We find at Atlas at Volkswagen (used)

The Volkswagen Atlas is a crucial car for Volkswagen. It literally does have all of Volkswagen depending on the success of this vehicle, tough gig!

The 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder won’t be available until later so the only engine you can option for is the dated 3.6 six-cylinder which is shared with the Passat. While it is nice that the six-cylinder is accompanied by Volkswagen’s 4-motion all-wheel-drive system, we wish that Volkswagen would’ve updated the engine to pump out at least 300hp so it doesn’t feel sluggish compared to the Mazda CX-9 we’ve driven. The standard eight-speed auto gearbox does a fantastic job of helping the Atlas feel peppy where it matters the most, but all that gets lost in translation as the steering becomes overly light at highway speeds. It almost makes the whole entire vehicle feel nervous rather than confident. The ride comfort around town is actually quite good considering how firm it feels at times when driving over certain surfaces, but if you hit a bump it will send jolts throughout the cabin, leaving you feeling queasy if the road is anything but perfect. Wind and road noise won’t be much of an issue but you will hear the suspension thump over some surfaces, but that is far from a deal breaker.

The infotainment system is very simple and easy to use. The menus are easy to navigate through and while the whole interface is excellent, we strongly suggest keeping both eyes on the road at all times unless you are stationary. The front seats offer superb comfort, while those in the second row won’t have anything to complain about at all, those in the third row may feel shortchanged on comfort but it’s not as cramped as some of its keen rivals. You’ll have to fold down the third row seat to really exploit the boot space, with both rows folded down you’ve got yourself a cargo van.

Our tester car was a pretty pricey SEL with 4-motion all-wheel-drive. It came equipped with LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry with keyless start and optional 20-inch alloy wheels. Leather wrapped seats and steering wheel also come standard as well as tri-zone climate control, remote engine start and Blind Spot Monitoring system with lane departure warning.

We had high hopes for the Volkswagen Atlas, it certainly didn’t disappoint but we expected a lot better from Volkswagen. The refinement is there but it certainly needs tweaking in areas that makes Volkswagen feel special compared to its keen rivals. The steering feedback is way too light at highway speeds, the styling is way too cartoonish for our taste and we certainly wish that Volkswagen improved the aged 3.6 engine. You’ll like the Atlas because it offers a competent package for a reasonable price.

Likes: It can seat comfortably seven people and still offer decent boot space. The standard kit list is pretty generous too and you can option for a turbocharged four-cylinder.

Dislikes: The exterior styling is cartoonish and the turbo four-cylinder only can be had with front-wheel-drive. The 3.6 engine needs updating and the steering is way too light at highway speeds.

Our pick: SE w/ 4-motion strikes a nice balance between price and standard kit. You won’t have to venture too high up unless you are willing to dish out the extra cash. Even so, there are a few rivals from Mazda and Honda that make a more compelling case. The Launch Edition w/ 4-motion is also another worthy trim to consider.

There's no Journey with this Dodge (used)

The one star rating is all you need to know. Look elsewhere!

The Dodge Journey comes with a choice of two engine choices. The standard 2.4 is best avoided as it comes with an ancient four-speed automatic. The engine itself isn’t bad; we just wish that the transmission was more refined. The optional 3.6 is the way to go and is our pick of the range. You get all-wheel-drive standard and a much more refined engine. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again, the slight spike in running costs are well justified here because this engine is the best of the two offered.

Don’t buy the Journey thinking that you’re going to get a rewarding crossover to drive because you will be bitterly disappointed. We weren’t expecting much in terms of steering feedback and handling, both which are numb at best. What it does do is provide a smooth ride and while the steering is okay for what it is, you’ll probably want to look at a Ford Explorer for better refinement. The 2.4 is noisy at all speeds while the 3.6 is much more refined and is way more flexible which matters the most in our books. After all this is a seven-seat crossover and you’ll most likely use this for ferrying the family around. Why not get the engine that can handle a fully laden vehicle?

