2018 VW Altlas
Last Updated:
Finally. VW will soon have a mid size SUV to compete in the US market.
Just when smaller ones are actually getting more popular than mid sized ones…
It doesn’t look bad. And it does look like a VW. In a big Tiguan sort of way.
(At least, it does look much better than the horrible looking Honda Pilot.)
Here is the 2013 concept. Yes, 2013. Which means it look 4 years (The production model comes out early next year) to bring this to life.
I think the production version (yellow) actually does look a bit better.
The interior is clean, and super boring. It feels like a Passat SUV.
I am not sure that will actually work for them. The Passat sales kind of tanked after the first year. Since it quickly looked old.
Seems that everyone else is trying to find a way to make their interiors really cool and modern these days.
Not VW.
Although, I must say, the Passat I drove a few months ago was just fine. The boring interior was actually nicer than the new Audi A4 I tested a few weeks ago.
So this might be the same thing in real life. It could be just fine…
I still wish they had stayed closer to the concept interior (Bottom picture)
I mean it was not that futuristic to begin with. But much more interesting. Just look at the doors.
The ones on the production version reverted to zero style.
That’s too bad…
It does have some cool stuff. Like standard LED headlights. Optional glass roof and the amazing Fender audio system.
As well as an 8 speed automatic.
Engines are the usual 2.0 Liter (238HP) or the big 3.6 Liter V6 with 280HP.
Looks like it was designed with a ruler. Now that Volvo has gotten all swoopy, perhaps there's a market for a box on wheels. I kinda like it.
Ok.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think this thing is both plain AND ugly. The concept looks better. I don't like how the fender flares meet up and continue through the character lines.
Junk is junk Chris. This is from the cheaters do not forget
Production version looks much worse than the concept.. but both are deadly dull.
Aside from the somewhat exaggerated fender flares and overdone hockey-stick shaped belt line (enough with that already), the Atlas looks pretty good. Surprising as it may sound, many people like their SUVs on the boxy side, instead of the usual ghastly mashup of hackneyed styling clichés we see from most manufacturers.