Volkswagen has officially peeled the wraps off its entirely new large SUV that’s set to take on the large-loving North American market on behalf of the German marque, who hasn’t had the best of luck with their bigger offerings there.
Its name too, the Atlas, was reported to have been chosen because it would be easier recognised the denizens of its target subcontinent. Words like Tiguan and Touareg don’t really have much resonance there, ending VW’s ’T’ nomenclature for SUVs and crossovers. In the US, it’s reported that one in every five vehicle registrations are for mid-size SUVs.
The seven-seater Atlas is wedged in between the Tiguan and range-topping Touareg despite being of comparable size of the latter. If it looks familiar, you might have seen it around 3 years ago when it a near-identical looking concept called the Crossblue premiered in 2013.
That’s near-identical, as the Atlas does sport some choice differentiators, the most obvious being the Amarok-esque front fascia with that wide and narrow grille. It also is built upon Volkswagen’s MQB platform that also underpins the Mk7 Volkswagen Golf, Audi TT, and Skoda Kodiaq.
We’re not sure of the Atlas’ availability to other markets outside North America, but in that region it will receive either a 177kW 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the lower tiers or a 3.6-litre VR6 that generates 209kW - with drive from both engines spinning either the front wheels or all four via Volkswagen 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
Inside, the Atlas doesn’t deviate far from the tenets of strong build quality and materials insofar as its cabin is concerned. A two-tone finish can be specified on the dash and leather-appointed seats, with wood trim being reserved for more expensive specifications.
In addition, buyers can also specify Volkswagen’s Active Info Display that replaces the analogue instrument cluster with a digital display. Toward the centre sits the main infotainment screen, running VW’s Car-Net system with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
For music lovers, that handy smartphone pairing is the perfect excuse to splurge some extra cash toward the premium 12-speaker 480W Fender audio system.
Not all of the noteworthy active safety suites are available across the Atlas range. Only higher trim levels gain features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision alert, and Autonomous Emergency Braking. After hitting the US and Canada in early to mid 2017, the Atlas should be on its way to Showrooms in Russia and the Middle East by the end of next year.
For more on Volkswagen vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
