VW Atlas

We have a 2.0 in our '18 Q5 and the car is very quick. I also had it in our '18 A4 and that car was even quicker. I know the audi 2.0 has some more horsepower and torque and a dual clutch transmission but really cant see the Passat and Atlas being that slow.
I also had the Passat 2.0T. It was quick enough for me but can understand other's saying it was only adequate. That DCT in your vehicles makes a huge difference.
 
@RooflessVW , "loved?" Did you get rid of it?

The Atlas is still on my wife's short list to replace the SFS 2.0T. The other's being Infiniti Qx60, KIA/Hyundai Telluride/Palisade and Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
Yeah we bought a Honda Odyssey.

Fall of '20 the Atlas was "worth" 37k
Fall of '21 the Atlas was "worth" 46k

So yeah, we traded it right in. The Odyssey is so far better in every way except the looks and AWD department.
 
Yeah we bought a Honda Odyssey.

Fall of '20 the Atlas was "worth" 37k
Fall of '21 the Atlas was "worth" 46k

So yeah, we traded it right in. The Odyssey is so far better in every way except the looks and AWD department.
Makes sense to me.

I received $2K more for the Tucson than what i paid for it new six months ago. I was able to get the IONIQ for invoice.
 
Makes sense to me.

I received $2K more for the Tucson than what i paid for it new, after six months of ownership. I was able to get the IONIQ for invoice.
Yeah I think I paid $48k for the Atlas when I bought it new in '19?

It was a no brainer, especially with the 3 kids getting bigger by the second.
 
VW drive train tuning has been hit or miss lately, with a lot of misses. I suspect they were trying to suck in the Camry crowd and in the process alienated many returning VW buyers. I liked the 17 Passat with the 1.8, but by 18 when I was ready to buy they had the 2.0 and it was constantly lugged down and asleep the way they had it tuned. Even the salesman said "I think they've gone the wrong direction". I ended up with a GT VR6 and DSG and that car was fantastic.

Now driving a Jetta and it's fine if I'm in Sport, which is the only way I care to drive it. Perhaps the same accommodation could have been made for the aforementioned late model Passats. The Jetta has definitely "learned" how I want to drive and it's notably peppier and holds the gears longer than it did when I first bought it, maybe the Passat would have done the same thing.

I see Atlas' everywhere have not driven one, many reviews I have read have not been particularly favorable in driving characteristics. Clearly many American buyers do not care. They are good looking for sure.
 
VW drive train tuning has been hit or miss lately, with a lot of misses. I suspect they were trying to suck in the Camry crowd and in the process alienated many returning VW buyers. I liked the 17 Passat with the 1.8, but by 18 when I was ready to buy they had the 2.0 and it was constantly lugged down and asleep the way they had it tuned. Even the salesman said "I think they've gone the wrong direction". I ended up with a GT VR6 and DSG and that car was fantastic.

Now driving a Jetta and it's fine if I'm in Sport, which is the only way I care to drive it. Perhaps the same accommodation could have been made for the aforementioned late model Passats. The Jetta has definitely "learned" how I want to drive and it's notably peppier and holds the gears longer than it did when I first bought it, maybe the Passat would have done the same thing.

I see Atlas' everywhere have not driven one, many reviews I have read have not been particularly favorable in driving characteristics. Clearly many American buyers do not care. They are good looking for sure.
Interesting. I do like the front clip on the 17 Jetta better than newer models.
 
This is disappointing. I see them in commercials, and really like the look of the Cross Sport. The regular Atlas is too school-bus for me.

"Square Jawed" as I like to describe SUVs that aren't totally rounded and jelly-bean looking. Too bad about the driving experience. Good looking ute.

Atlas.webp
 
Friend is in town for work and has this as a rental, I drove it to dinner tonight. What a turd! The thing is big, but it drives like it's even bigger...a Tahoe is more maneuverable than this thing. The brakes are super touchy, tap them and you go through the windshield. The V6 is anemic at best, I opened the hood thinking it was a 4 cylinder. Accelerating around 2k-2.5k it just loses all power.

I had a Passat rental a few days ago with the 2.0 and same complaints with the powertrain. It has to downshift and build revs for the turbo to spool before you can add some speed, so you go from no acceleration to balls to the wall.

