Volkswagen took the wraps off of a freshened 2021 version of its “plus-size” three-row midsize SUV at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show. The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas gets updated styling, new driver assistance features, and the availability of 4Motion all-wheel drive on both V6 and 4-cylinder models.
2021 Volkswagen Atlas
The exterior-design facelift brings a bold new three-bar grille that extends into the lighting elements; this design follows the format of the Atlas Cross Sport, the seven-passenger Atlas’s new two-row, five-passenger sibling. New headlight and taillight designs feature standard LED lighting, and revised bumpers make the 2021 Atlas about three inches longer overall than before.
Inside, there is a new steering wheel, available contrast stitching on the upholstery, and an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen on all models but the base S trim. A new-generation Car-Net telematics system includes an updated mobile app with various no-charge services for up to five years. Also available is in-car 4G LTE Wi-Fi with hotspot capability for up to four connected devices. Plus, Traffic Jam Assist and Dynamic Road Sign Display have been added to the Atlas’s long list of available driver-assist technologies.
As before, the Atlas offers the choice of a 276-hp 3.6-liter V6 and a 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder; both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Unlike before, the 4-cylinder engine is now available on top trim levels and with all-wheel drive.
The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is set to go on sale later this Spring; additional details and pricing will be announced then.
CG Says:
Hard to believe that Volkswagen’s plus-size three-row Atlas has already been around nearly three years, but it has (it launched in May of 2017 as a 2018 model). So, this freshening is coming in at just the right time, especially as it brings the Atlas’s looks closer to the style of its Atlas Sport Cross sibling and delivers a few welcome new features to boot.
