It's been already three months that I've been driving the gray VW Atlas that moves from dealership to dealership all around Québec & Ontario with LeaseCosts signs on the sides. Yep, that is one our company vehicle and I'll be pleased to say hi if you see it around. So far, the car has been fantastic and this article is about my impressions about it after 90 days of use.
Happy With The 2.0L Engine
Many of our customers that acquired an Atlas are surprised by the consumption of the 3.6L engine available on the 4MOTION. It is, on average, a 30%-40% less efficient than the 2.0L one. We are located in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, where streets are full of bumps and speed limits are around 30-40 km/h.
The 2.0L engine (and FWD vehicle) is good enough for our day to day use. Fuel consumption is decent, compared to the 3.6L one, but it is only available on the Trendline and Comfortline trims. Additionally, even with the massive snowfalls we received in Montreal this winter, we had no issue driving around with a proper set of winter tires.
Comforline vs. Trendline
While there were multiple available Trendline models with either 2.0 or 3.6-liter engines at the moment of our search, I would never suggest anyone go with the Trendline in Canada. The actual price difference is minimal (50-60 CAD more per month) and the actual amount of features that could be considered "required" are definitely worth. I would have regretted acquiring a Trendline just for the following main reasons:
Safety
- Front Assist-Autonomous Emergency Braking
- Pedestrian Detection
Winter Ease (Comfort)
- Leather multifunction heated steering wheel with chrome decorative inserts
- KESSY - keyless access with push-start button
- Heated front seats
- Remote Starter
Passenger & CargoSpace
Here is where most people get the most of an Atlas: so much space. The 50/50 third row and the 60/40 second one allows for a very flexible way of arranging things around. When the third row is completely folded down, it fits multiple sets of skis and snowboards without needing to fold any additional seat from the second row.
Regarding passenger space, having all second-row seats adjustable is incredibly useful when looking for comfort and actual space for the third row.
More than Happy
I've honestly needed to rethink what my future car would be after driving an Atlas. Ideally, maybe a 4MOTION would be my top list, but so far, I'm more than happy with this vehicle for years to come.
