The 2020 Volkswagen Atlas is offered in S, SE, and SEL trim, each with a few variants. A  lightly-optioned Atlas is a good value. High-end models are costly and don’t provide the special feel we expect at upward of $45,000.

We rate the Atlas at 6 out of 10, giving it points for its good base specification. (Read more abouthow we rate cars.) 

The base Atlas S costs about $32,000, though adding the V-6 and all-wheel drive hikes that to more than $35,000. Standard fare includes cloth upholstery, a 6.5-inch touchscreen for infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, active safety features, and 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Family buyers may want to step up to the Atlas SE for about $1,500 more that adds automatic climate control, a larger 8.0-inch touchscreen, three more USB ports (for a total of four), and easy-clean synthetic upholstery. If we were Atlas shopping, that’s where we’d start and stop.

For those who must have it all, the Atlas SEL with the optional Premium package runs about $50,000 and includes a digital instrument cluster, leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, Fender-branded speakers, and a panoramic sunroof. At that price, some luxury Sirens such as the Volvo XC90 beckon. 

VW once offered a six-year, 72,000-mile warranty on the Atlas, but that’s been dropped to a still-decent four-year, 50,000-mile coverage. VW includes maintenance for the first two years, including oil changes. 

Review continues below