2024-2026 VW Atlas 2.0

[heavy260]

Wife is looking at one of these. Probably end up being a new 2026. We rented one over Christmas when we were in Miami and liked it as a cruiser. Gas mileage was good and plenty of room to stuff 3 full size suitcases in the rear. Not finding a heck of a lot online with engine problems. Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks to the EPA I’m gun shy on the 4cyl turbos every mfg has to make emissions requirements. She’s looked at the Dodge Durangos also but needs to drive a new one to see how it compares. We rented one in Colorado in 2023 and liked it also. Going to need a back to back drive session and I’m leaning Durango for the V6/8speed but she found one with a Hemi also.

 

[drtyler]

The VW EA888 2.0T is a good engine and has been used in many cars and SUVs for a number of years. It's "tried and true". Nothing to be scared of there.

 

[skyactiv]

Make sure whatever was wrong with the Durango was fixed if it's related to what police deponents went through that bought them.

 

[MParr]

I would pass on the Durango. The VW Atlas is a better vehicle. Something to consider is the distance the VW dealer is from your home. Traveling over 25 miles for warranty work is a deal breaker for me. I've been there and done that with our former VW Tiguan. The closest VW dealership was 60 miles away.
Take a look at the Ford Explorer. It's offered in rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. There's plenty of room.

 

[edyvw]

Mechanically they are extremely stout. I had 2021 and we utilized it on a lot of road trips, one being 4,200mls. IMO, it is best family SUV in that category because space is unmatched.
My beef with it was soft suspension. Germans just don’t know how to do that. But, it was a OK. I know Bilstein started to work on beefed up B4 shocks and struts.
The reason I got rid if it was windshield. Some people have issues with it, some don’t. I replaced 5 of them in a year. And rock that hits it (and the West is full of rocks by the roads) will result in huge crack next day. I had $0 deductible, but State Farm was really close to drop me.
If you get the car, after 20k do Haldex service and make sure you take out mesh and clean it with BrakeKlean. VW service won’t do that if you take it to them.

 

[AZjeff]

If you get the car, after 20k do Haldex service and make sure you take out mesh and clean it with BrakeKlean. VW service won’t do that if you take it to them.

This could be a deal breaker for a lot of people who don't have the interest or ability to do this. One could always try to find an indie shop that would do it but if it's necessary better find one before the car is bought.

 

[edyvw]

This could be a deal breaker for a lot of people who don't have the interest or ability to do this. One could always try to find an indie shop that would do it but if it's necessary better find one before the car is bought.

VW as far as I know, didn't have issues with Haldex 5th gen. like GM did. But I think GM service is every 100k (if at all), while VW is every 40k and that is just fluid. VW generally wants AWD and transmission fluids changed regularly, regardless of who the manufacturer is. Their Aisin's are every 60k service. In Toyota they are "lifetime." But then, VW never had issues with them.
Mesh is DIY and just good practice. Really not hard at all.

 

[fsdork]

This could be a deal breaker for a lot of people who don't have the interest or ability to do this. One could always try to find an indie shop that would do it but if it's necessary better find one before the car is bought.

This is what I did with our Tiguan. Jobs like brakes, seasonal tire swaps, and oil changes are easy enough in a garage with a jack and jack stands - but adjusting fluid levels under the car without a lift isn't my idea of a good time.

If I still lived 3 hours away from the closest euro-focused indie shop, getting this done would have been much more of a hassle - so good advice re: determining if someone close to you will do the job right.

 

[edyvw]

This is what I did with our Tiguan. Jobs like brakes, seasonal tire swaps, and oil changes are easy enough in a garage with a jack and jack stands - but adjusting fluid levels under the car without a lift isn't my idea of a good time.

If I still lived 3 hours away from the closest euro-focused indie shop, getting this done would have been much more of a hassle - so good advice re: determining if someone close to you will do the job right.

Any good shop can change fluids in differentials. Transmission in VW is Aisin, and even if it were ZF, the procedure is the same.
Haldex is found in numerous brands. It is easy to find info about the temperature needed to adjust the fluid, and it is super easy. Any OK OBD will read Haldex temperature. My Innova can read on Tiguan without problems.
So, a specialized Euro Indy shop is really not necessary. Not to mention that EA888 is on the market in the US for 17yrs.

 

[fsdork]

Any good shop can change fluids in differentials. Transmission in VW is Aisin, and even if it were ZF, the procedure is the same.
Haldex is found in numerous brands. It is easy to find info about the temperature needed to adjust the fluid, and it is super easy. Any OK OBD will read Haldex temperature. My Innova can read on Tiguan without problems.
So, a specialized Euro Indy shop is really not necessary. Not to mention that EA888 is on the market in the US for 17yrs.

