Topic: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas

[OliverD]

I see VW as sort of having two tiers of vehicles at this point.

Designed primarily for the American market and providing high value: Jetta, Beetle, Passat, Atlas

More Euro, more expensive: Golf (all permutations), CC, Touareg

Not quite sure where the new Tiguan will lie in this.

The Golf used to be the entry level product in North America but now the Jetta is. Despite competing in a similar space, the Golf is more expensive and is more of a premium product (relatively speaking). I think the Atlas and Touareg will have a similar relationship, but with a bigger price difference.

[revalations]

I really have come to appreciate VW's restrained styling. Their products also seem to stay looking fresh longer.

[dkaz]

They can't expect us to believe that all this will fit into that. Four child size hockey bags is about 600 litres altogether, add the goalie to the mix and their bag is up to 250 litres = 850 litres. The Honda Pilot is one of the larger 3 row CUVs and only has about 500 litres behind the third row and will in no way fit all of that back there although the Pilot is an 8 seater so you can fold one seat down and fit 7 plus gear.

As a result, when I saw the teaser photo, I was thinking Routan attempt #2. I'd be surprised if the Atlas has anything close to 500 litres, which will not fit 850 litres of hockey gear. This is misleading advertising.

[ktm525]

This would be nice with a diesel.

[OliverD]

They can't expect us to believe that all this will fit into that. Four child size hockey bags is about 600 litres altogether, add the goalie to the mix and their bag is up to 250 litres = 850 litres. The Honda Pilot is one of the larger 3 row CUVs and only has about 500 litres behind the third row and will in no way fit all of that back there although the Pilot is an 8 seater so you can fold one seat down and fit 7 plus gear.

As a result, when I saw the teaser photo, I was thinking Routan attempt #2. I'd be surprised if the Atlas has anything close to 500 litres, which will not fit 850 litres of hockey gear. This is misleading advertising.

Maybe mom isn't coming along so they're not using the third row. 

[JohnnyMac]

They can't expect us to believe that all this will fit into that. Four child size hockey bags is about 600 litres altogether, add the goalie to the mix and their bag is up to 250 litres = 850 litres. The Honda Pilot is one of the larger 3 row CUVs and only has about 500 litres behind the third row and will in no way fit all of that back there although the Pilot is an 8 seater so you can fold one seat down and fit 7 plus gear.

As a result, when I saw the teaser photo, I was thinking Routan attempt #2. I'd be surprised if the Atlas has anything close to 500 litres, which will not fit 850 litres of hockey gear. This is misleading advertising.

Yeah I only see three smaller hockey bags/large duffle bags.  Looks like the kids are going to hockey practice already dressed so they'll be strapped in with their gear on.  I can see them fitting what's in the picture into that CUV.  The problem is, kids usually have a bit bigger gear and don't wear all their gear in the vehicle on there way to practice.

[OliverD]

As an aside, that colour reminds me of Futura Yellow, briefly available on early MkIV Jettas and GTIs.

[Noto]

Plus there seems to be rumors of a smaller CUV coming to compete in the small CUV market that currently has the CX-3, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda HR-V.

I've heard that there are two sub-Tiguan CUVs coming.

smaller than a Tiguan...will it be a fricken 2-seater?  The Tiguan already has no cargo capacity...FFS.  Unless smaller = shorter, in which case we're getting a Golf on stilts (i.e. literally a lifted Golf with no other changes...ok, maybe some plastic cladding).  Then another one smaller than that?!

[OliverD]

Plus there seems to be rumors of a smaller CUV coming to compete in the small CUV market that currently has the CX-3, Subaru Crosstrek, and Honda HR-V.

I've heard that there are two sub-Tiguan CUVs coming.

smaller than a Tiguan...will it be a fricken 2-seater?  The Tiguan already has no cargo capacity...FFS.  Unless smaller = shorter, in which case we're getting a Golf on stilts (i.e. literally a lifted Golf with no other changes...ok, maybe some plastic cladding).  Then another one smaller than that?!

Smaller than the new Tiguan LWB.

[johngenx]

VW needs to fire the person that comes up with their names.  Seriously.  This is okay, but not great.  Eos?  Tourag?  Ugh. Even Golf?  Surprised they didn't call their SUV the Baseball.

[CanuckS2K]

VW needs to fire the person that comes up with their names.  Seriously.  This is okay, but not great.  Eos?  Tourag?  Ugh. Even Golf?  Surprised they didn't call their SUV the Baseball.

On the bright side, at least it's an actual name and not the alphabet soup that so many manufacturers are doing now.   

[tortoise]

Now I want them to make a Volkswagen Croquet.

[EV Dan]

This would be nice with a diesel.

Everything is nice with a diesel 

[dkaz]

They can't expect us to believe that all this will fit into that. Four child size hockey bags is about 600 litres altogether, add the goalie to the mix and their bag is up to 250 litres = 850 litres. The Honda Pilot is one of the larger 3 row CUVs and only has about 500 litres behind the third row and will in no way fit all of that back there although the Pilot is an 8 seater so you can fold one seat down and fit 7 plus gear.

As a result, when I saw the teaser photo, I was thinking Routan attempt #2. I'd be surprised if the Atlas has anything close to 500 litres, which will not fit 850 litres of hockey gear. This is misleading advertising.

Yeah I only see three smaller hockey bags/large duffle bags.  Looks like the kids are going to hockey practice already dressed so they'll be strapped in with their gear on.  I can see them fitting what's in the picture into that CUV.  The problem is, kids usually have a bit bigger gear and don't wear all their gear in the vehicle on there way to practice.

Actually, why are two kids in street goalie gear? Only one is dressed for actual hockey. The rest in duffle bags. IT MAKES NO SENSE! 

