Road Trip Rides: 2026 Volkswagen Atlas

By Jay Kana | Published January 26th, 2026

Photos by Jay Kana

Volkswagen’s largest offering comes in a six or seven seating configuration, has a long list of standard features and is an ideal family road trip companion as you explore Canada.

In 2025, the Atlas accounted for nine percent of all Volkswagen Canada sales, with the two-row Atlas CrossSport accounting for four percent. The popular subcompact Taos and compact Tiguan made up the lions share of sales.

Key Info

Body type: Mid-size SUV
Engine: Two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, 269 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. of torque, eight-speed automatic
Drive type: All-wheel drive
Fuel economy: 11 litres per 100/km combined
Fuel tank size: 70.4 litres of regular 87 octane
Total range: 640 km
Cargo space: 583 litres
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds

What makes the Volkswagen Atlas a good road trip car?
The driving dynamics are impressive for a mid-size SUV, with smooth acceleration, a relatively quiet cabin and upscale materials.
There’s no problems with getting the Atlas up to speed, even with every seat is filled. Plus, the standard all-wheel drive system is ideal for Canadian weather.
One drawback here is that it’s gasoline only; there’s no hybrid or plug-in hybrid option. There are rumours that the 2027 Atlas will have a hybrid option but for now, that’s all they are.

Standard features in the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas include heated and ventilated front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto and wireless charging, and leather seats.

The standard 12-inch infotainment screen features high resolution graphics and is quite responsive. A drawback is that the climate control functions are also embedded in the screen opposed to having physical controls. Otherwise, it’s a good set up, complete with a 30 colour selection for ambient lights.
The cabin is fairly spacious and while it’s not a luxury vehicle, the Atlas does offer premium materials paired with an upscale design for a high-end look and feel.

The front seats are quite comfortable and suitable for longer road trips. The second row features a standard three-seat bench set up and on the two higher trims, you can opt to upgrade those to two captain’s chairs.
The third row is surprisingly spacious with a decent amount of leg room and somewhere I’d sit for a couple of hours.

Standard safety in the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas includes blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane assist and automatic emergency braking.

With an all-new generation coming for 2027, the current 2026 is worth considering as a great family vehicle for both longer road trips and city life.

3 Perks

Upscale interior
Impressive driving dynamics
Good standard feature list

3 Irks

No hybrid option
Climate controls are all screen-based
Competitors have lower fuel consumption