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Honda Pilot vs Volkswagen Atlas
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Volkswagen Atlas Depreciation & Resale Value
Skip the new-car premium: a 2019 runs about $20,140 below its original MSRP.
The Volkswagen Atlas is a U.S.-focused three-row crossover with four- and six-cylinder configurations.
Market context: The source covers its first three model years with strong 2019 representation.
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Open a side-by-side comparison of five-year value retention, depreciation by model year, used asking prices, repair costs, MPG and safety data.
At a glance
Key takeaways
Biggest drop
2020→2019
+7.9% in one year
Smart-buy year
2019
~$17,155 median
Depreciation by Model Year
| Model year | Depreciation from MSRP |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 48.0% |
| 2019 | 55.9% |
| 2018 | 59.6% |
Based on 442 real used-car listings. Each listing's price is adjusted to a standard 12,000 mi/year for its age and compared to the vehicle's original MSRP; figures reflect a 5% asking-to-sale estimate.
Resale Value by Age
Estimated value of a typical Volkswagen Atlas as it ages, from a ~$34,695 new price.
| Age | Retained | Est. value | Lost that year | Total lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | 85% | $29,533 | −$5,162 | −$5,162 |
| 2 yrs | 76% | $26,489 | −$3,044 | −$8,206 |
| 3 yrs | 69% | $23,758 | −$2,731 | −$10,937 |
| 4 yrs | 61% | $21,309 | −$2,449 | −$13,386 |
| 5 yrs | 55% | $19,113 | −$2,196 | −$15,582 |
| 6 yrs | 49% | $17,142 | −$1,971 | −$17,553 |
| 7 yrs | 44% | $15,375 | −$1,767 | −$19,320 |
| 8 yrs | 40% | $13,790 | −$1,585 | −$20,905 |
Interactive tool
What's your Atlas worth?
Estimate a used Atlas's value from its year and mileage, using our depreciation model.
Estimated value
$15,400
about typical mileage
At 84,000 miles (about typical for a 7-year-old car, ~84,000 mi). Estimate only — actual value depends on condition, trim, options, and local demand.
Should You Buy a Used Volkswagen Atlas?
For used buyers, the Volkswagen Atlas is an average bet for resale. The smartest pick is a 2019 (around $17,155) — it sits just past the steepest depreciation, so the first owner already absorbed the biggest loss. Favor the V6 SE R-Line 4Motion trim for the best resale, and always pull a vehicle-history report before buying.
Pros
- Proven longevity — examples regularly list past 150,000 miles and still sell for around $12,586.
- The V6 SE R-Line 4Motion trim holds its value best if resale matters to you.
Watch-outs
- The steepest single-year drop hits between 2020 and 2019 — buying brand-new costs you that loss.
What Affects Volkswagen Atlas Resale Value
Value falls fastest from the 2020 to the 2019 model year — a 7.9%-point jump in a single year. That makes the 2019 Atlas a value sweet spot — the previous owner absorbs the worst of the drop, and you still get a relatively recent car.
Trim matters: the V6 SE R-Line 4Motion holds its value best (about 47.9% average depreciation), while the V6 SEL Premium 4Motion gives up the most (around 59.4%). Choosing the right trim can be worth thousands at resale.
Which Volkswagen Atlas Trims Hold Value Best
Share of original MSRP retained, averaged across model years.
V6 SE R-Line 4Motion
52.1% kept· 8 listings
SE
46.1% kept· 25 listings
V6 SE 4Motion
45.4% kept· 117 listings
2.0T SE
44.9% kept· 12 listings
V6 SE
42.6% kept· 75 listings
V6 SEL 4Motion
42.4% kept· 62 listings
V6 SEL R-Line 4Motion
42.1% kept· 8 listings
How Long Does the Volkswagen Atlas Last?
Mileage profile across 442 listings.
Over 100k mi
48.6%
Over 150k mi
4.3%
Highest mileage
220,338 mi
Price at 120k+ mi
$12,586
Roughly 48.6% of listed Volkswagen Atlass have already crossed 100,000 miles, and 4.3% are past 150,000 — a sign these go the distance with maintenance.
Smartest Year to Buy
The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas sits just past the steepest depreciation drop, with a typical asking price around $17,155 — about $20,140 off its original MSRP.
View 2019 details →Price & Depreciation by Year
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year to buy a used Volkswagen Atlas?
The 2019 Atlas is the value sweet spot: it sits just past the model's steepest one-year depreciation drop, so the first owner has already absorbed the biggest loss. Expect to pay around $17,155 for a typical example, and the V6 SE R-Line 4Motion trim will hold its value best from there. As always, a well-maintained, accident-free example with average mileage for its age is worth paying a little more for than a cheap car with a questionable history. Whatever year you settle on, budget for a pre-purchase inspection — at a couple hundred dollars, it's the cheapest insurance against an expensive surprise down the road.
Which Volkswagen Atlas trim holds its value best?
The V6 SE R-Line 4Motion retains the most value, depreciating about 47.9% on average across model years in our data. Trim choice can swing resale by thousands of dollars over a few years, because desirable trims stay in demand on the used market while stripped-down or niche trims sell at a discount. It's also worth comparing the trim premium new versus used — a pricier trim sometimes depreciates enough to become the smarter used buy. If you expect to resell, the V6 SE R-Line 4Motion is the safer bet; if you're keeping the car long-term, buy the trim with the features you actually want and worry less about resale.
Methodology
Depreciation is computed from 442 real used-car listings. Each listing's asking price is normalized to a standard 12,000 miles per year for the vehicle's age, adjusted by a 5% asking-to-sale estimate, and compared against the original base MSRP for that VIN's trim. Headline 1/3/5-year figures reflect a smoothed retention curve fitted across all model years (the typical trajectory); individual years in the table above can run above or below it with market conditions. Full methodology. Updated August 2026.