2024 Volkswagen Atlas Review: Can We Get the Golf Back Now?

I climbed into the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas for the first time full of optimism. My wife and I own a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan and we love it. It’s a great little family car with some of the best steering and balance I’ve ever felt in a crossover. It’s my wife’s daily driver but I’m happy whenever I get to drive it. So when it came time to drive the Atlas, I was pretty confident I would like it. Right up until I turned the steering wheel and made a face like I just smelled moldy garbage. 

For 2024, Volkswagen gave the Atlas a heavy refresh. It isn’t a whole new model, just heavily revised. Not only does it have a new face and new taillights, but it also has a drastically different interior. Rather than the pre-refresh Atlas, which had an interior very similar to my wife’s Tiguan, the 2024 mode has a cabin similar to those in the Mk8 GTI and all-electric ID.4. And it’s a massive downgrade. 

But it wasn’t just the cabin that disappointed me. The Atlas is probably the least interesting, least enjoyable Volkswagen I’ve ever driven, which is so frustrating because, as a package, it has so much potential. Making matters worse, there are some excellent new SUVs in its segment that outshine the VeeDub in almost every way. I really thought I was going to love the Atlas since I’ve loved nearly every Volkswagen I’ve ever had the pleasure of driving or owning, and there’s so much going for it as a full-sized family SUV. But it just misses the mark in too many ways to earn my love.

For 2024, Volkswagen gave the Atlas new styling, inside and out, and revised its powertrain options. Instead of the two engine options VW used to offer—a 2.0-liter turbo-four and a naturally aspirated V6—the Atlas is now four-pot or bust. It also gets new tech, Volkswagen’s much-maligned touchscreen infotainment system, and some new standard equipment.

While the new-look VW Atlas is still instantly recognizable as an Atlas, it’s changed quite a lot. The entire front fascia is new, with completely different headlights, a larger grille, and a revised front bumper, all of which make it look bigger and wider but not necessarily better. The new taillight bar out back looks nice enough and gives you something