The U-Connect system is actually a lot easier to use than we thought it would. However, just like many touch-screen infotainment systems. The vast number of menus can get a little distracting while on the move. The front seats offer decent support while those in the second row won’t have anything to complain about. Passengers in the third row may feel a little shortchanged on space because there really isn’t much of it, kids won’t complain though. The boot space is tiny with the third row in place, fold it down and space opens up considerably. The second row folded down provides space similar to that of a cargo van. Some of its keen rivals have way more space than that but for the size of the Journey compared to others we’ll let it slide.

Our tester car was the SXT which came equipped with the 3.6 six-cylinder and all-wheel-drive. Key standard features include Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile device, keyless ignition switch and dual-zone climate control. A premium group package was also added which came with electrically operated driver’s seat, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a security alarm system. This vehicle came with a steep discount and the dealer was willing to knock off more if we took the vehicle the same day. It was a tempting proposition to say the least, but we don’t need a seven-seat crossover as a vehicle. If we had a need for one; we would’ve strongly considered the offer handed to us. However, the quality issues associated with FCA vehicles would’ve still lingered at the back of our minds.

The Dodge Journey is in desperate need of a redesign. Otherwise you can buy it at dirt cheap prices, but sometimes it’s better to pay the premium for a much better vehicle. The Journey may have ticked all the right buttons when it was first launched, it certainly doesn’t hold that fight like it once did and is best avoided.

Likes: The cheapest seven-seat crossover available, the 3.6 is the best engine to go for and it’s dirt cheap.

Dislikes: The 2.4 should be the better engine but it’s not. It feels far behind competition and the fact that Dodge has yet to give it any significant updates. FCA quality is concerning and residual values are appallingly low.

Top pick: Mazda CX-9

You’d be pretty daft to think that Mazda isn’t capable of making a great seven-seat crossover. The proof is in the CX-9 which in our opinion is one of the best options out there if you need seven-seats but don’t want to lose driving entertainment. It’s our top pick after all.

The 2.5 turbo four-cylinder pumps out 250hp and a diesel-like 310lb-ft torque. You can use regular fuel on this engine but the output will drop to 227hp and well a 23hp loss in power is not worth saving few nickels and dimes. We highly recommend using premium fuel to get the fuel 250hp from that four-cylinder engine. The best part of the CX-9 is the fact that despite it not having much horsepower it doesn’t feel sluggish to drive; it’s actually the complete opposite. The high torque at low revs gives the CX-9 so much pull that driving around town is smoother than you’d think and when it comes to passing on the highway, the four-cylinder manages to cope with the heavy weight of the CX-9 with surprising amounts of flexibility. Steering feedback is amazing and the chassis manages to be comfortable and agile. Road noise is present but it is far from annoying or a deal breaker, you can easily drain it out with the radio, wind noise wont’ be much of an issue either thanks to good interior insulation.

The front seats offer superb comfort and the driving position is spot on good. The second row is good in space as well while the third row is surprisingly comfortable with plenty of comfort features to help it feel less claustrophobic. The CX-9 may not have the same amount of cargo space as a Chevy Suburban with both two rows of seats folded down but to say that the CX-9 isn’t roomy enough ultimately means that you’ll have to pick either a Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition EL.

The dashboard is first class in refinement and the fact that all the controls and dials are within reach of the driver’s hand and are easy to use. The infotainment system is actually quite easy to navigate through with all the menus logically laid out, even though we still bash them for being too distracting while on the go. The Bluetooth connectivity is so seamless to use and isn’t as fussy as the Nissan Maxima we had as a tester.

Our tester car was the Grand Touring trim which came with LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, optional all-wheel-drive system and a Bose premium audio system. Also included in our CX-9 was navigation system, lane departure warning, distance pacing cruise control and blind spot monitoring system (this feature came in handy as we nearly cut-off a few people who rode in our blind spot during a brief drive on the highway).

There are few crossovers that really do tickle our fancy and make us wish we had a need for seven-seats. The CX-9 is one of those crossovers. It really does live up to the ‘zoom-zoom’ with the way it feels on the road and how comfortable and easy it is to live with despite it being a large seven-seat crossover. The only other crossover that doesn’t feel as daunting to drive is the Mercedes GLE and well not everyone wants to pay the premium for one, thus the CX-9 literally is the best of the best and is our top pick.

