2018 Volkswagen Atlas Preview

Competes with: Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Mazda CX-9

Looks like: Volkswagen’s CrossBlue concept from the 2013 Detroit auto show

Drivetrain: 238-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or 280-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 (VR6 models); eight-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive or 4Motion all-wheel drive

Hits dealers: Spring 2017

CARS.COM — After years of hints and two concepts later, Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its new mid-size three-row SUV, the 2018 Atlas.

Volkswagen has been hinting for years that it would make a new SUV, showing the CrossBlue concept all the way back in 2013 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and the Cross Coupe GTE concept at the 2015 Detroit show. Now we finally get a production version after this protracted gestation period that will fill a giant hole in VW’s lineup.

Related: Volkswagen CrossBlue at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show

The German automaker already offers a mid-size SUV, the Touareg, but it only has two rows of seats and was priced as a near-luxury vehicle. With the addition of a three-row SUV, Volkswagen is now set to compete in a rapidly growing segment. The Atlas will be sold in five trim levels to be named later.

Exterior

At 198.3 inches long and 77.9 inches wide, the Atlas becomes the largest vehicle in the Volkswagen lineup. For perspective, it’s about 10 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than the Touareg, which accounts for the added row of seating.

The Atlas’ styling has a lot in common with the CrossBlue concept and, frankly, a lot in common with the Touareg as well. Volkswagen didn’t take any risks with the Atlas’ design; it is a clean, minimalist look that jibes well with the rest of its lineup. I’ve always been a fan of VW’s aesthetic, so it doesn’t bother me, but a bit more daring would have done well here.

LED headlights and daytime running lights come standard.

Interior

Volkswagen says the third row offers seating for two adults but, as with other members of this class, we’ll reserve judgment on that front until we have a chance to climb back there and see for ourselves. There is one promising detail though: The second row has been designed to fold forward to allow third-row access even with a child-safety seat installed, a feature it shares with the Mazda CX-9.

On the technology front, there are a few notable features. Volkswagen’s version of the Audi Virtual Cockpit system, which it calls Digital Cockpit, will be available. This turns the instrument panel into a customizable digital screen that the driver can modify to show the information they want right behind the wheel. I’m a big fan of the Audi integration for this technology, so if the Volkswagen system follows suit it also will be good. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity will also come standard.

Under the Hood

Both the CrossBlue and Cross Coupe GTE concepts had plug-in hybrid drivetrains, but the Atlas sticks with two gas engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and an optional 3.6-liter V-6, which comes on VR6 models. There is one large caveat here, however: If you do want AWD, it will only be available with the V-6 engine. The smaller, four-cylinder base engine only comes with front-wheel drive.

Atlases equipped with 4motion AWD will also feature Volkswagen’s Driving Mode Selection feature, which allows the driver to choose among driving modes. There is also a dial that swaps between four off-road driving modes for a variety of surfaces.

Safety

The Atlas will offer the requisite driving and safety technology found in the latest vehicles, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with autonomous braking, blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and an automatic parking system, which works for both parallel and perpendicular spaces. Also available is an automatic post-collision braking system that Volkswagen says is a class-exclusive feature to the Atlas.

No details on the pricing of the Atlas have been announced yet, but we will share them on Cars.com as soon as they become available.