We installed two ISOFIX/LATCH child seats plus a high-back booster in a 2024 Volkswagen Atlas (second-row bench) to evaluate anchor access, belt routes, and rear-door usability for real family duty.
Test car: 2024 Volkswagen Atlas SE w/Tech, second-row bench, 20-inch wheels. We used two convertible seats with rigid ISOFIX/LATCH (Clek Foonf and Nuna RAVA in LATCH mode) and a Graco TurboBooster high-back. Ambient 72°F, level garage floor, torque-checked to typical child-seat spec. VW rates lower anchors for a combined 65 lb (seat + child); beyond that, install with the vehicle belt and top tether.
Dimensions and access set the tone. The Atlas’s second row is broad (manufacturer specs: generous shoulder and hip room) and the cushions are flat, so bases sit square. Lower anchors are exposed behind plastic guides on all three second-row positions in our tester, with clearly labeled top tether anchors on the seatbacks. Rear doors open wide; our angle finder read roughly 80–85 degrees at the detent, and the step-in height is kid-friendly, which helps when hefting a rear-facing shell.
Outboard installs were straightforward. The Clek’s rigid ISOFIX latched cleanly with an audible click; no fishing between cushions required. With both outboard seats in LATCH mode, the top tethers route over the seatbacks to easily reached anchors—no parcel-shelf digging. The Nuna, installed rear-facing outboard, cleared the front passenger seat with the Atlas’s track set to a 5'10" occupant; we still had two finger-widths between shell and seatback.
Switching either seat to a seat-belt install was equally clean thanks to broad belt paths and smoothly retracting ALR belts. For the booster, we placed the Graco in the center. Buckle access is the usual three-across pain point, but the Atlas mitigates it with short, semi-rigid buckle stalks that resist “buckle crunch.” The center belt’s geometry is favorable: shoulder belt anchors from the roof with a solid D-loop guide, and the lap belt sits low across the hips when the booster is adjusted to mid-height. A narrow booster (or backless like BubbleBum) makes independent buckling realistic even with two bulky convertibles beside it.
Usability checks: ISOFIX spacing is the standard 280 mm, and the guides are wide enough to accept rigid connectors without fiddling. The bench’s minimal bolster and long lower cushion keep bases from rocking; we saw sub-1-inch movement at the belt path on all installs. Loading is easy thanks to that wide door swing and tall aperture; even with the front seats slid back, the door cutout leaves enough fore-aft space to maneuver a rear-facing shell. Third-row access with child seats latched outboard is limited unless you slide the bench, so plan on center booster if frequent third-row use is needed.
Verdict: The 2024 Atlas earns high marks for family fitment. Three-across with two LATCH seats plus a booster is achievable with thoughtful seat choice, anchor access is excellent, and belt routes are clean. If your child exceeds the lower-anchor weight limit, the Atlas’s belt installs remain rock-solid. For growing families prioritizing easy installs and daily usability, this is a top-tier pick.
