For The Second Year, VW Atlas Wins MotorWeek SUV Award

For the second year in a row, Volkswagen’s three-row SUV has been named Best Large Utility by MotorWeek. The SUV topped its class in MotorWeeks Driver’s Choice Awards. The awards were announced at the Chicago Auto Show, the largest consumer-driven auto show in North America.

Scott Keogh, chief exec of Volkswagen Group of America (VWoA), called this award “another great moment for Atlas. It was designed and built specifically for American families and buyers.” He noted that “buyers and critics alike are letting us know that we’re hitting the mark with this seven-seater SUV.”

SUV Has Many Strong Attributes

John Davis, MotorWeek creator, and the host said that no manufacturer “matches the Volkswagen Atlas when it comes to family-pleasing roominess, practical luxury, user-friendly technologies, advanced safety, and [great] driving manners.” Davis continued that for all of these reasons Atlas “is MotorWeek’s pick for Best Large Utility for two years running.” This award comes “despite a near flood of new three-row utility competition.”

It takes a lot of work to evaluate the final cars that end up with Drivers’ Choice Awards. MotorWeek’s editorial staff begins with more than 150 cars, trucks, and sport utilities every year. Vehicles are then culled out, leaving the winners. The television show uses the following as the bases for the award:

• Driving performance
• Technology
• Practicality
• Fuel efficiency
• Value for the dollar

The Atlas is a relative newcomer to the VW lineup. It was not the automaker’s first SUV as the Tiguan and Touareg filled that role. However, as noted by observers, the Tiguan had their limitations. Those limitations were size and practicality, primarily.

SUV Was VW’s First Three-Row Model

The Atlas’ debut was in2017 as the automaker’s first three-row SUV. It is available with two engine options, a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four, and the automaker’s venerable 3.6-liter V-6 (VR6). Seven trim levels include the S, SE, SE with Technology, SE with Technology R-Line®, SEL, SEL R-Line, and SEL Premium. The automaker also offers its 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system on a variety of trims. The Atlas is built in the automaker’s Chattanooga, Tenn. plant, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. Prices for the Atlas start at $30,895.

MotorWeek appears on the cable television channel, MotorTrend Network. The award winners are on the program’s website, Motorweek.org. They will also appear on a special episode of the show, airing on public television stations, starting tomorrow. The winners will also be on a special showing on cable’s MotorTrend Network beginning Feb. 19.

Source: Volkswagen