AUTOMOTIVE words and photos by TOM STRONGMAN
VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS
Room For Seven in a Spacious Package.
Volkswagen’s 1959 “Think Small” ad campaign has been ranked as one of the best of the century by Ad Age and defined the company for decades. Fast forward 62 years, and how things change. “Think Atlas” might be a better ad for today’s Volkswagen because it is a popular seven-passenger SUV that is larger than any other vehicle in the company. Engineered from VW’s MQB platform architecture, Atlas is 200.7 inches long, 78.4 inches wide, and 70.1 inches high. It is assembled in Chattanooga, Tenn., and typifies how the automotive industry has changed and evolved to suit the needs of families on the go. Carpooling in a 1959 Beetle would be a challenge. Of course, Volkswagen also builds smaller vehicles, and, in fact, has recently introduced a 2022 compact SUV called the Taos that will go on sale in the second quarter of 2021. A whole family of electric cars is on the way, as well. But back to the Atlas. Because it slots into a segment populated with vehicles such as the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, Ford Explorer, and Mazda CX-9, the Atlas has three-row seating and a spacious interior. For folks who want a sportier version, the Atlas Cross Sport has two rows of seats and a slightly lower roofline. The Atlas comes in eight different trim levels. The base S, with a four-cylinder, starts at $31,555. Add 4Motion all-wheel drive and the base price is $33,455. Models SE w/Technology and above are equipped with the VR6 engine. Prices start at $38,345 for front-
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