Likes: The turbo four-cylinder is smooth and offers plenty of flexibility, while running costs is within reason. It can fit up to seven people and doesn’t feel daunting to drive.

Dislikes: Don’t use regular fuel!

Our pick: Most people will be happiest with the Sport or Touring trim. We highly suggest going right for the Grand Touring Trim. It comes with so much kit standard and the asking price is actually quite reasonable. It may be a tad too pricey for some but what you get in return is well justified.

We drive a Suburban known Chevy

Picking the Chevy Suburban means that you need space and lots of it. It offers seating up to nine and can tow up to 8,300lbs. The Suburban will put minivans and most crossovers to shame. But with high running costs and bulky image will it be enough to justify buying one?

The sole engine on hand is a 5.3-liter Eco-Tec eight-cylinder which produces 355hp. Rear-wheel-drive is standard while four-wheel-drive is optional. We strongly suggest getting the four-wheel-drive which really does help out in snowy areas and adds a bit of traction in towing. But for those who won't need all-wheel-drive the rear-wheel-drive is just as capable. Acceleration is smooth and brisk but remember this is a large nine-seat sport utility vehilce so it's not going to be race car fast.
The sheer size of the Suburban makes it a chore to live with. Rear view vision camera really does come in handy when reversing out of parking spaces in the mall and in the city. But it's still tricky to navigate on anything but large Blvds and highways. Steering is okay but it feels rather heavy at times and the Suburban is about as aerodynamic as a tower block so wind noise will be an issue. Road noise is very well hidden though.

The Suburban can seat up to nine but we reckon that most will find that even the seven seat configuration is more than enough. With the third row in place the boot space is decent but it grows enormously with the third row seat folding down. Fold down the second row seat too and you've got a massively large boot. The LS trim is the way to go it's the cheapest of the range and offers enough for most buyers needs. Automatic climate control, rear view parking camera, remote start and rear park assist all come standard. You'll have to step up to the LT trim which adds leather seats, power tailgate and forward collision warning. Top of the range LTZ offers HID headlights with LED daytime running lamps, keyless start and 20 inch alloy wheels.

The Chevy Suburban isn't cheap to buy nor is it cheap to run. The large thirsty eight-cylinder engine will be a welcome visitor at the pump. Resale value should be good thanks the Suburban nameplate and the fact that people will always still buy these even if gas prices shoot past $6 per gallon.

The Chevy Suburban is a great workhorse of a vehicle. It can seat up to nine offers plenty of comfort for people and can tow up to 8,300lbs. It's a great vehicle if you stick with the standard form which is the cheapest. Paying more than the LT trim means you'll be entering territory with choices like the Mercedes GL which is an all round better option. The Chevy Suburban is a great family car for those who want big but there are premium rivals that do the same tricks better and save a few miles on the gallon too.

Likes: The sheer size of it intimidates other drivers. Lovely eight-cylinder rumble under heavy acceleration.

Dislikes: Sheer size makes it a chore to live with. Running costs are high. There's no diesel engine option. Top of the range trim is expensive and isn't as great as some rivals.

Devon's pick: LS trim is all the Suburban you'll ever really need. You'll have to pay extra for four-wheel-drive but rear view parking camera and rear parking assist are standard as well as automatic climate control and a remote start system. Most will be satisfied with those features.

Pathological is swayed by the new Disco

We loved the Land Rover LR4 because not only was it a workhorse but it was also a seven-seat crossover that could ferry the family around in comfort and style. Those days are long gone and the new Disco is here to reclaim the crown that the LR4 held dearly in our hearts.

You can choose between two engines. The entry 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder pumps out 340hp and offers decent flexibility while the 3-liter turbo-diesel seems like the better choice for those who do tons of highway driving and also will be using the seven seats and carry luggage aboard. We personally didn’t get the chance to test the turbo-diesel engine as it wasn’t available, but the 3-liter supercharged unit felt up for the job. Our tester car didn’t come with any fancy bells and whistles. It was the HSE trim which we found to be all you need with the Disco in terms of standard kit.

