2027 Volkswagen Atlas gets a big upgrade and a bigger price hike

A Fresh Look Comes With a Higher Entry Price

The 2027 Volkswagen Atlas is getting its most dramatic overhaul since it first hit the scene. This second-generation SUV rolls out with fresh sheet metal, a glitzier cabin, and a tech upgrade – all in a bid to stay relevant in the cutthroat world of American three-row SUVs. Volkswagen has also trimmed the fat from the lineup, dropping a few trims but stuffing more features into the ones that remain.

Naturally, all these upgrades come with a price hike. For 2027, the Atlas now starts at $41,610 if you want front-wheel drive, or $43,610 if you need 4Motion all-wheel drive. That means even the cheapest AWD model is now over $4,000 pricier than before – so prepare your wallet.

Volkswagen has also done some spring cleaning with the trims, axing the Peak Edition and the regular SEL. Now, your choices are SE, SE with Technology, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium R-Line.

More Standard Features Than Before

Volkswagen insists the steeper prices come with a much fatter list of standard kit. Even the base SE now throws in a power liftgate, dual wireless phone charging, rear sunshades, parking sensors front and back, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate, and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen alongside a 10.25-inch digital cockpit. Apart from looking visually bigger, the cabin also comes with real wood trim and ambient lighting, which are now standard too, so the Atlas finally feels as plush as it looks.

Step up to the SE with Technology, and you get 20-inch wheels, glowing VW badges front and back, a massive 15-inch infotainment screen, a factory trailer hitch, and the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds. Go for the SEL R-Line, and you’re treated to Varenna leather, a head-up display, navigation, heated second-row seats, and a wild 30-color ambient lighting setup. At the top, the SEL Premium R-Line piles on Nappa leather, massage seats, a Harman Kardon sound system, and a surround-view camera.

Under the hood, the redesigned Atlas continues to use a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but it's now Volkswagen's updated EA888 evo5 unit. Output rises to 282 horsepower, up 13 hp from the previous model, while torque is rated at 258 lb-ft. Although torque drops slightly, Volkswagen says the revised engine is both more responsive and more efficient.

Those efficiency gains show up in the EPA ratings. Front-wheel-drive models are now rated at 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while 4Motion all-wheel-drive versions return 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. That's an improvement of up to 2 mpg over the outgoing Atlas, making the redesigned SUV one of the more fuel-efficient non-hybrid entries in the midsize three-row segment.

Arriving Soon at Volkswagen Dealers

The 2027 Atlas comes in both front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive, depending on which trim you pick. Destination charges are $1,525 no matter the model, and you can still tick the boxes for captain’s chairs, a panoramic sunroof, or a black wheel package if you want to splurge.

Yes, the new Atlas costs a lot more than the old one, but Volkswagen is betting buyers will see the value in all the extra standard gear. Instead of nickel-and-diming you with pricey option packs, most of the good stuff now comes baked in. Whether that’s enough to justify the jump in price is up to shoppers – especially with so many strong rivals crowding the midsize SUV market.