Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
TEST DRIVE Volkswagen Atlas SUV set to challenge Palisade with comfortable ride
Volkswagen's Atlas family SUV / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
YEONGJONG ISLAND, Incheon — Volkswagen Group Korea’s Atlas SUV aims to challenge the Hyundai Motor Palisade's stronghold in the local family vehicle market.
The Atlas recently made its debut in Korea, seeking to capture the rising demand for three-row family SUVs.
The vehicle was as comfortable and soft as typical sedans during a one-hour test drive from Seoul to the West Sea island. The Atlas looked to focus on ensuring driving comfort to appeal more to customers seeking a family vehicle.
The Atlas SUV measures over five meters in length, making it the longest large SUV in its segment in Korea / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
Unlike other common German vehicles, the Atlas exuded softer driving performance during drives both in a highway and a city. The SUV was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine. Its maximum output reaches 273 horsepower.
However, it felt like this was not sufficient for the huge SUV, with a length reaching 5,095 millimeters, the longest among vehicles available for sale in the same segment here. At some points along the highway, the Atlas displayed weak acceleration performance, which was the largest downside to the vehicle.
Despite the shortcomings, it was still a decent option for those who want to carry a family of at least four on a regular basis. Its interior was spacious enough for most adults.
The interior of the Atlas / Korea Times photo by Lee Min-hyung
The Atlas also showed a fairly good authorized fuel efficiency of 8.5 kilometers per liter, which was close to the figure when this reporter took the one-hour drive on Wednesday morning.
The lack of a hybrid engine is also seen as a major weak point for the Atlas, as the hybrid version of the Palisade is available for sale.
The arrival of the Atlas, however, is still to be welcomed from the perspective of customers, as the popularity of huge SUVs continues growing in the Korean market.
Last year, Ford Korea also introduced the latest version of its Explorer flagship SUV here. The U.S. carmaker engaged in robust discount campaigns for the vehicle to absorb more customers amid the ongoing boom for large SUVs.
The price for the Atlas starts from 67.7 million won ($49,000) in Korea.