VW Atlas 3rd Row Seating Review

When it comes to a roomy third-row seat, the Volkswagen Atlas is hard to beat with 33.7 inches of legroom.
Written by Sophie Boka
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
If you value function over form, then it’s truly hard to beat the
Volkswagen Atlas
. Compared to competitors in the three-row SUV game, the Atlas offers more—literally. Its third row gives passengers 33.7 inches of legroom, which is far more than its peers.
When you have a family larger than five, every road trip can feel like a production. How will you get everyone where you need to go? In a sedan? Please. As any crew knows, you’ve got to think strategically. 
You know you need a three-row vehicle. But which one is right for all of you? 
That’s where Jerry comes in.
Jerry
is a
car insurance
super app
designed to save
families time and money. To help point you toward your perfect vehicle, we’re here to break down if the VW Atlas is a good three-row SUV. 
We’ll take a look at its measurements and feel. Plus, we’ll run through some of the general pros and cons and stack the Atlas up against its peers.
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What is the Volkswagen Atlas’ 3rd row like? 

The Atlas’ third row can seat three adults (6 feet tall or under) with no problem. There’s ample space to stretch out. And, if you’re carting around little ones, there are LATCH connectors available for easy car seat installation. 
No more fighting over the driver’s seat charger, either. The third row also comes equipped with USB-C ports, so everyone’s devices can charge during the ride.
What’s more, the Atlas’ layout is versatile. Taking the whole crew on a road trip? That third row is ready to go. Need to move some cargo? The third row can be manually collapsed, providing you with additional cubic feet to store whatever you need.

Space and comfort

The VW Atlas leads the way in comfort for families, big and small. Not to mention, those third-row seats recline and their cushioning is fairly plush.
We could go on about the Atlas’ strengths, but we’re aware comfort is subjective. So, we’ve gathered some specs on the VW Atlas’ legroom, headroom, and passenger volume for you to consider yourself: 
  • Third row: 33.7 inches of legroom, 38.3 inches of headroom
  • Second row: 37.6 inches of legroom, 40.4 inches of headroom
  • First row: 41.7 inches of legroom, 41.3 inches of headroom
  • Total passenger volume: 154 cubic feet
If you’re not familiar with these specs, those numbers may not mean much to you. To provide a bit of context, we’ve also rounded up third row and total passenger volume specs from some of the Atlas’ top competitors. That way, you can get a feel of what the Atlas truly offers:
Model
Starting price
Third-row legroom
Third-row headroom
Total passenger volume
$35,240
32.2 inches
38.9 inches
152.7 cubic feet
$34,895
31.4 inches
37.8 inches
155.3 cubic feet
$43,520
30.3 inches
37.3 inches
151.9 cubic feet
$32,395
29.6 inches
36.8 inches
121.3 cubic feet
$34,685
31.4 inches
38.1 inches
157.1 cubic feet
$35,060
29.7 inches
35.4 inches
135.1 inches
$35,935
28 inches
37.8 inches
148 cubic feet
$37,070
27.7 inches
36.1 inches
141.3 cubic feet
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Is the Volkswagen Atlas good for big families and long trips?

What the Volkswagen Atlas lacks in “cool,” it makes up for in functionality. It’s built to cart big families and cargo on road trips of any length. That said, taller passengers may prefer to sit up front or in the second row.
The numbers speak for themselves: the Atlas’ third row offers more room than nearly all of its competitors. But the Atlas gifts more to families than just its seating: 
  • Best-in-class safety features: The 2022 Volkswagen Atlas received a 5 out of 5
    NHTSA
    rating, plus good scores from the IIHS. 
  • Coveted driver’s assists: The Atlas comes equipped with Volkswagen’s suite of driver-assistance features, so you can tote around your whole crew with confidence.
  • Solid storage: Behind the third row, you can pack up to 20.6 cubic feet worth of cargo. Collapse the last row, and that volume increases to 96.8 cubic feet. Plus, there are pocket storage areas throughout the vehicle for keeping smaller items. 
In short, the Atlas is a solid, functional vehicle, especially when it comes to space. But each family is unique, so you’ll need to consider your family’s needs to determine if it’s the vehicle for you.
MORE: Volkswagen Atlas V6

How to find affordable car insurance for your Volkswagen

When driving around your precious cargo, more than ever, you’ll want to ensure you’re protected by solid car insurance.
After purchasing a new car, the last thing you want to do is spend more time comparison shopping for new car insurance policies… but you also don’t want to compromise your family’s safety. What can you do?
Turn to Jerry.
Jerry
is the #1-rated insurance app in the App Store, designed to save families time and money when shopping for
car insurance
.
We make it easy. All you need to do is download our app and tap in some basic information. From there, we’ll scan quotes from 55+ top-rated insurers and deliver the best deals straight to you—within minutes.
Peruse the options to decide which policy is right for you. Make your decision, and our team of experts will take it from there, helping you make the switch and even helping you cancel your old policy!
In the end, our drivers end up saving both tons of time and an average of $800+ on car insurance each year.
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