The 2019 VW Atlas prioritizes space above pace, which makes it a must-see for families.
Pros Exceptionally spacious Comfortable ride quality Slide-forward second row Decent value Excellent warranty
Cons Neither fast nor frugal Low-buck interior trim No AWD with turbo-4 Ungainly styling
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas ranked #8 in Midsize SUVs. Currently the Volkswagen Atlas has a score of 8.3 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 27 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Three rows of spacious seats Lots of cargo space Intuitive infotainment system Drives like a smaller vehicle
Cons Sluggish acceleration Some cheap cabin materials
Volkswagen has made few changes to the Atlas for its sophomore year and mostly it's just a shuffling of standard equipment. Automated emergency braking, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and heated exterior mirrors are all now standard across the lineup. The mid-range SE model receives three-zone automatic climate control as standard this year and the top-spec SEL trim now comes standard with a digital gauge display, LED taillights, navigation, and a heated steering wheel.
Pros Expansive cabin, lively handling and velvety ride, cutting-edge infotainment.
Cons Unimpressive acceleration and fuel economy, functional but uninspired interior.
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas SUV comes with all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 8-speed shiftable automatic.Two new trim levels debut.Expanded availability of features for 2019.
Pros Spacious interior offers ample room for passengers in all three rows Great compromise between precise handling and everyday comfort Straightforward cabin design makes everything easy to use
Cons Not very quick to accelerate, even with the optional V6 Fuel economy lags that of some competitors
The 2019 Buick Encore ranked #3 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Buick Encore has a score of 8.2 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 37 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Nice interior with lots of standard features User-friendly infotainment system Nimble handling
Cons Underpowered base engine Higher base price than rivals
The Encore's available trims have been downsized to the base and Preferred models for 2021. With the exception of adding Dark Moon Blue Metallic and Cinnabar Metallic exterior colors, Buick hasn't made any changes to its smallest SUV.
Pros Smooth ride, intuitive infotainment setup, surprisingly spacious cabin.
Cons Not as fuel efficient as key rivals, lacks standard safety tech, just plain slow.
Simplified trim lineup. Improved suite of driver safety aids.
Pros Hushed cabin at highway speeds Maneuverable size
Cons Tepid acceleration Limited feature availability Small cargo area Unimpressive fuel economy