VW's Atlas SUV lives up to its legendary name

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- Atlas ... The very name implies size, power and an imposing presence.

It all fits with the recently tested Volkswagen Atlas sport-utility vehicle.  My ride was the 2019 VW Atlas V6 SEL Premium with the automaker's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.  The three-row tester was a smooth performer in this class, and it proved useful in a holiday season week of cargo- and people-hauling chores.

Coming off some recent reviews of big SUVs priced at $60,000 and up, I was pleasantly surprised to see a bottom line of $49,390 on the sticker of my fully-loaded tester.  If 50-grand can seem like a bargain, this Atlas was Exhibit A.

A massive listing of standard amenities included 20-inch alloy wheels, the Intelligent Crash Response System, power/folding/heated exterior mirrors, a Parking Distance Control system, hill start/descent control, leather/heated seating in the first and second rows, puddle lights and LED lighting all around.

Interior comfort and space was impressed.  And although I didn't need it, the trailer hitch was set up for a 5,000-pound towing capacity.

All in all, the Atlas shaped up as a workhorse, although it burned fuel at a brisk rate of 17 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

For a workhorse, the Atlas was silky smooth on the interstates.  The 3.6-liter V-6 rated at 276 horsepower was capable, and passengers commented on the quiet, monorail-smooth ride the Atlas delivered at freeway speeds.  I did not take the Atlas off-road, but fellow vehicle reviewers have praised this SUV's agility on the unpaved trails.

Some of those same reviewers, however, complained that the V-6 was under-powered, but I did not find that to be the case.  Yes, it made some noise on steep uphill runs, but the Atlas nevertheless dug in and stepped up to my satisfaction.

Worth noting: The Atlas scored a max five-star rating in federal government crash testing.

The Atlas, in my view, is under-publicized among three-row sport-utes.  There are some heavyweight competitors out there, but a discriminating SUV shopper might be wise to give the Atlas a look.  You might walk away with a pleasing, reliable vehicle for a comparatively bargain price.