- The Volkswagen Atlas is boring to drive
- The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas only has okay reliability and safety
- What the Atlas gets right
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas has much discussion surrounding it. Some respect the SUV, while others believe it’s one of Volkswagen’s worst. Despite the polarizing opinions, the VW Atlas is just somewhere in the middle. It has its advantages, but a couple of things stop it from being a genuinely great SUV.
The Volkswagen Atlas is boring to drive
Volkswagen Atlas | MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images
The new VW Atlas has a pretty impressive engine under its hood. However, it’s not a ton of fun to drive due to its less-than-impressive acceleration. The 2023 VW Atlas has two engine options. One is a turbocharged four-cylinder with a maximum output of 235 horsepower. The second one is a V6 with a horsepower of 276.
Regarding speed, the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas takes about 8.5 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour. This is slow on its own, and it falls behind most other SUVs of the same class. Reportedly, the V6 version can get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 7.6 seconds. Though better, this still makes the new VW Atlas a somewhat boring vehicle to drive.
The 2023 Volkswagen Atlas only has okay reliability and safety
Volkswagen Atlas | Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Most people can forgive an SUV for not being the fastest if it’s incredibly reliable or safe. However, the new VW Atlas has neither. It’s not an unsafe or unreliable vehicle, but its scores are not the greatest, especially for a vehicle of its price. This goes against Volkswagen’s history of being a reliable automaker.
The 2023 VW Atlas has a predicted reliability rating of 72 out of 100 from JD Power. The Volkswagen Atlas 2023 is only considered average by the ranking. Unfortunately, its score is not far off from only being fair. Regarding safety, it has a five out of five rating but lost a star for both frontal crashes and rollovers.
What the Atlas gets right
Volkswagen Atlas | Emil Ravelo/Getty Images
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The Volkswagen Atlas 2023 gets some things right. One of the most significant is its ample space. For starters, the 2023 VW Atlas is one of the few three-row SUVs that can actually accommodate adults on the third row. Besides the space, the 2023 VW Atlas interior succeeds because it’s user-friendly. It may not be the most eye-catching interior, but everything is perfectly placed and easy to use, making it great for families.
The Volkswagen Atlas 2023 also has a fairly decent use of technology. The lower trims come standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, whereas the upper options have an 8-inch. The vehicle also comes standard with such features as a six-speaker sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and USB ports. The upper trims also have an available technology package.
Overall, the Volkswagen Atlas 2023 isn’t a bad SUV. It’s not great due to a few limitations, but it’d work perfectly fine for many people. This Volkswagen SUV also has strong suits. Mostly, it has more space than most of its rivals. It’s not necessarily a top choice for most buyers, but it shouldn’t be out of the question.
Keyword: What Stops the 2023 Volkswagen Atlas From Being Truly Great