THE BREAKDOWN:
- Volkswagen has updated the Atlas for the 2027 model year.
- This second-generation Atlas receives an upgraded engine that delivers more power and torque.
- Inside, Volkswagen uses more premium materials and finishes.
Volkswagen has revealed the second generation of its best-selling Atlas SUV for 2027. As of 2025, SUVs made up 80% of Volkswagen’s US sales, and the full-size Atlas represented a large chunk of that number.
As more and more large three-row SUVs have crowded the market, the aging first-generation model, released almost a decade ago, has required a refresh—and here it is.
Exterior Styling Of The New Atlas
The first thing to know about the new Atlas is that it shares a common platform and exterior styling with the Chinese-market Teramont Pro. On the outside, the two cars are nearly identical, with a shared front fascia and rear light bar setup. Volkswagen does say that there are some differences between the two models, including the addition of physical door handles on the Atlas, rather than the electronic ones on the Teramont.
Despite the similarities between the two, the new Atlas retains a shape similar to the old model, riding on an updated MQB platform found in many other Volkswagen Group cars. There are also three new colors for the Atlas called Sacramento Green, Blackberry, and Sandstone. We saw the Sacramento Green in person and can vouch that it is a solid color choice in the lineup.
Major Upgrades To The Cabin Of The Atlas
Inside, the interior has been completely reworked, with the biggest differences being found up front. A 12.9-inch touch screen is standard on the base model, while an optional 15-inch center screen is available on higher trims. The screen is the same one found in other VW products, like the Tiguan, and comes with the same controversial haptic touch sliders that control volume and HVAC controls.
Don’t worry, though, because there is a physical volume knob on the center console. This knob is multi-use and can also be used to select drive modes and in-car lighting settings.
The materials in the Atlas have also been upgraded. The dashboard features real wood accents for upper-trim models, and Nappa leather is available in two different colors. We had an early look at the car and spent some time in the interior, where the material quality comes through. Still, there's a large amount of piano black plastic, which smudges easily.
The new Atlas has signature designs on the door cards and on the passenger-side of the dashboard. Both have embedded LEDs and can change color with the rest of the interior lights.
Other tech features include two wireless MagSafe charging docks up front, USB-C ports in all three rows, and available heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, with the front row receiving massaging seats in higher trims.
Four Cylinders And Front-Wheel Drive Or All-Wheel Drive
The new Atlas is powered by an updated 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, the same as in the Tiguan. Due to the Atlas’s larger size, it does receive a power boost to 282 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. The base model offers standard front-wheel drive, while all models can be optioned with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.
Pricing has yet to be announced; however, expect it to start in the mid $40,000 range, with top-trim models to edge closer to $55,000. The next Atlas is expected in dealers by Fall.
Gallery: 2027 Volkswagen Atlas
Gallery: 2027 Volkswagen Atlas
Motor1's Take: The new Volkswagen Atlas looks sharp, and in a hotly competitive market where every brand has a large, 3-row crossover, a new generation was needed. That said, the lack of a hybrid option, along with Volkswagen's messy user interface and touch controls, may steer some buyers away.
