Volkswagen’s 2018 Atlas will chart a new direction for the brand

By Stephen Edelstein Published December 14, 2016

The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is a crucial model for VW as it works to recover from the “Dieselgate” scandal. It’s a seven-seat SUV tailored specifically for the U.S. market at a time when sales of SUVs are booming. So can the Atlas carry the weight of Volkswagen’s future on its shoulders?

When it goes on sale next year, the Atlas will be the largest VW model sold in the U.S. Yet it uses the same MQB platform as the Golf and the Audi A3. Volkswagen promises plenty of room for seven passengers and their luggage, meaning the Atlas will compete against family haulers like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, not to mention minivans.

Read more: 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTE first drive

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Some minivans may actually be more stylish than the Atlas. Its boxy shape definitely communicates the fact that this is an SUV, and ties the Atlas to other Volkswagen models, but it doesn’t offer much pizzazz. At least it will look distinctive at night, thanks to standard LED headlights. LED daytime running lights are standard as well, with LED taillights optional.

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2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

2018 Volkswagen Atlas — Miles Branman/Digital Trends

While the styling is restrained, the amount of technology isn’t. The Atlas will be available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12-speaker Fender audio system, and a Volkswagen Digital Cockpit reconfigurable dashboard display. It will also get a full suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, park assist, autonomous emergency braking, and a post-collision braking system meant to keep the car from moving after an initial collision.

Volkswagen will offer two engine options at launch: a 238-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and a 280-hp VR6 (basically a V6, but more compact). Both engines will be paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive will be standard, with all-wheel drive available on VR6 models.

In addition to being designed for the U.S. market, the Atlas will also be built here. It will be assembled at the same Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant that builds the Passat midsize sedan. VW just spent $900 million upgrading the facility to handle the SUV. The Atlas launches this coming spring.

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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You Asked: State of smartphone design, Slate Truck breakdown, and soundbars under $600

You Asked

On today’s You Asked: What's to come with the new Slate Truck and its potential availability? Is it worth the hype? Why does it feel like smartphone design and innovation has stalled recently? And why do directors think that ultra wide 21:9 is a good ratio for movies?
Slate Truck breakdown with John McCann
Some of you have been in touch to ask about the availability of the new Slate Truck. I'll go through the preorder process in a moment, but first, let's get everyone up to speed on this newly unveiled EV. What is it? What makes it stand out? And why is it generating so much buzz?
This is being touted as a sub-$20,000 electric truck after government incentives, and you’ll be able to customize it to your heart’s content. It stands out not so much for what it offers, but for what it doesn’t offer as standard. There’s just one trim and one paint color. No touchscreen, no stereo, no Bluetooth, no electric windows.

So, what do you get? There are two seats. There's a five-meter bed, good for payloads up to 1,400 pounds. There's AC, steel wheels, and hand-cranked windows, plus all the standard driver safety assists you’d expect from a modern vehicle. There’s a rear-mounted electric motor, a roomy frunk, and a battery rated for about 150 miles, according to Slate.
That isn’t great in the world of EV range, but a larger battery will be available to push that figure up to a more reasonable 240 miles. That bigger battery is just one of over 100 add-ons Slate is making available. These will be offered not just at the point of purchase but also at any time during your ownership, allowing you to swap and upgrade as your needs evolve.
Want to add a splash of color? Check out the vast range of vinyl wraps you can apply and remove from the truck at will. There’s also an SUV upgrade kit that converts your two-seater truck into a five-seater car. Inside, infotainment is strictly “bring your own device.” There’s no touchscreen, no built-in CarPlay, not even a stereo. Instead, you get a universal phone mount and a few USB ports. You can also add holders for a tablet if you want a bigger display, and a Bluetooth speaker if you want to listen to music while out for a drive.

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ID. Buzz recall appears to have made automotive history

The VW ID.Buzz electric van.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled almost 5,700 ID. Buzz electric vans because the VW-made vehicle has too much space in the back.

OK, let us explain. The U.S. regulator has found that the third-row bench seat of the ID. Buzz is ostensibly designed for two people and therefore has two seat belts built in. But it’s wide enough for three, and as a result, the NHTSA wants the German auto giant to make some changes so that it fully complies with the required safety standards.

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I’ve been driving a Chevrolet Equinox 2025 SUV rental car for the past week, and it’s reminded me exactly what my next car needs. It runs Android Automotive, which I’ve already decided is a requirement in my next car, but the more convenient feature is arguably how Chevrolet has approached its CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

CarPlay and Android Auto offer immense benefits and virtually no pitfalls to drivers. They’re designed to bring your phone and its apps into your car, and make it easier to access up-to-date maps and traffic data without relying on often-archaic solutions implemented by your carmaker.