Driving the Disco around town doesn’t feel like much of a chore as the size suggests. It really is easy to squeeze around tight parking spaces thanks to communicative steering which is enough for this vehicle. Parking aids also help take the sting out of it as well. The engine doesn’t lack in flexibility or refinement as it is silky smooth. We took it on the highway and found ourselves doing 80mph and not even feeling like it. Wind and road noise are so well suppressed that (dare we say) is better than a Mercedes S-class.

The driving position is spot on good with excellent comfort and refinement. The infotainment system is a little fussy to use at first but once you’ve gotten used to it, everything just falls into place. We love the simplicity of the interior although some may say that it is a bit plain. The second row seats offer good headroom and legroom, although those in the third row won’t really want to stay back there for too long. It isn’t as versatile as the XC90 which does the three rows of passenger comfort well. Boot space with the seats in place is about class average, but when you fold that third row seat down space opens up considerably. Fold the second row seat down also and you’ve got yourself a cargo van. The electrically folding seats do take a while to fold and unfold.

SE trim gets 19-inch alloys, rain sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights and rear parking aid with visual display. You’ll have to step up to the HSE to get 20-inch alloys, LED headlights, powered inner tailgate and a 380watt Meridian Sound System. HSE Luxury adds a twin-speed transfer box, electronic air suspension, panoramic sunroof, heated seven seats and three-zone climate control. First Edition gets all terrain progress control, 21-inch alloys, surround view camera, intelligent seat fold and activity key.

You’ll have a hard time disliking the Disco because it really does offer more refinement than the LR4 and while we didn’t get the chance to take it off-road. We know that this will be as capable as the LR4 is. Our only concern is that Land Rover reliability record is still iffy.

Likes: Tough off-road and luxurious on-road, both engines are more than capable for the job. We love the way this thing looks.

Dislikes: Halogen headlights on entry-level SE.

Our pick: HSE Trim adds all the bits that you’d want with your Disco without pushing the price outside of the means of reason or logic. Those willing to dish out the cash should jump right for the First Edition.

We finally test drive a Land Rover Disco Diesel

We loved the Land Rover LR4 because not only was it a workhorse but it was also a seven-seat crossover that could ferry the family around in comfort and style. Those days are long gone and the new Disco is here to reclaim the crown that the LR4 held dearly in our hearts.

You can choose between two engines. The entry 3-liter supercharged six-cylinder pumps out 340hp and offers decent flexibility while the 3-liter turbo-diesel seems like the better choice for those who do tons of highway driving and also will be using the seven seats and carry luggage aboard. We finally gotten the opportunity to test drive the 3-liter turbo diesel which is optional with the Disco. What the engine lacks in horsepower makes up for it in torque and it has plenty of it at low revs. You'll enjoy this engine the most because the running costs are more ideal for those who want the Disco without the heavy running costs associated with most crossovers of this size.

Driving the Disco around town doesn’t feel like much of a chore as the size suggests. It really is easy to squeeze around tight parking spaces thanks to communicative steering which is enough for this vehicle. Parking aids also help take the sting out of it as well. The engine doesn’t lack in flexibility or refinement as it is silky smooth. We took it on the highway and found ourselves doing 80mph and not even feeling like it. Wind and road noise are so well suppressed that (dare we say) is better than a Mercedes S-class.

The turbo-diesel engine we finally gotten to test drive is much more refined than the BMW X5 diesel and it certainly feels like it has more torque as well. You can't really tell that it's a diesel engine unless you are at idle and a few amount of diesel clatter can be heard if the radio is all the way down. This is far from a deal breaker in our eyes. It's a fantastic diesel engine if we say so our selves.

The driving position is spot on good with excellent comfort and refinement. The infotainment system is a little fussy to use at first but once you’ve gotten used to it, everything just falls into place. We love the simplicity of the interior although some may say that it is a bit plain. The second row seats offer good headroom and legroom, although those in the third row won’t really want to stay back there for too long. It isn’t as versatile as the XC90 which does the three rows of passenger comfort well. Boot space with the seats in place is about class average, but when you fold that third row seat down space opens up considerably. Fold the second row seat down also and you’ve got yourself a cargo van. The electrically folding seats do take a while to fold and unfold.

