Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with optional front crash prevention

2018 Volkswagen Atlas 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE with Technology 4-door 4wd

The Volkswagen Atlas was introduced in the 2018 model year. The ratings also apply to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in the 2020 model year. The Cross Sport is derived from the Atlas, but it has only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1717
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 6
Lower instrument panel (cm) 7

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1717
Head
HIC-15 516
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.35
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 3.1
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 8
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 1
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.46
Right 0.50
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.1
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 77
Right 115

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas S 4-door 4wd

The Volkswagen Atlas was introduced in the 2018 model year. The ratings also apply to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in the 2020 model year. The Cross Sport is derived from the Atlas, but it has only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the passenger dummy’s head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The passenger’s space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1814
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Footrest (cm) 14
Right toepan (cm) 11
Center toepan (cm) 7
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 6
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 7

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1814
Head
HIC-15 397
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 4.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 7
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 2
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.60
Right 0.78
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 3.4
Right 2.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 105
Right 43

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1814
Head
HIC-15 205
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.29
Right 0.47
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 0.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 65

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE 4-door 4wd

The Volkswagen Atlas was introduced in the 2018 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen.The ratings also apply to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in the 2020 model year. The Cross Sport is derived from the Atlas, but it has only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1710
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 8
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 9
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 2
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1710
Head
HIC-15 243
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.27
Chest maximum compression (mm) 30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 2.1
Femur force - right (kN) 1.3
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.48
Maximum tibia index - right 0.74
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.6
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 95
Right 88

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE 4-door 2wd

The Volkswagen Atlas was introduced in the 2018 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Volkswagen. The ratings also apply to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in the 2020 model year. The Cross Sport is derived from the Atlas, but it has only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1708
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -32.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1708
Head HIC-15 63
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 21
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.14
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.17
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.3
Combined force (kN) 3.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 40
A-P moment (Nm) 16

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1708
Head HIC-15 57
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.1
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 17
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.73
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.49
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.3
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 1.9
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 29
A-P moment (Nm) 16

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Volkswagen Atlas SE 4-door 4wd

The Volkswagen Atlas was introduced in the 2018 model year. The ratings also apply to the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, introduced in the 2020 model year. The Cross Sport is derived from the Atlas, but it has only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2201
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -29.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2201
Head
HIC-15 42
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 21
Lateral force (kN) 1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 28
Average deflection (mm) 22
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.01
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.26
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2201
Head
HIC-15 163
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.6
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 11
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 39
Average deflection (mm) 26
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.29
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.53
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.8

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE with Technology 4-door 2wd

(Curb weight from 2018 Volkswagen Atlas SE with Technology 4-door 4wd)

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,551 lbs
Peak force24,091 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.29

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leatherette seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leatherette seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 38
Distance below top of head (mm) -8
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.0
Head contact time (ms) 65
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 22
Max neck tension (N) 334

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • SEL Premium trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • SEL Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-20 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 66.6 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 47.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 140.6 m
Straightaway left edge 132.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m

Trim level(s)

  • Launch Edition trim
  • SE trim
  • SEL trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the left side of the road and inadequate on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Launch Edition trim
  • SE trim
  • SEL trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2018-20 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 66.6 m None
Straightaway left edge 52.5 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 48.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 47.3 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 39.3 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 140.6 m
Straightaway left edge 132.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.2 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 62.4 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 43.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Front Assist (with Autonomous Emergency Braking)

Package name

  • Optional SE with Technology, SEL, or SEL Premium Trims

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2018 models

Superior
Superior
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 17 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSE w/ Technology
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 3 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimSE w/ Technology
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3 6 4
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 72
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 36
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 6
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 25
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) could not measure
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation