The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas gets 21 to 23 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Atlas at 23 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, the Atlas ranks 60th of 66 for combined mileage (22 mpg), 45th (tied with 2 others) of 66 for yearly fuel cost ($2,850 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 61st of 66 for tailpipe CO2 (407 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,500 a year and puts out 329 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 127 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Atlas's best version, 20 other models get the same and 87 get less. The 2026 Atlas's cheapest version costs $2,700 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 88 cost less, 6 the same and 131 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 2026 Land Rover Range Rover | 2026 Range Rover Velar | 23 | $3,350 | 381 |
| 53 | 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class | 2026 GLE350 | 23 | $3,350 | 382 |
| 53 | 2026 Nissan Murano | 2026 Murano AWD | 23 | $2,700 | 387 |
| 60 | 2026 Volkswagen AtlasThis car | 2026 Atlas Cross Sport 4motion | 22 | $2,850 | 407 |
| 61 | 2026 Acura MDX | 2026 MDX AWD | 21 | $3,700 | 423 |
| 61 | 2026 Honda Passport | 2026 Passport AWD | 21 | $2,950 | 424 |
| 61 | 2026 Jeep Wrangler | 2026 Wrangler 2dr 4WD (4-cyl 2.0 L) | 21 | $2,950 | 230 |
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Atlas, 4-cyl 2.0 L: 20 mpg city, 27 highway, 23 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Atlas version is $2,700 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Atlas costs $807 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Atlas costs $4,035 less to fuel than the MDX (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Atlas (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Atlas | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Acura MDX | 2026 MDX AWD | 21 mpg | $3,700 | 2 lower | $1,000 more a year | - |
| 2026 Acura RDX | 2026 RDX AWD | 23 mpg | $3,350 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
| 2026 Audi SQ5 | 2026 SQ5 | 23 mpg | $3,350 | same figure | $650 more a year | - |
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 | 390 | cheapest |
| 2026 Atlas Cross Sport | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,700 | 390 | cheapest |
| 2026 Atlas Cross Sport 4motion | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 | 407 | +$150 |
| 2026 Atlas SE 4motion | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,850 | 407 | +$150 |
| 2026 Atlas 4motion Peak Edition | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 421 | +$250 |
| 2026 Atlas SEL 4motion | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 19 | 25 | 21 | $2,950 | 417 | +$250 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Atlas; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Atlas puts out 390 grams per mile; across the 6 tested versions the figure runs from 390 to 421.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Atlas: fuel economy score 5 (4 to 5 across versions), greenhouse gas score 5 (4 to 5 across versions).
Best combined figure of the Atlas gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 24 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg higher than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 22 mpg | 3 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 22 mpg | 7 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 22 mpg | 8 | 1 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 23 mpg | 8 | same as 2026 | |
| 2023 | 23 mpg | 8 | same as 2026 | |
| 2024 | 23 mpg | 6 | same as 2026 | |
| 2025 | 23 mpg | 6 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 23 mpg | 6 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 6 versions were tested then and 6 now; the best figure went from 23 to 23 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Atlas, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 23 mpg | 22 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Atlas Cross Sport, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 23 mpg | 23 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Atlas Cross Sport 4motion, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 22 mpg | 21 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Atlas SE 4motion, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 22 mpg | 21 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Atlas 4motion Peak Edition, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 21 mpg | 20 mpg | +1 mpg |
| 2026 Atlas SEL 4motion, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | no change |
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT SUV N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 14 complaints, 2 recalls, 0 investigations.
Includes agency records filed under: ATLAS, ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
14 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | |
| Engine | 4 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 | |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
0 of the 14 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Includes agency records filed under: ATLAS, ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
2 recalls are on file for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Includes agency records filed under: ATLAS, ATLAS CROSS SPORT.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling 2024-2026 Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas vehicles. The vehicles may experience a low-voltage electrical event that affects display screen functions.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 4, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2026 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and ID.4 vehicles. The incorrect wheel bolts may have been installed during vehicle manufacturing.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until they have been repaired. Dealers will inspect and replace the wheel bolts as necessary, free of charge.
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Atlas itself is at 22 mpg.
More Volkswagen models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2026 Atlas with 23 mpg combined (20 city, 27 highway).
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas costs between $2,700 and $2,950 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Atlas at $2,700; the dearest is the 2026 Atlas 4motion Peak Edition at $2,950. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2026 Atlas Cross Sport 4motion: 22 mpg combined (20 city, 26 highway); 2026 Atlas SE 4motion: 22 mpg combined (20 city, 26 highway); 2026 Atlas 4motion Peak Edition: 21 mpg combined (19 city, 25 highway); 2026 Atlas SEL 4motion: 21 mpg combined (19 city, 25 highway).
The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas is 60th of 66 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross at 42 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Nissan Murano at 23 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Acura MDX at 21 mpg.
The 2025 model had 6 tested versions and the 2026 model has 6. The best figure went from 23 to 23 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS SUV N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT SUV N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 4 variants; the first 2 are shown.
14 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (4 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 2 recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.