New 2026 Volkswagen Atlas SE

The Atlas was one of 4 finalists for us. The others were the GMC Acadia, the Chevy Traverse, and the Infiniti QX60. These were our finalists for one primary reason- access to the rear seat with car seats installed in the middle row seats (without climbing into the middle row, and going through the middle space between the captain’s chairs). No other 3 row SUVs had this option, although I understand some will have it for the 2020 model year. Because we only had 4 models to look at, we focused all our attention on these models. The interior of the Atlas is huge, the door openings are very wide to provide easy access, and it is very comfortable. The seats in the Atlas were by far the most comfortable of any vehicle we tested. When I say that, I mean all of the seats, to include the 2nd and 3rd rows, and the 3rd row is actually usable by adults. I am 5’10”, and I was very comfortable back there. I would not say the same of the other three vehicles tested. Also, the middle row seats of the Chevy and GMC were very uncomfortable. The had a weird shape, with a weird forward “hump” that hit right between the shoulder blades. I’m sure this has something to do with crash safety or something like that, but those seats were just extremely uncomfortable. The Atlas has an infotainment system that is easy to use and intuitive, and it allows for swiping and pinch zooming. Apple Car Play is awesome! Surprisingly, some manufacturers have not integrated this feature at this time. The digital instrument panel has a very nice, modern look, and it offers 5 or 6 different views. One of the really cool things about the Atlas- you can display the nav map in the middle of the instrument panel. Additionally, you can make the map bigger and the gauges smaller, which allows you to see more map detail- a really nice option. The car even has an altimeter, which is really cool to me (I’m a pilot by trade). Not so much for my wife… The Atlas allows for 4 customizable driver settings. It also has an overhead view camera, which allows you to see a birds-eye view of the vehicle- very handy to ensure you are actually centered in that parking spot! (The car also has a traditional shift lever).