Car and Driver recognizes the Atlas as a solid three-row crossover with "a comfortable ride with good space for up to seven." But in early July, its editors devoted a full article on which Atlas variant they feel offers the best value for your money. The good news is that while it is not the entry-level model, it is far from the top. C/D editors recommend the SE with Technology trim level, with a starting MSRP of $43,730, and Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood gives you this summary as to why.
Different features have different values for different people, so it is entirely possible that you will may prefer a different Atlas trim level- but it never hurts to hear what people who professionally evaluate thousands of new cars and trucks every year have to say. To start, here are some of the things you get no matter which Atlas you choose:
- Turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine producing 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
- 96.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity
- Climatronic® tri-zone automatic climate control
- Heated and ventilated front seat
- 12-inch center touchscreen
- Wireless smartphone charging
That is a pretty good start. Adding the "with Technology" suffix to the Atlas name brings both an additional $4,420 charge and, true to its name, a lot of extra content, much of which is technology-focused. Those features include:
- Remote start
- Hands-free power liftgate
- Front and rear Park Distance Control
- HomeLink integrated into the rearview mirror
- 115V power outlet
- 20-inch machined alloy wheels (from 18-inch)
- Integrated light bar in front grille
- Trailer hitch
An important distinction between the SE with Technology and every higher Atlas trim is the SE with Technology is the highest variant that still offers standard front-wheel drive (FWD). Given Houston gets at best one day of snow per year and usually doesn't have much staying power, you may want to save the $1900 cost of the added AWD system that is optional on this trim (but baked into the higher trims).
If you stay around Houston, FWD will be a good bet, but it may be different if you're frequently making road trips in the mountains or off the paved path. Fortunately, there isn't a huge sacrifice in fuel economy if you elect to send power to all four wheels. The MPG difference from FWD is no different in the city, and just one less mpg on the highway (27 to 26), which also brings the combined figure down by one (26 to 22).
The seating surfaces on the Atlas SE with Technology never spent time in a pasture. If you want the real thing, consider the "L" in the two SEL models as meaning "leather" because that is where you will find it. SEL models also add heated rear seats and heated washer nozzles - again, not a big priority in Houston - along with additional power adjustments in the front seats, a head-up display, Dynamic Road Sign display, multi-color ambient interior lighting, and AWD.
These are all nice things, but we can see why Car and Driver found the SE with Technology as the place where the value for money peaks. The only way to know if you think differently is to pay a visit to Team Gillman Volkswagen of Kingwood, check out our vast Atlas inventory, and decide for yourself which Atlas works best for you.