Fair - any competent mechanic who knows what they don't know - and takes the time to get the answers in those cases - could handle it. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that even with mom and pop shops with great local reputations, that's just not reliably the case.

Good, truly professional tradespeople are absolute gold.

 

[edyvw]

Fair - any competent mechanic who knows what they don't know - and takes the time to get the answers in those cases - could handle it. Unfortunately, it's been my experience that even with mom and pop shops with great local reputations, that's just not reliably the case.

Good, truly professional tradespeople are absolute gold.

True, but that is the case with "reputable Euro Indy shops." I know one guy with "great reputation," who uses STP ILSC oils in all Euro cars because "synthetic is synthetic."

 

[heavy260]

Services aren’t an issue, I can do them myself. I’m assuming with it being a VW I’ll need a different scan tool to read temps and be bidirectional. I’ve borrowed my neighbors ancient tool for my truck but it doesn’t cut it for my uses so I’m looking for my own to buy.

 

[97prizm]

Wife is looking at one of these. Probably end up being a new 2026. We rented one over Christmas when we were in Miami and liked it as a cruiser. Gas mileage was good and plenty of room to stuff 3 full size suitcases in the rear. Not finding a heck of a lot online with engine problems. Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks to the EPA I’m gun shy on the 4cyl turbos every mfg has to make emissions requirements. She’s looked at the Dodge Durangos also but needs to drive a new one to see how it compares. We rented one in Colorado in 2023 and liked it also. Going to need a back to back drive session and I’m leaning Durango for the V6/8speed but she found one with a Hemi also.

Can't remember but thought the VW Atlas required (recommended) premium? The rear seat is surprisingly comfortable with enough leg room. I'm 5'10" and fit fine. The engine used has been in service for many miles. Bumer they dropped the VR6.

 

[raaizin]

Can't remember but thought the VW Atlas required (recommended) premium? The rear seat is surprisingly comfortable with enough leg room. I'm 5'10" and fit fine. The engine used has been in service for many miles. Bumer they dropped the VR6.

It requires Regular gas, we have a 2025 and are happy so far

 

[MParr]

The 2026 Ford Explorer engine offerings.
https://www.spiritford.com/research-explorer-engines-and-towing.html

 

[Allaned]

Have consider an Atlas Crossport or a new Grand Cherokee to replace the 2007 Grand Cherokee. My VW GTI has the e888 cylinder turbo.

 

[edyvw]

Services aren’t an issue, I can do them myself. I’m assuming with it being a VW I’ll need a different scan tool to read temps and be bidirectional. I’ve borrowed my neighbors ancient tool for my truck but it doesn’t cut it for my uses so I’m looking for my own to buy.

You don’t need. But something like OBDEleven allows you to code bunch of stuff like opening and closing windows with remote as well as sunroof or how long lights stay on etc. etc.

 

[Silverado12]

When I service my transmissions, I drive the car until it's completely warmed up and that's good enough to set the fluid at the 170 degree or whatever level. Never had an issue.

 

[dgunay]

Can't remember but thought the VW Atlas required (recommended) premium? The rear seat is surprisingly comfortable with enough leg room. I'm 5'10" and fit fine. The engine used has been in service for many miles. Bumer they dropped the VR6.

The gen 4 EA888 is better than the outgoing VR6 in any way possible except the engine sound. More fuel efficient, tows better, moves faster

 

[dgunay]

Wife is looking at one of these. Probably end up being a new 2026. We rented one over Christmas when we were in Miami and liked it as a cruiser. Gas mileage was good and plenty of room to stuff 3 full size suitcases in the rear. Not finding a heck of a lot online with engine problems. Any experience would be helpful.

Thanks to the EPA I’m gun shy on the 4cyl turbos every mfg has to make emissions requirements. She’s looked at the Dodge Durangos also but needs to drive a new one to see how it compares. We rented one in Colorado in 2023 and liked it also. Going to need a back to back drive session and I’m leaning Durango for the V6/8speed but she found one with a Hemi also.

We have one (2024), put 25k miles so far, really happy with it with one annoying thing.

I'd recommend going for 2025+ as they come with revised transmission (Hyundai) with much better TCU tune (yes I've driven them both). 2024s came with Aisin transmission but the TCU tune is really annoying. The car refuses to downshift to second gear and sticks with the 3rd gear almost until full stop, then completely ignores the second gear and switches to the first gear around 4 mph or so.

It's not a problem technically and transmission is probably fine, but I don't want my transmission to slip all the way up to 30-40 mph from almost a full stop after slowing down. My solution for that is manually downshift to second when it happens. Needless to say, whoever tuned that transmission should NOT be allowed to work for any auto manufacturer.