2021 Volkswagen Atlas
The question I get the most is: What car do I drive? I actually don’t own a car. I’m third generation in a family of car dealership owners so I drive a demo car and get a new car every 5,000 miles or so. I’ve been driving a Volkswagen Atlas for the last few months and I am so excited to share with you what might be my favorite car for a mom of two under two.
Exterior
Starting with the exterior, the VW Atlas has my favorite front end out there. I love how wide it is and all the chrome elements. Overall, I think it has an athletic and masculine look to it that doesn’t scream mom car, which I like.
Interior
Front Row
The interior of the car is so comfortable. It feels super spacious and sleek while still being simple. It has a digital dash that makes me feel like I’m driving a racecar and a beautiful built-in display with the climate control buttons pulled out. The infotainment system is great, but it has Apple Carplay and Android Auto built in so I find myself always defaulting to the Apple Carplay because it is so convenient. Under the screen is a great cubby space, 2 USBs, a 12 volt and an AUX cord. The two cup holders are the best cup holders out there. I can fit just about any water bottle I’ve tried as well as a giant Gatorade. And the center console is huge for the size of this car.
Second Row
Jumping into the second row, I have plenty of room with the front seat set for me and I’m about 6 feet tall. As far as amenities, I have sunshades, great cubby spaces, 2 USBs, and climate control. But I’m missing ceiling vents. There are vents down below, but with car seats ceiling vents make a big difference. One of the reasons why I love this car so much is how wide the bench is. I have my two kids’ car seats installed back here—a rear facing Clek and a pumpkin seat—and while not ideal, I’ve climbed over my son’s car seat and fit quite comfortably between them in the middle seat.
Third Row
Access to the third row is my favorite. Not only does the second row slide forward and back, but it also has the car seat tilt so I can tilt the seat forward while keeping a car seat installed. It’s amazing. Sitting in the third row, I have lots of room even with the second row pushed all the way back. And since VW didn’t try to squish 3 seats back here (there are only 2) the seats are so much more comfortable. We also have vents on the side, 2 and half cup holders and lights.
Car Seat Set Up
The VW Atlas has three sets of lower anchors in the second row, which is something I almost never see. That extra set of lower anchors really gives you some good car seat flexibility. It doesn’t have any lower anchors in the third row, but it does have tether anchors in all 5 seats in the second and third row. And like I mentioned earlier, it has the car seat tilt so you can access the third row even when car seats are installed using the lower anchors.
Trunk
These mid-size, 7-passenger SUVs are not known for their roomy trunk space, but the trunk in the Atlas is one of the largest. The only mid size SUVs with a larger trunk are the Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse. My Uppababy Vista fits back here with a little bit of extra space to put things in the side compartments. I can lift and lower the third row from the trunk, making for tons of trunk space.
Trim
The Volkswagen Atlas comes in several trim levels. This is the SEL, which takes it up to nearly $50,000, but it does have just about all the bells and whistles. If I were to build my own Atlas, I’d go with the SE with technology trim because it comes with all the comfort and safety features I want without the higher price tag.
Close
After putting 4,000 miles on this Volkswagen Atlas, I have to say it is one of my favorite cars on the market for moms with young kids. It has a wide bench for 3 across, one of the roomiest trunks in its class, and phenomenal cup holders. What else could I ask for?
