Volkswagen Atlas Three-Row SUV Will Look Very Different for 2027

The Volkswagen Atlas is getting a little long in the tooth, but new spy shots show that the three-row midsize SUV is almost ready for revitalization. First introduced in 2017, the Atlas was refreshed in 2021 and again in 2024, and now it's preparing for another major update that will be revealed later this year. Volkswagen recently provided a first look at the 2027 Atlas in a colorful camouflage wrap, and these new spy shots show a prototype with similarly deceptive camouflage over the front and rear fascias, meant to make the new SUV look like the old one, but VW told Automotive News that, apart from the roof, everything on the 2027 model is new. However, the camouflage is all but pointless.

2027 VW Atlas Will Look Like The Teramont Pro

The Chinese market gets a very similar three-row SUV produced by the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture, called the Teramont, and the latest version of this was unveiled exactly a year ago, on February 17, 2025, so we already know what to expect in terms of cosmetics. At the front, the squared headlights will swap rounded outer edges for a more angular design, with the daytime running lights bleeding into a chrome grille accent above the Volkswagen badge. Beneath the clusters, upright lower side intakes will be garnished with gloss black borders, and at the rear, the taillights will get similar treatment. A full-width setup is expected to remain, but under the camo, we can see that the taillights' extremities will have a kink that notches into the rear quarters of the vehicle along the shoulder line.

A gloss black accent is expected on the lower bumper below the tailgate, and a faux diffuser panel with diamond-shaped fake mesh, again in gloss black, will give the SUV a sporty look. The rearmost windows will also be changing, with the area behind the C-pillar expanding the glasshouse in a straight line, rather than the contemporary Atlas's notched third window. Overall, this styling update will make the Atlas look much more modern, and its familial relation to vehicles like the Tiguan and Golf will be clearer.

2027 VW Atlas: Updates Under the Skin

The 2027 Atlas will be underpinned by the Volkswagen Group's MQB Evo platform and powered by its EA888 Evo5 engine. The Evo4 version of this engine is used in the Golf R to produce 328 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, but the newer, gen-5 engine used in the Tiguan only makes 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The current outgoing Atlas produces 273 lb-ft, so VW may have to update this more efficient engine to maintain the SUV's towing capability (up to 5,000 lbs). No hybrid has yet been confirmed, but with numerous rivals offering the tech, it seems inevitable that VW will join the party eventually. We also expect a new interior, hopefully with physical buttons and not an exclusively touch-based experience. A colleague drove a prototype Atlas last week, but Volkswagen told him not to take any interior pics or even describe the controls, so we'll have to wait for the official reveal at the New York Auto Show (April 3-12, 2026) for the full picture.

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