View attachment 76537View attachment 76538
Eco mode? Doesn't VW have a "normal" mode?
 
Actually-the only redeeming quality is that the Atlas has plenty of interior room. Otherwise-they are one of the most inferior SUVs on the road. Most reviewers haven't been kind to them. VW doesn't understand the "SUV Thing". Some of the Japanese Companies don't either(Armada, Pathfinder, Sequoia) garbage compared to what Americans have.
 
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My friend and his wife have had one for maybe 3 years now and seem to like it. Well, at least his wife does, I don't think my friend drives it much at all. It replaced a 1-2 year old Outback with serious transmission problems. It works well for their family of four, though my friend who is a car person expresses zero interest in it. It's just a thing that happens to be in the garage next to the K1500. 🤣
 
VW drive train tuning has been hit or miss lately, with a lot of misses. I suspect they were trying to suck in the Camry crowd and in the process alienated many returning VW buyers. I liked the 17 Passat with the 1.8, but by 18 when I was ready to buy they had the 2.0 and it was constantly lugged down and asleep the way they had it tuned. Even the salesman said "I think they've gone the wrong direction". I ended up with a GT VR6 and DSG and that car was fantastic.

I have had a couple Tiguan loaners with the Budack cycle 2.0T and I think that efficiency addition to the 2.0T created the Jekyll/Hyde power delivery and made a hit to refinement. I think the Budack has only made it in the Passat and Tiguan so far, I don't believe it ever made it into the Jetta/Golf/Beetle and the Atlas still has the "normal" 2.0T.

I could never drive my loaner Tiguan's smoothly. You would be slugging along with a bunch of marbles rattling in a coffee can up front, step into a little bit more and boom you are off much faster than intending. Even after having one of the loaners for ~1 week I still never got the hang of modulating the acceleration. The accelerator was like a dimmer switch that goes to 0-20% then skips right to 80-100% with no in between. The Tiguan still sells like hotcakes though so does not seem like the typical buyer notices or cares.
 
I have had a couple Tiguan loaners with the Budack cycle 2.0T and I think that efficiency addition to the 2.0T created the Jekyll/Hyde power delivery and made a hit to refinement. I think the Budack has only made it in the Passat and Tiguan so far, I don't believe it ever made it into the Jetta/Golf/Beetle and the Atlas still has the "normal" 2.0T.

I could never drive my loaner Tiguan's smoothly. You would be slugging along with a bunch of marbles rattling in a coffee can up front, step into a little bit more and boom you are off much faster than intending. Even after having one of the loaners for ~1 week I still never got the hang of modulating the acceleration. The accelerator was like a dimmer switch that goes to 0-20% then skips right to 80-100% with no in between. The Tiguan still sells like hotcakes though so does not seem like the typical buyer notices or cares.
I wouldn't call 28,000 units "selling like hotcakes".
https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2021-us-vehicle-sales-figures-by-model/
 
The very rear seats are fairly comfortable, for a 3rd row. Compared to most 3rd row suvs where only small kids fit. The 4 cylinder I think only comes in fwd vs awd. The Tuareg was fairly slow with the 6 cylinder vs the turbo diesel.
 
We bought a 2021.5 Atlas Memorial Day weekend. Ours has the 2.0L and I absolutely love it. It’s big, comfortable and smooth. The 2.0L is plenty powerful and the thing is awesome on Highway trips and around town. Steering is direct enough and it handles well.

It’s a legit family hauler. If you were expecting a performance vehicle I’m not sure what to tell you. The brake pedal travel is short, so if you are not used to it I can see how you would say “touchy” but that’s a user issue.

We test drove all of the big Mid-size SUVs and the Atlas was similarly powered. In fact I’m not sure where a lot of you are getting this idea that other brands are so dissimilar. Hop in any of the non-luxury midsized SUVs and you are going to be hard pressed to really differentiate things. Reviewers make their money by finding ways to make the newest whatsit seem different than the last.

Note: this is my first VW so I came at this choice from and outsiders perspective.
 
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The very rear seats are fairly comfortable, for a 3rd row. Compared to most 3rd row suvs where only small kids fit. The 4 cylinder I think only comes in fwd vs awd. The Tuareg was fairly slow with the 6 cylinder vs the turbo diesel.
You can get the 2.0T with either fWD or AWD
 
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