It’s the age of the road trip and it’s hard to find a more capable, or more fun vehicle to take the family across the country in than the new 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SEL. If you’re a family of multitaskers and you’re always moving, this is the perfect car to answer your needs for practical functionality and freedom. The Atlas is back and better than ever. Earlier this year, Mary Moore of A Girl’s Guide to Cars reviewed the 2019 Atlas V6 SEL Premium, hailing it as the 3-row Family SUV for the rockstar mom. Two models later VW brings more prestige, luxury, and style to entertain your family while keeping them safe on the road from here to there. The great thing is that this German designed vehicle is manufactured on American Soil. That means trusted German ingenuity and American jobs all rolled up into one smart car purchase.
The “American” Volkswagen SUV
That’s right. This Volkswagen is American-made for American families. The inspiration for the atlas comes from Volkswagen’s desire to remain competitive in the US. Until they created the Atlas Volkswagen had no large 3-row SUVs and they were losing customers. Now, the 7-seater welcomes back the company’s competitive edge in a mid-size SUV. It’s The perfect alternative to minivans for families who need space but don’t want to sacrifice design.
With Volkswagen’s commitment to becoming carbon-neutral bay 2050, building a plant in the USA became an essential part of that plan. The Chattanooga plant has been producing core vehicles since 2011, manufacturing the Passat, Atlas, and Atlas Cross Sport. The plant employs 3,800 Americans, and it keeps costs low across all trim levels.
The American Road Trip has never been more fun, right at a time when road trips are on the rise post-2020 pandemic. Features like a digital cockpit, Fender guitars speaker system, driver assistance, traffic jam assist, and a dynamic road sign display, make driving the Atlas SEL a total blast.
The “Swiss Army Knife” of Cars
Product communications specialist Will Gock referred to the 2021 Atlas as “a Swiss Army Knife vehicle” referring to the SUVs many functionalities. I appreciate that because Safety and practicality are so important, but I also need a car that gives me the ability to de-stress and unwind. I need my car to be my fortress of solitude, where I can listen to music, and gather my thoughts. For me, the Fender speakers are one of my favorite features and it has nothing to do with how amazing the Atlas handles or assists me with driving and safety features. One of my favorite features is the unobstructed sunroof, which really opens up the space inside the car.
The other thing that makes everything easier is all the remote power you get with the Atlas. The liftgate can be operated when your hands are already full or you don’t want to go back to the car to close it. I can also power the car remotely which is super cool, but as it turns out, super practical too. For example, If I need to get the AC running while the family is piling into the car and I’m still locking up I can keep everybody comfortable on a hot day so they don’t have to sweat it out. Sometimes getting everything together for even the simplest car trip takes a while.
The Volkswagen For Families on the Go
This “Swiss Army Knife” vehicle is ideal for the family on the go because you can easily switch out the seats in the middle row. The middle and back rows collapse for more cargo space. There is more cargo space in the Atlas than in any other3-row SUV in its class. Another thing that’s so great about this SUV is that you don’t have to move the car seat in order to get to the third row. The LATCH connections are located in very convenient accessible spots which is great if you’ve got youngsters in a car seat or booster. The SEL Premium even has a surround-view camera.
Another thing that makes this car so great for traveling families is all the tech. The Atlas includes 5 USB ports charging ports, Car-Net with wifi, and wireless charging. This is so awesome when you have teenagers. Everybody has the connections they need and the Car-Net makes navigation, playlists, and streaming apps easy to access. Add a 5-star safety rating to a teched-out vehicle with extra roominess and optional captain’s chairs. You’ve got the perfect family car.
Learn More about The American Made 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SEL
To learn more about this amazing family vehicle, go to vw.com. See the stretched out sleek design and get the specs you need like 24 mpg you can get on highway use. Pick your color and take a closer look at what makes the Atlas so visually striking inside and out. Get more info on the awesome features I love and why the Atlas should be your next vehicle choice for your family.
Related: Can the VW Atlas and Atlas Sport Do It All?
The 2020 Volkswagen SEL has a starting MSRP of $42,425 for the 4-cylinder 4Motion. Pricing for other trim levels can be found below.
Disclosure: This story is sponsored by A Girl’s Guide to Cars.