By Sue Mead
I went to camp! It was an ideal summer time retreat to attend Volkswagen’s “Camp Atlas,” which was designed to showcase these up to date midsize SUVs in VW’s lineup. As an alternative of a tent or cabin, my lodging was a luxurious Airstream trailer at AutoCamp, which is nestled into the forests of the Catskills close to Woodstock, New York. After all, there was a night camp fireplace and even s’mores.
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2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport
Throughout my two-day camp keep, my job was to drive the 2 redesigned variations of the “adventure-ready” 2023 VW Atlas alongside a group of roadways that snaked by streams and thru the mountains of upstate New York.
Atlas is necessary to VW. It’s the first modern-day Volkswagen designed, engineered, and manufactured particularly for American patrons, evolving from the CrossBlue idea that was revealed in October 2016. Atlas was first seen in 2017; becoming a member of its greater 3-row sibling, the 2-row Atlas Cross Sport got here to market in 2020. Right this moment, these sport utility autos are Volkswagen of America’s top-selling and most-profitable nameplates, with gross sales of greater than 500,000 so far. Of notice, 83 p.c of VW’s gross sales as we speak are SUVs, whereas 91 p.c had been vehicles in 2013.
The beginning MSRP for the 2023 Atlas is $37,725, and $36,715 for the Atlas Cross Sport; each are available front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations.
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Atlas is offered in 4 trim ranges, plus two variations of the brand new, special-edition, Peak trim. Atlas Cross Sport is available in 5 trim ranges.
In-built Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Atlas duo is predicted to be on sale within the fall of 2023. These midsizers signify six p.c of the U.S. market share for sport utes, and compete with the Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, amongst others.
What’s new? Jim Burch, product supervisor for the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport, says that VW’s intent was to “proceed to construct on the profitable mix of spaciousness, practicality and trendy design with a sublime new inside, eye-catching exterior adjustments, and a new-generation turbocharged engine.”
Important inside upgrades refresh the cabin with extra premium supplies, new expertise, and extra consolation and comfort options. The upscale cockpit design is punctuated by a floating infotainment display screen, a redesigned middle console, normal three-zone local weather management, and an obtainable Fender-brand premium audio system. There are interesting soft-touch surfaces and obtainable quilted leather-based seats with a cultured diamond sample. Plus, the inside could be accented with 30-color ambient lighting and a backlit sprint. Commonplace cabin options embrace a heated steering wheel, ventilated entrance seats, leather-based seating surfaces, and voice management. Heated rear seats can be found.
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Bumping up the expertise expertise are new screens on each trim stage, with a 12-inch middle show in addition to a ten.25-inch absolutely configurable instrument panel. Out there are head-up show, wi-fi charging, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a touch cam. Homeowners can even get pleasure from a bevy of USB-C ports.
Exterior adjustments embrace a transfer to LED headlights, adaptive entrance lighting, entrance and rear gentle bars, and obtainable illuminated entrance logos.
entrance and light-weight bars, with LED rear lighting that has a brand new gentle strip design and a rear diffuser together with 18-inch wheels.
Additionally new is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine rated at 269 horsepower; it’s mated it to an eight-speed computerized transmission. Each the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport are EPA rated at a mixed 23 mpg. Atlas’s obtainable 3.6-liter V6 has been dropped for 2024.
On the highway, each the Atlas and Cross Sport profit from the brand new engine’s low-end torque, although there’s ample energy obtainable throughout a broad vary of driving situations.
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The Cross Sport feels barely extra maneuverable than the bigger Atlas–it’s considerably lighter–however each steer with accuracy and deal with twisty roads with a level of sportiness. Robust, firm-feeling brakes add to the athleticism.
Of notice: patrons can match three automobile seats throughout the second row of the Atlas and hold them in place with a tumble-forward function to entry the third row with good accessibility.
The usual safety-equipment checklist is complete. Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive driver-assistance suite contains all of the anticipated gear, together with lane-keep help, rear-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise management the works in stop-and-go visitors.
The special-edition Atlas Peak mannequin has extra rugged styling parts than lesser trim ranges, and derives its normal look from the Atlas Base Camp idea revealed in 2019.
Commonplace on the Peak is AWD, 18-inch black alloy wheels with aggressive all-terrain tires, black and silver physique cladding, and black-out exterior particulars. Colours obtainable completely on the Peak are Avocado Inexperienced and Pure Gray. The Peak begins at $46,555.
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2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport Gallery
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