2024 Volkswagen Atlas Peak Edition Gets Rugged Look, No Significant Functional Upgrades
It’s a formula that keeps working, so automakers keep using it: Take a family-friendly SUV and give it a more adventurous look by outfitting it with blacked-out body trim, beefier-looking body cladding, a set of rugged-looking wheels on all-terrain tires and perhaps a few other outdoorsy touches. Voila! That garden-variety family hauler suddenly looks ready to ford streams and tackle rocky trails on the way to a remote campsite — even if its actual all-terrain capability hasn’t been enhanced much over its regular-line siblings. At the 2023 New York International Auto Show, Volkswagen unveiled its latest take on this recipe: the 2024 Atlas Peak Edition, which is essentially an all-terrain-styled appearance package for the refreshed 2024 Atlas.
Related: More 2023 New York Auto Show Coverage
Some manufacturers have taken the adventure-themed SUV formula a bit further by adding features like a raised ride height, skid plates or enhanced suspension components, but the Atlas Peak Edition is mainly about looks. The only functional upgrades here are a set of 18-inch black-alloy wheels on 255/60 all-terrain tires; these should supply a bit more rough-terrain traction and bump absorption than the 20- or 21-inch wheels and all-season tires of other Atlases.
Beyond that, the Peak Edition gets rugged-looking front and rear styling with silver elements, black Peak Edition badges with an orange-and-chrome logo on the front doors, silver lower-body cladding, various blacked-out exterior trim pieces and two exclusive color choices: Avocado Green or Pure Grey. The cabin is outfitted in black imitation leather upholstery with light gray accents and orange contrast stitching, along with a Peak Edition steering-wheel badge and a backlit Peak Edition logo on the passenger side of the dash.
This isn’t the first time VW has tried this strategy. The look of the Peak Edition is inspired by the Atlas Basecamp Concept that was shown at the 2019 New York show (and the Atlas Basecamp that saw production as a dealer-installed aftermarket accessory package for the 2021 model year).
No word yet on pricing or exactly where the Peak Edition will fit into the rest of the Atlas roster, so stay tuned. The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas lineup is slated to go on sale in the summer.
More From Cars.com:
- Auto Show Faceoff: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Vs. 2024 Volkswagen Atlas
- Up Close With the 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport: Classier, With a Caveat
- 2024 Volkswagen Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport Elevate Interiors, Drop V-6
- Study: Most Mid-Size SUVs Lack Rear Passenger Protection
- Which Cars Fit 3 Car Seats?
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
