Surprise! The Volkswagen Atlas won the best family SUV of 2020. These results are shocking as competitors such as the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have won tons of awards and topped other lists. So, how did the 2020 Volkswagen Atlas become the underdog to take home this coveted award? 

The Volkswagen Atlas is the best family SUV 

Based on a survey that the staff at Cars.com used, the Volkswagen Atlas was voted to be the best family SUV of 2020. The Ford Expedition landed in second place, and the Hyundai Santa Fe came in third. So, wow, the Kia Telluride didn’t even make the list. 

The best family SUVs are ranked according to safety crash test ratings, value, comfort, space, family accommodations, family-friendly features, and versatility. The VW Atlas seems to top the list for its large interior, comfortable ride, and the long list of standard safety features. 

Why is the Volkswagen Atlas the best? 

Editors at Cars.com say that the Atlas is as comfortable and accommodating as a minivan! It’s easy to access the third row, which is spacious enough for adults. Plus, the sliding second seats make it easy to get around children’s seats without having to remove them. 

Despite being a larger SUV, the Volkswagen Atlas rides like a sporty option with nimble handling. It also has a quiet interior and a peppy acceleration. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine pumps out 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. You can also upgrade to the 3.6-liter V^ engine for 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. 

Standard and optional safety features include forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot detection, a 360 camera view, rear-cross traffic detection, rear automatic brakes, automatic headlights, and parking sensors. 

Volkswagen Atlas features 

You can get started in a Volkswagen Atlas for about $31k. This price is competitive with the Kia Telluride and Honda Pilot. However, it’s not great on fuel. The VW Atlas only gets up to 20 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. 

Access up to 96.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the VW Atlas with 20.6 cubic feet in the trunk area. That’s plenty of room to take all your kids, their stuff, and even the dog. If you need more room, the Atlas can tow up to 5,000 lb when properly equipped. 

The optional all-wheel-drive system comes with driving modes for off-roading and snow to automatically adjust the torque for more control. You can also customize your own off-road driving settings. 

There are tons of convenience features too. The virtual cockpit allows you to set driver’s settings to memorize your personal preferences. You can add up to four different driver profiles. Plus, remote start and the power liftgate help make things easier. 

Along with the safety features mentioned earlier, the Volkswagen Atlas also has a safety cage. Innovative front and rear crumple zones help to absorb impacts in the event of an accident to offer superior protection for the driver and passengers.