-drive Atlas doesn't get any additional ground clearance compared with the front-drive version, and with just 6.3 inches to spare down there, it's clear you won't be venturing very far off the beaten path. But that just brings the core mission of the Atlas into focus: It's an everyday family hauler that's not trying to pretend otherwise. Well, unless we're talking about the Atlas Peak Edition, which starts at $46,990 and comes standard with all-terrain tires — but those tires are 255/60/18s, which means each tire is 30 inches in diameter, i.e., not that chunky. For reference, off-road enthusiasts often talk about "33s," meaning the tire diameter, as a starting point for serious trail work. Anyway, VW doesn't claim any extra ground clearance for the Peak Edition, so the smaller wheel size must offset the fatter rubber. What's obviously different about the Peak Edition is its fuel economy, which drops to 20 mpg combined (18 city/24 highway). For the record, the Atlas SEL AWD finds a middle ground at 21 mpg combined (19 city/25 highway).
Publisher and Donkey-in-Chief
Josh has been reviewing cars professionally since joining Edmunds.com fresh out of grad school in 2008, personally driving most new cars on the market every year since. He also served as the project manager for Edmunds' expert vehicle rankings from their inception in 2018, building the product out from the back end to the front end. Josh is a card-carrying member of the Motor Press Guild and a lifelong car nut who has tested, compared and critiqued a ridiculous number of cars in his career.
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