SE trim gets 19-inch alloys, rain sensing windshield wipers, automatic headlights and rear parking aid with visual display. You’ll have to step up to the HSE to get 20-inch alloys, LED headlights, powered inner tailgate and a 380watt Meridian Sound System. HSE Luxury adds a twin-speed transfer box, electronic air suspension, panoramic sunroof, heated seven seats and three-zone climate control. First Edition gets all terrain progress control, 21-inch alloys, surround view camera, intelligent seat fold and activity key.

You’ll have a hard time disliking the Disco because it really does offer more refinement than the LR4 and while we didn’t get the chance to take it off-road. We know that this will be as capable as the LR4 is. Our only concern is that Land Rover reliability record is still iffy.

Likes: Tough off-road and luxurious on-road, both engines are more than capable for the job. We love the way this thing looks. The diesel engine makes the most sense financially.

Dislikes: Halogen headlights on entry-level SE.

Our pick: HSE Trim adds all the bits that you’d want with your Disco without pushing the price outside of the means of reason or logic. Those willing to dish out the cash should jump right for the First Edition.

Dodge Journey

Likes: Standard seven-seat configuration. You can pick-up one of these with deep discounts.

Dislikes: Bluetooth not standard on many trim levels. It's in desperate need of a redesign. The standard 2.4 is stuck with an ancient four-speed auto while the 3.6 running costs are high. Build quality and reliability are both iffy at best.

Overall: You'd choose this because it's the cheapest way into a crossover with seven-seats.

The one star rating is all you need to know. Look elsewhere!

The Dodge Journey comes with a choice of two engine choices. The standard 2.4 is best avoided as it comes with an ancient four-speed automatic. The engine itself isn’t bad; we just wish that the transmission was more refined. The optional 3.6 is the way to go and is our pick of the range. You get all-wheel-drive standard and a much more refined engine. We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again, the slight spike in running costs are well justified here because this engine is the best of the two offered.

Don’t buy the Journey thinking that you’re going to get a rewarding crossover to drive because you will be bitterly disappointed. We weren’t expecting much in terms of steering feedback and handling, both which are numb at best. What it does do is provide a smooth ride and while the steering is okay for what it is, you’ll probably want to look at a Ford Explorer for better refinement. The 2.4 is noisy at all speeds while the 3.6 is much more refined and is way more flexible which matters the most in our books. After all this is a seven-seat crossover and you’ll most likely use this for ferrying the family around. Why not get the engine that can handle a fully laden vehicle?

The U-Connect system is actually a lot easier to use than we thought it would. However, just like many touch-screen infotainment systems. The vast number of menus can get a little distracting while on the move. The front seats offer decent support while those in the second row won’t have anything to complain about. Passengers in the third row may feel a little shortchanged on space because there really isn’t much of it, kids won’t complain though. The boot space is tiny with the third row in place, fold it down and space opens up considerably. The second row folded down provides space similar to that of a cargo van. Some of its keen rivals have way more space than that but for the size of the Journey compared to others we’ll let it slide.

Our tester car was the SXT which came equipped with the 3.6 six-cylinder and all-wheel-drive. Key standard features include Bluetooth connectivity for your mobile device, keyless ignition switch and dual-zone climate control. A premium group package was also added which came with electrically operated driver’s seat, 19-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a security alarm system. This vehicle came with a steep discount and the dealer was willing to knock off more if we took the vehicle the same day. It was a tempting proposition to say the least, but we don’t need a seven-seat crossover as a vehicle. If we had a need for one; we would’ve strongly considered the offer handed to us. However, the quality issues associated with FCA vehicles would’ve still lingered at the back of our minds.

The Dodge Journey is in desperate need of a redesign. Otherwise you can buy it at dirt cheap prices, but sometimes it’s better to pay the premium for a much better vehicle. The Journey may have ticked all the right buttons when it was first launched, it certainly doesn’t hold that fight like it once did and is best avoided.