2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Overview

2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Perry Stern | 

3 min read

Volkswagen

What's New for the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas

Volkswagen for the 2025 model year gives its Atlas SUV 15-watt wireless device charging, upgraded seats for the top-level SEL Premium R-Line, and new paint colors.

The Atlas is VW's largest vehicle, delivering a spacious cabin with seating for up to seven people. The SUV's biggest strength is its interior space: Its third-row seat is large enough for adults and its cargo room is generous. If you don't need a third-row seat, Volkswagen also sells a five-person version of the Atlas with sportier styling called the Atlas Cross Sport.

Pros

• Spacious cabin with a big third row, plus plenty of cargo room
• Tons of standard convenience and safety features

Cons

• Climate controls can only be accessed through the touchscreen
• Powertrain warranty is not as generous as some competitors

Volkswagen

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Trim Levels

Volkswagen offers the 2025 Atlas in five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, Peak Edition, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard on the top three trims and is optional on the lower two. All variants feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 269 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

• SE

VW equips the SE with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, tri-zone automatic climate control, leatherette upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. A digital driver display and a 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system are standard, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a wireless charging pad, and several driver aids.

• SE with Technology

This trim upgrades the SE with an illuminated VW grille logo and lightbar, 20-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, a trailer hitch, remote engine start, and front and rear parking-assist sensors.

• Peak Edition

The Peak Edition stands out from the rest of the lineup with rugged exterior styling, 18-inch black wheels with all-terrain tires, and stainless steel pedal caps.

• SEL

The SEL builds on the SE with Technology, adding a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, heated second-row seats, built-in navigation, and a head-up display.

• SEL Premium R-Line

The SEL Premium R-Line features 21-inch wheels, massaging front seats, a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

Volkswagen

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Cargo Capacity and Towing

With all its seats in place, the 2025 Atlas offers 20.6 cubic-feet of cargo space. This SUV's maximum cargo capacity totals 96.6 cu-ft and its maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Fuel Economy

According to the EPA, the front-wheel-drive versions of the Atlas get an estimated 22 mpg in combined city and highway driving. All-wheel-drive models fare almost as well, earning 21 mpg combined. Fuel economy drops by 1 mpg if you opt for the Atlas Peak Edition.

Volkswagen

2025 Volkswagen Atlas Safety Ratings and Features

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2025 Volkswagen Atlas an overall safety rating of five out of five stars. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2025 Atlas "Good" ratings, the best available, in its small overlap front and updated side crash tests. The vehicle earned a "Marginal" score, the second worst, in the moderate-overlap front crash test.

All versions of the 2025 Atlas come standard with the Volkswagen IQ.Drive collection of advanced driver-assistance systems. This includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, active blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and automatic post-collision braking. Travel Assist, a hands-on-the-wheel semi-autonomous driving aid, is also included. Parking sensors, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera are available on upper trims.

Perry Stern

As a small child, Perry was constantly playing with toy cars and trucks, and that enthusiasm for anything motorized with wheels never faded. After college, he moved to Seattle and began his long automotive career working in an automotive consulting firm, helping customers choose the right vehicle for their needs. In the late 1990s, Perry joined Microsoft to work on CarPoint, part of the new Microsoft Network (MSN). He went on to become editor of the site, remaining on staff for 20 years before venturing out on his own. Today, in addition to his work on Capital One Auto Navigator, he still contributes to MSN, as well as J.D. Power, TrueCar.com, and U.S. News & World Report. Perry lives in the small town of Dexter, Michigan, with his wife and dog, and he still smiles when he sees his 2006 Mazda Miata in the garage.