Every year, editors test hundreds of models to advise shoppers on the best and less-than-best choices. Each year, automakers redesign or introduce a few dozen of those cars, and in each of the past nine years, we've given one of those models our highest accolade: 's Best Of award.
Related: We Bought a 2018 Volkswagen Atlas
This year, that group came down to six contenders: a tech-filled redesign on the Honda Accord, a blistering performance compact in the new Honda Civic Type R, a surprising sports sedan in the all-new Kia Stinger, a svelte luxury SUV in the redesigned Volvo XC60, and two new practical family haulers in the redesigned Volkswagen Tiguan and all-new Atlas.
Of that group, the Atlas is our winner.
Steady gas prices in recent years have rekindled shoppers' love affair with SUVs. But the Atlas isn't just a winner because of what it is; it's a winner for how it does it. The Atlas boasts a cavernous interior with three adult-friendly rows of seats, an intuitive multimedia system, excellent scores in 's Car Seat Check and reasonably good drivability. Indeed, it stood head and shoulders above other crowd favorites in 's 2017 Three-Row SUV Challenge.
Throw in Volkswagen's outstanding new warranty for 2018, and the Atlas marries all of that practicality with a lot of value. It was a close match this year among six contenders for 's Best Of award, but when the dust settled, Volkswagen took home the title.
's Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with 's long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don't accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of 's advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.