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2025 VW ATLAS PEAK EDITION SE

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition SE

Volkswagen vehicles aren't what they used to be. And I mean that in a good way.

Back in the day, Volkswagen was known for cute, practical little cars like the Beetle, sporty little runabouts like the Karmann Ghia or even the super fun - but hard-to-describe - no-frills VW "Thing" of the 1970s. Over the decades, VW has grown up quite a bit, with vehicles that are bold and impressive, such as the 2025 Atlas Peak Edition.

By Reed Berry

Thu, Feb 20, 2025 08:00 AM PST

Featured Image: The 2025 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition SE. It's named after the general concept of a "peak," symbolizing its off-road capabilities and rugged styling, rather than a specific mountain peak (Reed Berry photograph).

My daily driver is a compact Toyota, so being behind the wheel of this big, rugged SUV certainly gives me a feeling of highway dominance while, at the same time, reminding me that I need to make some new friends as I see all the empty seats behind me. Atlas has three rows of seating to comfortably accommodate seven.

As for aesthetics, this vehicle checks most boxes. It looks great on the outside, not just because of the stylish body design but because our test vehicle has a very attractive Avocado Green Pearl exterior. The big 18-inch black painted alloy wheels look great, too. On the inside, the interior seems a bit drab, in my opinion, but orange stitching on the black leatherette seating surfaces does provide a nice - and much needed - pop of color.

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition SE
Our test vehicle has a very attractive Avocado Green Pearl exterior. The big 18-inch black painted alloy wheels look great (Reed Berry photograph).

The interior is definitely comfortable. Both the driver and front passenger seat are heated and ventilated. There is a three-zone climate control system, with a control panel for the rear zone in the second row, and air vents in all three rows. The second row 60/40 split seating folds flat, reclines and slides, providing access to the third row, and the third row 50/50 seating folds flat.

Even with no seats folded, there is ample room (20.6 cubic feet) behind the third-row seating for the luggage for my road trip, including my huge, fully loaded wheeled sherpa bag. Maximum cargo capacity is an impressive 96.6 cubic feet. Plenty of space inside for people and anything else you may want to haul, and easily configurable to meet your specific needs.

Other notable features on the inside include a conveniently placed teeny-tiny lever on the center console that allows you to shift between drive, neutral and reverse with the flick of a finger. You can also use that very same finger to access the panoramic sunroof. There are two narrow touch pads above the center console, one for the sunshade and one for the sunroof. Touch and swipe from front to back to fully open, and back to front to close. Simply tap to stop at a certain point. I won't be opening the sunroof today, however, due to rare SoCal rainy weather.

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition interior
Buttons and knobs that we have always relied on to control certain features in our vehicles have been replaced in the Atlas by controls on the touchscreen or by fingering the capacitive touch panels to open the sunroof. There is definitely some familiarization involved, and it's better (and safer) to do it before you drive rather than while you're already on the road. (Reed Berry photograph)

As I make my way up I-15 from the Inland Empire to Las Vegas, I am impressed by the performance of the Atlas. There's plenty of power from a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. I find myself making a conscious effort to stay at (or around) the 70 mile per hour speed limit. The 269-horsepower engine would have no problem catching up to the many vehicles speeding past me.

This vehicle feels big because it IS big but, with VW's 4MOTION all-wheel drive and four-wheel independent suspension, it certainly handles nicely, and the ride is quite smooth. Braking is confident and cornering is crisp. I find the vehicle's engine Start-Stop system at stop signs and red lights much less noticeable and annoying than in other vehicles I have driven, and it can be disengaged, if desired.

So, let's talk tech. Atlas has a large 12-inch multi-function touchscreen and what I had hoped would be an array of exciting technology features and conveniences. Sadly, in the technology area, this vehicle falls a bit short. Don't get me wrong, there are some cool features, such as wireless charging for cell phones and other devices, AM/FM/HD Radio with voice control and a hands-free easy open/close power rear liftgate, to name a few. There's even really cool looking Peak Edition dash lighting. 

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition interior
On the inside, the interior seems a bit drab, in my opinion, but orange stitching on the black leatherette seating surfaces does provide a nice - and much needed - pop of color (Reed Berry photograph).

But as I press the Navigation button, I receive a message on the screen saying, "This vehicle is not equipped with navigation." No worries - I'll use my phone for navigation. Unfortunately, using my phone poses the next tech issue. After connecting to Android Auto, it has failed repeatedly, displaying the message, "Connection Interrupted." Needless to say, I am not experiencing Fahrvergnügen at this point. I haven't encountered this disconnect issue in any other vehicle with Android Auto and, quite frankly, it is a bit frustrating. I am able to connect fairly easily via Bluetooth, which takes care of some of my connectivity needs.

Another issue that will probably take Atlas drivers a little getting used to is the fact that buttons and knobs that we have always relied on to control certain features in our vehicles have been replaced in Atlas by controls on the touchscreen or by fingering the aforementioned capacitive touch panels to open the sunroof. As I found out, this is not a vehicle you just jump into and drive. There is definitely some familiarization involved, and it's better (and safer) to do it before you drive rather than while you're already on the road.

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition cargo
Even with no seats folded, there is ample room (20.6 cubic feet) behind the third-row seating for the luggage for my road trip, including my huge, fully loaded wheeled sherpa bag (Reed Berry photograph).

Overall, the Atlas Peak Edition has a lot going for it. It looks great and is highly functional given its size, with plenty of space and legroom even for second and third row passengers. For a big all-wheel drive SUV, the fuel economy estimates are fairly respectable at 18 mpg city and 24 highway. And, while the frustrating tech issues I faced during my drive would be a consideration, the Atlas Peak Edition does have a lot of cool features. Is this particular model worth nearly 50K? I think so, but it's a crowded market segment with many worthy competitors at various price levels, so vehicle buyers will have to consider their needs, desires and budget in picking an SUV.

There are five Atlas trim levels, ranging from the SE with a base MSRP of $38,200 up to the SEL Premium R-Line, loaded with comfort and technology features - and massaging front seats - at $53,205. Our test vehicle, the Atlas Peak Edition falls in the middle of the Atlas line with a base MSRP of $46,655.

For more information on Volkswagen automobiles: http://www.vw.com

 

2025 VW Atlas Peak Edition lighting
The cool looking Peak Edition dash lighting (Reed Berry photograph).

 

About The Author

Reed Berry's profile picture

Reed Berry

Known professionally as "The Traffic Guy," Reed Berry has been a driver safety educator for over 30 years. Reed has conducted traffic school classes and suspended license workshops throughout California, and has served as keynote speaker at safety conferences and corporate events across America. He has appeared on radio and television programs both in the U.S. and internationally to discuss safety-related issues. A contributor to LA Car since 2003, Reed Berry is a member of Motor Press Guild, the Los Angeles Press Club and SAG-AFTRA.

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