Would I buy a V-6-powered 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE with the Technology package? No. But what if I had a family of four and needed something to fit the fam and all our stuff with room to spare? Possibly. Full-size, truck-based SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe have their place, especially if you need to tow, but I think I would choose something more comfortable and spacious, like the Atlas.
So if I was going to pull the trigger on a new 2019 or 2020 Volkswagen Atlas, how would I spec it?
On the Outside: Atlas V6 SEL R-Line with 4Motion in Pure White
First of all, I’d jump up from our long-termer’s relatively basic V-6 SE trim to the better-looking and better-equipped V-6 SEL R-Line with 4Motion. The R-Line’s bumpers, badges, and side skirts do a lot to make the Atlas look more premium, and considering there’s no fuel economy penalty for having AWD, you might as well have the peace of mind in inclement weather. Even when Mother Nature is being nice, the 4Motion AWD system helps eliminate tire-shredding wheelspin if you have to accelerate quickly from a stop.
I think the Atlas looks nice in the Pure White color, especially with the R-Line package, and the standard 20-inch wheels look a lot better than the meager 18-inch rolling stock that clad our long-termer. Even though I live in Southern California and I can’t remember the last time it rained, I’d also add a $116 set of accessory mud flaps because they look cool.
On the Inside: Shetland V-Tex Leatherette
If you’ve ever walked into an empty airplane hangar, you have a good idea what it’s like on the inside of a VW Atlas. It really is impressively spacious inside, and because of that, a lighter-colored interior will keep it from becoming too cavelike. One of the other Atlases I drove this year came with the creamy Shetland color interior, which made the inside feel brighter and also looked great contrasted with the dark trim pieces on the dash.
Another benefit of the higher trim level is Volkswagen’s trick digital instrument cluster and large panoramic sunroof. Overall, it’s a much more luxurious place to be than the base vehicle. I recently had a chance to drive some of the Atlas’ newer competitors like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, and the Atlas really needs the higher trim to compete with their interiors.
I’d opt against the second-row captain’s seats because the bench makes it easier to use my rear-seat dog hammock, and if you’re mostly considering an Atlas as a large vehicle for four, a bench seat is much more useful. I’d also add the accessory $180 privacy cover for the rear cargo area and the $149 rubber Monster Mats. I’ve had Monster Mats in every VW I’ve personally owned, and I love their durability.
The Total
With a starting price of $46,140, I added an additional $445 of accessory items for a total price of $46,585 (on a 2019 model). Not everyone will see the value in AWD or the added cost of the R-Line styling, but for me, it’s worth it. Coming in about $8,000 more than our long-termer, my dream Atlas is absolutely a big step up as far as cost goes, but the additional money goes a long way toward a much nicer vehicle.
Read more about our long-term 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE:
- Arrival
- Update 1: Tire Killer!
- Update 2: Design and Packaging
- 6 Three-Row SUVs With Less Cargo Space Than the Volkswagen Atlas
- Update 3: Mileage and Range
- Update 4: Turning Mystery
- Update 5: How Volkswagen Improved Our 2018 Atlas SE’s Turning Radius
The post The Dream Build: How We’d Spec a New Volkswagen Atlas appeared first on MotorTrend.
Source: WORLD NEWS
