What is an Atlas? The Atlas is a midsize crossover SUV built in the Chattanooga, TN assembly plant, and sold in North America by Volkswagen. The Atlas Cross Sport is a 5 seat SUV, and it has lots of space that helps use it as a people mover and cargo hauler, all in one vehicle. Fold down the rear seats and get up to 78 cubic feet of cargo space, or keep the seats up and stow over 40 cubic feet of stuff behind the rear seats and tailgate. It’s available in five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line and SEL Premium R-Line, all at moderate step up price levels to match your available budget.
This week Volkswagen sent me a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker for this top of the line model is $51,445. The options on the test SUV are: the pure paint package for $395. The MSRP, manufactures suggested retail price, including the $1,350 destination charge, is: $53,190.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $59,839. If your all tapped out at $60 Grand then this is the SUV for you. The 2024 Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line SUV comes loaded with every feature, tech, and comfort option available from VW.
This top tier model has a newly updated 2.0L liter turbocharged 4 cylinder gas engine with 269 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, bolted to an 8 speed automatic transmission. Then routed into a Tiptronic 4Motion AWD all wheel drive traction control system, with active drive control and driving mode select. Driving mode select offers a choice of snow, on road, off road, and custom off road, that allows the driver to select vehicle profiles based on the current driving conditions, and custom adjust a variety of electronic settings to set the mechanical handling and traction controls to the exact road conditions, in real time.
Comfort is enhanced with: dual zone climate control, advanced air filtration, 2nd row air vents, a leather wrapped and heated R-Line multi-function steering wheel with paddle shifters, a heated and ventilated power drivers seat with memory, a heated and ventilated power passenger seat, a 60/40 split and heated rear seat with a center arm rest, Vienna leather seating surfaces, R-Line diamond stitched interior trim, stainless steel pedal caps, USB data and charging ports, a 115 volt outlet, illuminated cup holders, illuminated door pockets, multi-colored ambient lighting, and an automatic dimming rear view mirror.
The tech and convenience items are: a digital 10.25″ display screen, HUD head up display, keyless access, automatic start and stop, approach unlock, remote start, hands free easy open and easy close power rear lift gate, a 12″ touch screen center display stack, Discover Media, AM/FM/HD radio with voice control, SiriusXM satellite 360 radio, App Connect, wireless charging, USB charging ports, and a Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers and a subwoofer with a 400 watt 12 channel amplifier. This sound system was designed and engineered to have live concert like quality inside 24/7.
Safety and driver assistance is a hallmark of Volkswagen and starts with: advanced airbag protection with 6 airbags, anti-slip regulation, engine brake assist, electronic stability, electronic differential lock, intelligent crash response, automatic post collision braking, a rear overhead view camera, parking steering assist, parking distance control,
road sign display, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, high beam control, hill hold, hill descent control, exit warning, lane keeping assist, emergency vehicle assist, forward collision warning with automatic braking, pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, blind spot monitors, rear traffic alert, LED head lights, LED running lights, and LED tail lights.
The Volkswagen Atlas is worth a look if you want a versatile and family friendly SUV with 2 rows of seating, plenty of cargo room, and lots of standard features for a relatively low starting price. With prices ranging from $39,400 to $53,200, the VW Atlas line up has a competitive crossover model priced in everyone’s midsize SUV buyers budget.
Call, click or visit your local Volkswagen dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on a new 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport SEL R-Line SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Atlas starts at only $39,420. Volkswagen – Drive Bigger.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
