Volkswagen Atlas Now Beats Most Three-Row SUVs On Gas Mileage

Volkswagen’s 2027 Atlas three-row crossover was unveiled a few months ago with a fresh look, an upgraded interior, and a revised engine. This 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mille—known as the EA888 Evo5—now makes 282 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, so it’s 13 hp up on the outgoing model. What VW didn’t reveal at the time was a fuel efficiency improvement, which is significant after a period of steep gas price hikes. It makes running costs for this practical vehicle a little more palatable than they were before, but is it the most efficient vehicle in its class?

Related: All-New 2027 Volkswagen Atlas Gets New Interior, More Power, and Updated Design

VW Atlas Gets More Efficient

Efficiency improvements for the Atlas aren’t drastic, but since the engine isn’t an all-new design, that can’t be reasonably expected. Here’s a look at EPA numbers for the 2027 model versus the 2026 version.

The new AWD model is now just as efficient as the older FWD one. A 2-mpg improvement for the 2027 Atlas FWD may not sound like much, but it’s enough to get an extra 37 miles of range when the 18.6-gallon gas tank is full.

A more efficient and long-overdue hybrid version of the Atlas is expected to arrive when the vehicle undergoes a mid-cycle refresh, so it’s still some way off. Rivals like the Toyota Grand Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade already have optional hybrid powertrains, so the VW is at a disadvantage here.

Atlas Efficiency Vs. Closest Rivals

The three-row crossover segment is packed with accomplished rivals. To see how the 2027 Atlas matches up, here’s a look at its best EPA ratings relative to the non-hybrid Toyota Grand Highlander, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Mazda CX-90.

The only model here that matches the Atlas is the Mazda CX-90, which is surprising since the Mazda comes with a much larger six-cylinder engine and standard AWD. The Atlas is more efficient than all other non-hybrid rivals—it gets 4 mpg more than the Palisade on the highway, which is a notable gap.

Final Thoughts

More powerful and efficient than before, the 2027 Volkswagen Atlas will be a top choice for larger families when it launches this fall. We expect it to be just as comfortable as the outgoing model, and the fresh interior appears to be even more premium. For anyone who wants to keep their SUV for a long time and avoid the potential extra maintenance that comes with a hybrid powertrain, the Atlas is a strong choice. But as more and more buyers embrace hybrids, VW will struggle to steal a significantly larger slice of the pie in this segment until the electrified Atlas gets here.