The 2022 Atlas V6 SEL offers plenty of space, road feel, and comfort for a nice balance. Tech features are easy to use and add additional appeal for the vehicle.
The power plant in the review vehicle is a 3.6-liter DOHC Narrow Angle V6, delivering 276 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed auto transmission with Tiptronic.
The SEL Premium R-Line also has 4MOTTION all-wheel drive with active control and drive mode selection, engine start/stop, and four wheel independent suspension. The resulting fuel economy is 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for a combined average of 20 mpg.
The Atlas sits tall, and the automatic transmission shifts effortlessly. There is some wind noise, but it might be coming from the large outside mirrors. I found it difficult at times to adjust the front driver’s seat, and I would have liked some more padding for the seat’s bottom cushion.
Both back rows recline, while the standard second-row bench seat has a slightly firmer middle seat. The second row is wider, making it comfortable enough for three adults. It slides easily, providing great back seat visibility. Available captain’s chairs exchange one seating spot in return for more comfort for the two remaining occupants.
Atlas beats most competitors with 20.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up. This space expands to 96.8 cubic feet with the two back rows folded. The second row also tilts slightly and slides for easy loading or unloading.
I also would like to have seen small, sectioned compartments in the center armrest bin for glasses and key size items.
The Atlas styling is quite handsome, with extra appeal points from the SEL Premium R-Line component. The 8-inch Discover Media touchscreen and the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster provide driving data and controls of key functions, while adding more high-tech to the attractive styling.
The beige interior and warming light from the foot-well light and ambient interior lighting showcase features like the interior lighted digital gauge and touchscreen infotainment system. I found the infotainment system somewhat distracting, as it takes too long to perform a task that takes away from driver attention. Communication and entertainment are in abundance, though, with features like the stereo system. The high quality of the 12-speaker system boosts your experience even more.
My favorite feature was the rear view camera. It provides a wonderfully clear picture, with several view options.
The MSRP for the 2022 Volkswagen Atlas starts at $34,335 for the SE model, and goes up to $51,505 for SEL Premium R-Line model.
Warranty Information
4 years/50,000 miles New Vehicle Limited Warranty including powertrain component
2 years/20,000 miles Carefree Maintenance Program
3 years/36,000 miles 24-hour Roadside Assistance
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this paper or [email protected].
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