Volkswagen has made a few adjustments to the Atlas
family in the United States for the 2019MY according to a CarsDirect report. One of them sees the turbocharged
2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which puts out 235 hp and 349 Nm of torque, only available in the S trim level.
It starts at US$ 31,890 (€ 27,756), which is quite
competitive, as it undercuts some of its key rivals. For example, the 2019 Ford
Explorer can be had from US$ 33,360 (€ 29,036) with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine,
whereas the Toyota Highlander LE, with the base four-cylinder lump, has an MSRP
of US$ 32,375 (€ 28,178).
Customers willing to upgrade have to go to the 276
hp and 360 Nm of torque 3.6-liter V6. The MSRP
for this variant is US$ 35,090 (€ 30,541), and it’s now offered solely with
all-wheel drive.
The most affordable FWD version of the Volkswagen
Atlas is the SE V6. It starts from US$ 36,490 (€ 31,760) – a strange decision,
since it makes the most affordable FWD model US$ 1,400 (€ 1,219) pricier than the
base V6 AWD.
Unlike the AWD four-cylinder, the FWD Atlas V6 is
more expensive than other three-row SUVs. For example, the Honda Pilot LX and
Toyota Highlander LE V6, both with front-wheel drive, start from US$ 32,445
(€ 28,239) and US$ 34,425 (€ 29,963).
