Volkswagen · Small SUVs · Gasoline
Volkswagen Atlas: MPG and annual fuel cost, 2026
Rated at 23 MPG combined for 2026, the Volkswagen Atlas is tied for 99th of 113 small SUVs, in the bottom quarter.
- 23MPG combinedtied 99th of 113 in class
- $2,900a year in fueltied 85th of 113 in class
- 390g/mile CO2
Where it stands
Compared only with the gasoline models of its class it is tied for 46th of 58 gasoline small SUVs, in the bottom quarter. The median of that narrower group is 26 MPG, against 29 MPG for all small SUVs together.
Across every class it is tied for 86th of 180 gasoline models, in the lower half.
Volkswagen has 7 models in the 2026 data. This one ranks 7th of them on combined rating, against a make median of 29 MPG.
In its class, just ahead of it is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio at 24 MPG and just behind it is the Acura MDX at 22 MPG.
Fuel cost and CO2
The file prices the fuel for its most efficient version at about $2,900 a year, assuming 15,000 miles a year with 55% of them in the city and regular gasoline at $4.47 per gallon. That is $600 more than the small SUVs median of $2,300, which makes it tied for 85th of 113 small SUVs, in the lower half.
Tailpipe CO2 is 390 g/mile, 92 g/mile above the small SUVs median of 298.
Rated versions
In the city the most efficient version is rated 20 and on the highway 27, 7 better on the open road. 6 versions are rated for 2026. The most efficient, Atlas Cross Sport: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD, gets 23 MPG; the least efficient listed, Atlas SEL 4motion: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD, gets 21 MPG, a gap of 2 MPG. With the file's assumptions that gap is worth about $300 a year in fuel.
| Version | Combined MPG | City MPG | Highway MPG | Annual fuel cost | CO2 g/mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Cross Sport: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD | 23 | 20 | 27 | $2,900 | 390 |
| Atlas: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), FWD | 23 | 20 | 27 | $2,900 | 390 |
| Atlas Cross Sport 4motion: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,050 | 407 |
| Atlas SE 4motion: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 22 | 20 | 26 | $3,050 | 407 |
| Atlas 4motion Peak Edition: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 21 | 19 | 25 | $3,200 | 421 |
| Atlas SEL 4motion: 2.0 L, 4 cyl, Automatic (S8), AWD | 21 | 19 | 25 | $3,200 | 417 |
Year by year
The Volkswagen Atlas is in the data for 8 of the 8 model years from 2019 to 2026. Its best combined rating went from 22 in 2019 to 23 MPG in 2026, up 1 MPG. The number of rated versions grew from 3 to 6. Fuel cost for the best version is $2,900 in the latest data against $3,050 in 2019, although the file applies today's fuel prices to every model year, so that change comes from the rating, not from prices.
| Model year | Versions | Best MPG | Lowest MPG | Fuel cost | CO2 g/mi | Class median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 23 | 21 | $2,900 | 390 | 29 |
| 2025 | 6 | 23 | 20 | $2,900 | 392 | 29 |
| 2024 | 6 | 23 | 20 | $2,900 | 393 | 28 |
| 2023 | 8 | 23 | 20 | $2,900 | 391 | 27 |
| 2022 | 8 | 23 | 19 | $2,900 | 391 | 26 |
| 2021 | 8 | 22 | 18 | $3,050 | 412 | 26 |
| 2020 | 7 | 22 | 19 | $3,050 | 401 | 26 |
| 2019 | 3 | 22 | 19 | $3,050 | 394 | 26 |
Similar models
| Model | Powertrain | Combined MPG | Annual fuel cost | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura RDX | Gasoline | 23 | $3,550 | 2026 |
| Acura MDX | Gasoline | 22 | $3,750 | 2026 |
| Cadillac XT5 | Gasoline | 24 | $3,400 | 2026 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | Gasoline | 24 | $2,800 | 2026 |
| Jaguar F-Pace | Gasoline | 24 | $3,400 | 2026 |
Rated almost identically and covered by this page:
- Genesis GV70 23 MPG, $3,550 a year, 3 versions, last rated 2026
- Land Rover Range Rover 23 MPG, $3,550 a year, 2 versions, last rated 2026
- Nissan Murano 23 MPG, $2,900 a year, 1 version, last rated 2026
Compare and rank
Rankings: Small SUVs, Gasoline, Volkswagen, Gasoline small SUVs.
Data: US EPA and DOE, as prepared in methods and data.