[EV-Light]

This would be nice with a diesel.

Everything is nice with a diesel 

you mean slow and dirty?

[EV-Light]

I see VW as sort of having two tiers of vehicles at this point.

Designed primarily for the American market and providing high value: Jetta, Beetle, Passat, Atlas

More Euro, more expensive: Golf (all permutations), CC, Touareg

Not quite sure where the new Tiguan will lie in this.

The Golf used to be the entry level product in North America but now the Jetta is. Despite competing in a similar space, the Golf is more expensive and is more of a premium product (relatively speaking). I think the Atlas and Touareg will have a similar relationship, but with a bigger price difference.

your assessment is totally incorrect in my opinion...the Golf is made in Mexico in the exact same place where the Jetta! Different platforms for now, but the Jetta will eventually reuse all the bits and pieces that are tied to the Golf - you know, like the same interior
The Jetta has been the entry level VW in the line up for ages now - or maybe I am totally misplaced here? I don't remember the last time I saw a Golf that was cheaper than a Jetta. This is just part of VW's strategy given the Jetta has been the most popular VW for ages now.

[OliverD]

I see VW as sort of having two tiers of vehicles at this point.

Designed primarily for the American market and providing high value: Jetta, Beetle, Passat, Atlas

More Euro, more expensive: Golf (all permutations), CC, Touareg

Not quite sure where the new Tiguan will lie in this.

The Golf used to be the entry level product in North America but now the Jetta is. Despite competing in a similar space, the Golf is more expensive and is more of a premium product (relatively speaking). I think the Atlas and Touareg will have a similar relationship, but with a bigger price difference.

your assessment is totally incorrect in my opinion...the Golf is made in Mexico in the exact same place where the Jetta! Different platforms for now, but the Jetta will eventually reuse all the bits and pieces that are tied to the Golf - you know, like the same interior
The Jetta has been the entry level VW in the line up for ages now - or maybe I am totally misplaced here? I don't remember the last time I saw a Golf that was cheaper than a Jetta. This is just part of VW's strategy given the Jetta has been the most popular VW for ages now.

In 2010 the cheapest Golf was cheaper than the cheapest Jetta by $2k. Then when VW introduced the new, Americanized and decontented 2011 Jetta, it was almost $5k cheaper than the cheapest Golf. Before this point both models were similarly equipped and the Golf was cheaper, then they started offering stripped Jettas with no Golf equivalent.

The Golf also has the 1.8T standard on all models while most Jettas have the 1.4T.

Even when they're on the same platform, that won't mean that the Golf won't continue to be priced at a premium, be better equipped in its base models, and in general be "nicer" than the Jetta.

To me, the country the car is built in is completely irrelevant.

[EV-Light]

I see VW as sort of having two tiers of vehicles at this point.

Designed primarily for the American market and providing high value: Jetta, Beetle, Passat, Atlas

More Euro, more expensive: Golf (all permutations), CC, Touareg

Not quite sure where the new Tiguan will lie in this.

The Golf used to be the entry level product in North America but now the Jetta is. Despite competing in a similar space, the Golf is more expensive and is more of a premium product (relatively speaking). I think the Atlas and Touareg will have a similar relationship, but with a bigger price difference.

your assessment is totally incorrect in my opinion...the Golf is made in Mexico in the exact same place where the Jetta! Different platforms for now, but the Jetta will eventually reuse all the bits and pieces that are tied to the Golf - you know, like the same interior
The Jetta has been the entry level VW in the line up for ages now - or maybe I am totally misplaced here? I don't remember the last time I saw a Golf that was cheaper than a Jetta. This is just part of VW's strategy given the Jetta has been the most popular VW for ages now.

In 2010 the cheapest Golf was cheaper than the cheapest Jetta by $2k. Then when VW introduced the new, Americanized and decontented 2011 Jetta, it was almost $5k cheaper than the cheapest Golf. Before this point both models were similarly equipped and the Golf was cheaper, then they started offering stripped Jettas with no Golf equivalent.

The Golf also has the 1.8T standard on all models while most Jettas have the 1.4T.

Even when they're on the same platform, that won't mean that the Golf won't continue to be priced at a premium, be better equipped in its base models, and in general be "nicer" than the Jetta.

To me, the country the car is built in is completely irrelevant.

country is irrelevant, but they are reusing the same parts...then not sure why you'd categorize one as 'euro' and the other as 'americanized'....

So 2010 huh?...I had to go back because I've always thought the Jetta was the cheapest.

So I did:

2010 VW Golf: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2010-volkswagen-golf-review
$18,190-$23,489

2010 VW Jetta: http://www.autotrader.com/2010-volkswagen-Jetta+Sedan.jsp?modelId=19401
Base price: $17,605.00

anyways...the Golf is getting a mid-cycle refresh next year and the 1.4T engine is going right into it! So much for 'more euro' 'more expensive'  huh?

[OliverD]

In Canada the 2010 Jetta was more expensive than the Golf.

It's very clear that the Jetta is designed primarily for the North American market (and perhaps some Asian markets). The Golf is designed primarily for Europe, but is also sold worldwide. That will likely continue for the next generation model.

With the Jetta and Passat (and now the Atlas), VW is targeting the heart of the North American market and trying to attract new customers to the brand. With products like the Golf, they're targeting customers who want a more "traditional" VW that isn't dumbed down and cheapened.

[OliverD]

I see that VW is advertising the base price of the Atlas: $35,690. Presumably that's for a 2.0T FWD model; it's $100 more than a FWD Pilot. So I'm guessing an AWD V6 model will be about $40k, pretty much exactly where the Pilot AWD starts.