Volkswagen is known for making some of the most iconic cars ever, and that’s not even counting models made by all the other smaller manufacturers under its umbrella. Think the Beetle, Passat, Touareg, Golf GTI, and more. But not all Volkswagens are created equal, with plenty of oddballs that the manufacturer has made along the way.
One such oddball has always been the Atlas, but that is about to change. At the New York Auto Show in New York, Volkswagen recently unveiled the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas that promises to fix most things wrong with the earlier model. It is more powerful, stylish, and smarter in every way that matters for families. Safe to say, the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas finally makes sense.
Where The Outgoing Volkswagen Atlas Fell Short
The Volkswagen Atlas and its five-seat Atlas Cross counterpart comprised 30 percent of sales in 2025. While it proved to be a terrific pick for most people, it did fail to make sense for many. The outgoing Volkswagen Atlas model struggled to be counted as a smart pick for a lot of buyers. Sure, it was spacious and family-friendly, but it did some things that would make one scratch their head before spending their money.
The biggest drawback, at least for the earlier models, was its focus on size over premium refinement, which translated to subpar interior materials and frustrating controls. Owners also criticized the abundance of hard plastics, outdated piano trim that was a scratch magnet, and some other distracting cabin elements.
Then there was its 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that made 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It was praised for its smoothness but often criticized for lacking the punch needed to move the SUV. This gave the outgoing Atlas a bit of a ‘little engine, big SUV’ problem. Even the fuel economy was mostly average, with our real-world tests averaging at 17.5 miles per gallon in combined conditions.
The Volkswagen Atlas Is One Fix Away From Being The Perfect Family SUV
And it may come sooner rather than later.
All Of That Changes With The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas
Volkswagen has recently unveiled the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas, which promises to fix all the issues of the outgoing model. It promises to be a much smarter pick for someone looking for a capable, spacious family SUV. To start with, the new Atlas features a completely overhauled design inside and out, which gives it a premium look. On the inside, that design is paired with premium-level materials and smarter features, which vary by trim level.
Another major, much-needed update on the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is its updated platform that promises to maintain its spacious interior, including the generous third row, while offering better on-road capability. It features a new 282-horsepower engine, which should fix the ‘little engine, big SUV’ problem. Volkswagen also estimates that the new Atlas will offer better fuel economy than the outgoing model.
Just recently unveiled, Volkswagen hasn’t unveiled the pricing for the 2027 Atlas just yet. The new SUV goes on sale in the fall of 2026.
A Completely Refreshed Exterior Styling
The first thing that will stand out about the new Atlas is its updated styling, complete with redesigned front and rear lighting, stronger proportions, and sleeker surfacing. These give the Atlas a more premium look than before. Other major updates include front double-stacked LED lights and an illuminated VW badge standard on all but the base trim, and available illuminated door handles and puddle lamps.
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The New Atlas Features A New, More Powerful Engine
The new 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is built on the upgraded MQB Evo architecture, which VW claims maintains the interior space of the outgoing model, including the spacious third row, while offering better on-road capabilities. The updated architecture also adds an inch to the SUV’s length, though the wheelbase, width, and height remain the same.
The biggest change here, however, is the new EA888 evo5 turbocharged and direct-injection TSI engine. It’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 282 horsepower — 13 more ponies than the outgoing Atlas — and 258 pound-feet of torque. This should make the SUV feel slightly more peppy on the road, fixing one of the major issues of the outgoing model that felt very underpowered for an SUV of that size.
Volkswagen also claims that the new engine should offer better fuel economy, too, though we’ll have to wait for fuel economy estimates from the EPA to know for sure. VW also says the Atlas’ towing capacity stays the same at 5,000 pounds with the factory-installed trailer hitch, and so does its payload capacity. As with the outgoing model, the new Atlas will get an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive as standard, with VW’s 4Motion AWD available across the lineup. VW also says a hybrid is planned to arrive with a midcycle refresh.
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A Completely Redesigned Cabin Should Feel More Premium
The new 2027 Atlas’ cabin is completely overhauled with a more modern design and premium materials. It now features a bold loop that unifies the cockpit; the shift lever has moved to the steering column to open up some space in the center console that’s also now larger. The revised door handles are also said to offer a more premium look to the cabin. There’s also a new ambient lighting setup with the top two trims getting 30 color options, as well as an organic spiral pattern on the dashboard.
The cabin now features high-quality soft-touch materials, along with rear wood decor on all models; VW also offers two leather choices as an option. The interior gets contrasting colors and stitching, and the three interior color palettes include an all-new deep wine, airy pebble gray, and moody black and dark gray. On the base model, you will get leatherette upholstery, while the top two terms come with Nappa and Varenna leather.
Volkswagen Announces Changes For The 2026 Model Year
A few modest alterations improve the model range.
An Updated Features List That Makes The Atlas Smarter Than Ever
The new 2027 Volkswagen Atlas also features an updated tech suite, starting with new standard features. These include a power liftgate, auto-dimming driver-side mirror, dual hatch lights, rear sunshades, and Park Distance Control. All but the base trim also get a larger 15-inch infotainment screen, and a new 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro is standard across the lineup. The base gets a 9-speaker audio system, with the top trim getting a 14-speaker Harman-Kardon system. There’s also a new Driver Experience Dial, two Qi2 wireless chargers up front, and a one-year trial subscription to VW’s generative AI-enabled Premium Speech voice assistant.
Adding to the comfort is a new 12-way ergonomic driver’s seat with updated four-way lumbar support on all models. Higher trims also offer thigh support and an available four-way massage function on the front seats. At the back, the B-pillars get new air vents, and the second-row seats are offered with ventilation. Like the outgoing model, you can also opt for captain’s chairs and a panoramic sunroof on all models.
The new Atlas is also much safer than the outgoing model. It features a new front center airbag, bringing the total to seven airbags. The IQ.DRIVE driver assistance system is also updated with more features. For example, the Travel Assist now allows for driver-initiated lane change, whereas the Emergency Assist can now guide the Atlas to the side of the road if it senses a medical emergency.
Source: Volkswagen