The suspension that underpins the Atlas proved to be a bright spot, with a soft and supple quality that could almost be mistaken for the adaptive variety.
However, the amount of road noise that found its way inside when driven on porous pavement was disappointing, with a dull but incessant whirring on all but the smoothest of surfaces. With all that good stuff at my disposal during one of those weeks of springtime testing where the temperature was prone to wild swings to go with grey skies and plenty of rain, the Atlas was an adaptably cozy companion during testing. Should a cheaper trim be in play, fear not: heated front seats are standard, though a heated steering wheel and tri-zone automatic climate control aren’t they come in all but the base version. Both are eight-way power adjustable in the top two trims and feature three-stage heat and ventilation, while the second-row seats are heated regardless of configuration (a bench is standard, while it can be swapped for captain’s chairs for $625 in the two priciest trims). Those seats aren’t especially well contoured either, though the ones up front are wide and nicely bolstered for all kinds of cruising comfort.
Adding just a hint of character to this loaded tester is the leather upholstery on the door panels and seats that’s finished in a baseball-glove brown, though black is available, as is an off-white hue for those who might be so brave. That makes for a bleak space given all the flat surfaces throughout the cabin and the lack of any contouring or shapeliness. That theme continues inside, particularly at any point below this top Execline trim, which is the only one available with anything other than an all-black motif. Translation? This is among the most sterile-looking rides around right now, with a brutalist influence that borders on boring. Sure, it’s all subjective but this Volkswagen really plays up the role of being the biggest SUV of its kind, with styling that accentuates its gargantuan dimensions. The 2021 Atlas earned a much-needed new mug, but that doesn’t mean it’s suddenly the Cinderella of the segment. Before signing up for that monthly payment, it’s important to consider all your family needs from a hauler like this in the first place. Sporting a few styling tweaks and some updated technology, the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is a safe bet, sure, but it misses the mark in at least a few basic ways that make it less family-friendly than its outsized dimensions might suggest. And if you’re still with me, Volkswagen’s Atlas is a lot like Netflix – the biggest of the bunch, but not necessarily the best.
These behemoths are a bit like streaming services: there are about a billion of them to pick from these days, and they all offer roughly the same stuff for about the same money. Then there was the minivan, which was a lot like the advent of broadcast television it was more of the same but with a twist because it was, well, better. It started with the era of wagons, which was like gathering around the living room radio – sort of simplistic and one-dimensional, but it brought families together while laying the foundation of what was to come. When I look at the evolution of the humble family hauler, I see similarities to the ways in which home entertainment has changed over the years. Maybe it’s a little abstract, but bear with me here. I’ve been known to concoct a crazy theory or two about this ever-changing industry, but my latest might just take the cake.
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