If you choose the four-cylinder engine in the Atlas then the power figures are considerably lower, but the 3.6-litre naturally aspirated V6 makes this a fairer fight with 276 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. Here, it’s matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive, though VW’s system will default to powering only the front axle when traction isn’t needed at the rear. Despite sending power to all four corners full-time, the smaller engine displacement and more efficient transmission in the Ascent help it deliver very respectable fuel consumption figures of 11.6 L/100 km in city driving and 9.0 on the highway, which is quite good for a 2,066 kg (4,554 lb) seven-passenger vehicle. Some CVTs can create a disconnect between the throttle and power output in a way that feels unnatural and disconnected, but Subaru’s displays little of that here and is generally fairly pleasant to drive.