After seven years in the market, Volkswagen is ready to refresh the Atlas / Teramont completely. The SUV is currently undergoing testing, and we have seen it on several occasions.

The prototypes that became the focus of our spy photographers’ lenses were camouflaged to resemble the outgoing iteration. But don’t let that trick you, as it is a brand-new one, indeed, and it should be a significant improvement over its predecessor.

Details surrounding the platform and powertrain lineup are nonexistent at the moment. Thus, we can only speculate that the upcoming Volkswagen Atlas (Teramont overseas) will launch with a four-pot in the United States. It will likely be a 2.0-liter gasoline-fed mill.

We also expect it to feature a partially electrified powertrain, either a self-charging or a plug-in hybrid – or perhaps both. One thing it won’t get is a fully-electric assembly. The reason is that the car world has slowed down on this game due to the dropped demand. Yep, EVs are not that popular anymore if you haven’t heard that yet.

Volkswagen’s 2026 Atlas is expected to have clever packaging that will increase the legroom for backseat passengers. The trunk should also be larger than before. The new dashboard panel is believed to accommodate a fresh infotainment system next to the digital gauge cluster, and reports speak of the same 15-inch unit taken from the latest Tiguan sold overseas.

On the outside, it has stacked headlights, a smaller front grille, smaller vents to the sides of the new bumper, and a large intake in the middle. The tailgate, rear bumper, and taillights will also be entirely new, and a full-width light bar may link the taillamps. Some also think a backlit corporate logo will decorate the tailgate, though it remains to be seen whether that is the case or not.

The upcoming Atlas will likely sport flush-mounted door handles. The latest spy shots have shown the tester with stickers on these components. Speaking of the sides, it is worth noting that the wheelbase seems to be the same size as before, and the front and rear overhangs are not longer.

But what exactly lies beneath the tricky camouflage? In all likelihood, a better-looking design that will be gradually revealed as the SUV approaches its unveiling. The vehicle is expected to debut sometime next year and arrive in the United States for the 2026 model year.

Until then, the rendering crowd will try to decipher the styling mystery. The peeps at Kolesa have recently shared a pair of digital illustrations that portray the 2026 VW Atlas. Knowing their work, these are as close as they can be to the real thing, and we certainly wouldn’t act surprised if the real thing looks very similar. So, is it a yay in your book styling-wise?