Facelift adds mild design changes and new technology
by Ciprian Florea, onIntroduced in 2017, the Volkswagen Atlas replaced the Touareg in the United States. Come 2020 and Volkswagen rolled out the first mid-cycle facelift for the midsize SUV, at the Chicago Auto Show. The seven seater boasts mild design changes on the outside, new technology on the inside, but it’s available with the same engines under the hood.
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2021 Volkswagen Atlas
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Year:2021
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The Atlas remains highly familiar design-wise. The most notable change can be seen up front, where the SUV features a three-bar grille that extends into the upper trim of the headlamps. This feature is borrowed from the Atlas Cross Sport and makes it look a tad more aggressive. The SUV is also fitted with LED lights as standard, and both the headlamps and taillights feature a revised design. The new Atlas is nearly three inches longer than its predecessor, but that’s because of the changes that Volkswagen made to the bumpers. So none of that goes into the wheelbase for enhanced passenger room.
The interior upgrades are worthy of a facelift: they don’t stand out much, but they keep the design fresh. Volkswagen revised the steering wheel, now with fresh buttons, and added an eight-inch infotainment display on all models but the base trim. You can also opt for contrast stitching for the leather surfaces and door trim, as well as a Fender Premium audio system. The options list also includes three-zone climate, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and wireless charging.
Under the hood, the Atlas remains true to the old and reliable engines. There’s a 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque and a 3.6-liter V-6 that cranks out 276 horses and 266 pound-feet of twist. Both engines mate to the same eight-speed automatic transmission and are available with the 4Motion AWD system. The big news here is that the four-cylinder is available with AWD for the first time.
Volkswagen also offers new driver-assistance systems for the Atlas. Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Traffic Alert are standard on all models. The options list includes the following:
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop and Go
- Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist)
- Park Distance Control (PDC)
- Park Steering Assistant (Park Assist)
- Overhead View Camera (Area View)
- Traffic Jam Assist
- Dynamic Road Sign Display
| Engine | 2.0L inline four cylinder, 16V, turbocharged/intercooled, FSI | 3.6L VR6 |
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| Bore | 3.25 in | 3.50 in |
| Stroke | 3.65 in | 3.80 in |
| Compression Ratio | 9.6:1 | 12.0:1 |
| Horsepower (SAE) @ rpm | 235 @ 4500 | 276 @ 6200 |
| Maximum torque, lb-ft @ rpm | 258 @ 1600 | 266 @ 2750 |
| Towing | 2000 lb | 2000-5000 lb |
