2018 Volkswagen Atlas
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is sold in the U.S. with gasoline power. The EPA lists 3 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 19 to 24 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700 to $3,400 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline |
| Combined economy | 19-24 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 24 / 19 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,700-$3,400 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 375-454 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 3-5 / 10 |
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 stars |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2018 Atlas costs about $2,700 to $3,400 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $3,117. Over five years that is about $15,583 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, this Atlas configuration spends about $2,000 more on fuel over five years.
For context, the average combined economy of small sport utility vehicle 2wd in this dataset is about 26 MPG. The Atlas sits roughly 4 MPG below that mark at its midpoint, making it thirstier than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 24 MPG | $2,700 |
| Atlas | 3.6L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 20 MPG | $3,250 |
| Atlas 4motion | 3.6L 6-cyl | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 19 MPG | $3,400 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2018 Atlas records tailpipe CO₂ of 375-454 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 3-5 out of 10, a 5-star NHTSA overall crash rating. The EPA classifies it as small sport utility vehicle 2wd.
Compare this car
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.