The Volkswagen Atlas was named 2018 Midsize SUV/Minivan of the Year during the 2018 Auto123.com Awards ceremony , held this past November 22nd in Toronto. It beat out the two other finalists in the category, the Honda Odyssey and the Chevrolet Traverse.
In keeping with tradition for German vehicles, the new Atlas is designed to deliver impressive agility and road handling. And if you need to pull a large trailer, a boat or ATVs, its 3.6L, 276-hp V6 is well up to the job with its maximum towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. As for the 4-cylinder turbo engine also offered with the model, it consumes as little as 8.0L/100 km on highway, and its 235 hp allow the Atlas to pull up to 2,000 lbs.
During our testing of the Atlas, carried out on snow and then under the big skies of Texas, its 4MOTION all-wheel drive very nearly blew us away with its effectiveness. The Atlas also comes with four different drive modes to choose from. Something for everyone…
We also love the fact that the spacious interior of the Atlas can easily accommodate adults in the third row. At the front, the available 12.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the steering wheel makes you feel like you’re sitting in an Audi.
Also worth noting is that family road trips are made that much more enjoyable by the presence of the optional panoramic sunroof and 480-watt Fender audio system. And thanks to App Connect, you can listen to music, navigate through apps and send hands-free text messages (the system is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink).
What Volkswagen says about its Atlas…
“Think big and go big with the All-New 2018 Volkswagen Atlas. Pack in the fun with loads of room for passengers, cargo, or both. And plug into serious digital connectivity, entertainment, and more. Choose your venue, and the Atlas happily adapts to accommodate. Plenty of passengers? Get comfy with adult-sized third-row seating. Loads of cargo? Stowaway middle-row seats, at your service. Friends, family, fun – all your favourites, all together, and altogether awesome. The 2018 Atlas. Seats 7. Thrills everyone.”
To learn more about the Volkswagen Atlas, consult its specifications , read our reviews , see a comparison of the Atlas and the Ford Explorer , discover 10 good reasons to buy one , and check out the photo gallery here.