Get Off-road driving situations -> Safety precautions for driving off-road Guide for Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

Selecting instruments and adjusting units

The infotainment system displays various instruments ﬁg. 120.

1. To switch between instruments, swipe up over the display.

The units on some instruments can be adjusted in the Infotainment system ⇒ Vehicle settings menu.

Instruments in the Offroad display

The selection of instruments depends on the vehicle equipment.

Compass: The compass shows your current direction of travel.

Steering angle display: Shows the steering angle of the vehicle. For a left lock, the value is positive. For a right lock, it is negative.

Altimeter: The altimeter shows your current height above sea level.

Coolant temperature display: The display corresponds to the temperature display in the instrument cluster.

Oil temperature display: The display corresponds to the oil temperature display in the instrument cluster.

Adjusting the display areas to the driving situation

The instruments displayed can be selected according to the driving situation and the environmental and terrain conditions:

Sandy terrain: Oil and coolant temperature display, steering angle display.

Inclines: Steering angle display, coolant temperature display, altimeter (depending on country).

Alpine terrain: Steering angle display, altimeter (depending on country), Compass.

Off-road driving situations

Introduction

The examples described in this chapter are to be understood as general guidelines aimed to help the driver in driving safely on off-road terrain. These tips will not

necessarily apply to every possible situation that may occur. Before driving on unknown terrain, it is crucial to ﬁnd out information about the condition of the terrain

ahead. You can assess potential dangers in advance. The driver is responsible for deciding whether their vehicle is suitable for the terrain ahead and if the terrain

can be driven on.

Driving off-road requires different skills and handling practices compared to driving on developed roads.

This vehicle is not designed for traveling with an “expedition driving style”.

With 4MOTION Active Control in a four-wheel drive vehicle, various vehicle tuning adjustment can be selected to the driver's preference ⇒ Selecting the driving

mode.

Switch off the driver assistance systems and parking systems when off-roading.

Checklist

The following steps should be taken before the ﬁrst trip to operate and drive the vehicle safely off-road.

Observe the general safety precautions when driving off-road ⇒ Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Adjust the seating position so there is clear visibility in front of the vehicle and fasten safety belts ⇒ Seating position.

Always wear suitable and well-ﬁtted footwear that gives the feet good traction on the pedals.

A responsible driver also treats nature with care when driving off-road. Driving over shrubs and meadows can destroy the habitats of animals and plants.

Leaking operating ﬂuids resulting from vehicle damage can contaminate the environment. Catch any leaking operating ﬂuids and dispose of them correctly

according to environmental regulations.

Take any suitable equipment with you for driving off-road.

Safety precautions for driving off-road

Refer to ⇒

and

WARNING

The intelligent vehicle technology cannot overcome the natural laws of physics and it can only operate within the limits of the system. When the condition of the

ground is poor, the wheels may lock and cause instability, despite the vehicle having ABS. For example, this could occur during hard braking on loose gravel.

Under these conditions, the ESC can only stabilize the vehicle to a limited extent.

WARNING

Driving off-road can be dangerous and can cause accidents, serious injuries, vehicle damage, and vehicle malfunctions far away from any assistance.

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Never select a dangerous route or undertake a risk that would endanger the vehicle occupants. If you can go no further or you have doubts about the

safety of the route, turn around and choose a different route.

Even if it appears the terrain will be easy to drive on, it may be difﬁcult and dangerous and may create critical driving situations for you and your

passengers. Explore the terrain on foot beforehand.

Drive with extreme caution and anticipation when driving off-road. If you are driving too fast or a driving maneuver fails, this can lead to serious injuries

and vehicle damage.

Never drive faster than is appropriate for the predominant terrain, road conditions, trafﬁc and weather.

Never drive over embankments, ramps, or hillsides at excessively high speeds. This can cause the vehicle to lift in a way that means you can no longer

steer it and lose control of the vehicle.

If the vehicle does lift off the ground, always align the front wheels so they face straight ahead. The vehicle can roll over if the wheels are turned inward

when coming back into contact with the ground.

WARNING

Utility vehicles have a signiﬁcantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is signiﬁcantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.

The vehicle has a higher center of gravity and has a greater risk of rolling over while driving than a “regular” passenger vehicle that is not suited for

offroad driving.

Never drive too fast, especially around curves, or perform any extreme driving maneuvers.

Always adapt the speed and driving style to the predominant terrain.

Luggage and other objects transported on the roof of the vehicle also increases the center of gravity and thus the risk of a rollover accident.

WARNING

Sections of terrain that seem safe could be very dangerous. Potholes, depressions, ditches, hollows, obstacles, shallow areas, and soft and swampy ground are

often not detected as such and can be completely or partially covered by snow, water, grass, or branches on the ground. Driving over such sections of terrain

can cause accidents, serious injuries, and vehicle malfunctions.

Before driving on unknown terrain, explore the route carefully on foot.

Never choose unsafe routes or undertake a risk that would put you and your passengers in danger. If you have doubts about the safety of the route, turn

around and choose a different route.

Always adapt the speed and driving style to the load, visibility, terrain and weather conditions.

WARNING

Driving at an angle on a hill can be dangerous and cause accidents, serious injuries and damage to the vehicle.

Always avoid driving at an angle on a hill ⇒ Driving at an angle on a hill.

If the vehicle stops at a side angle on a hill, never exit the vehicle through the doors that are facing in the downhill direction. The combined center of

gravity of the vehicle and its load (passengers and cargo) can cause it to shift and cause the vehicle to tip over and roll down the hill. If it is necessary,

always exit the vehicle carefully using the doors on the side of the vehicle that is facing uphill ⇒ Driving at an angle on a hill.

WARNING

The driver assistance systems were developed only for driving on developed roads. The driver assistance systems are not suitable for use off-road and can

thus be dangerous in off-road situations. If you use driver assistance systems off-road, you could lose control of the vehicle and become severely injured.

Never use driver assistance systems off-road.

WARNING

Driving off-road with a low fuel level can lead to a vehicle breakdown, accidents, and serious injuries.

Always refuel your vehicle with enough fuel before driving off-road.

The steering and braking support systems will not work if the engine is “sputtering” or malfunctioning due to fuel shortage or irregular fuel supply.

NOTICE

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If the windows and sunroof are open, rain could enter the vehicle and soak the interior, causing vehicle damage. Always keep the windows and power sunroof

closed when driving off-road.

Explanations of technical terms

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Fig. 121 General example: incline angle

Fig. 122 General example: tilt angle

Center of gravity The center of gravity of a vehicle influences the risk of rollover accidents. When driving off-road, the vehicle has a larger ground clearance and

thus a higher center of gravity compared to “normal” road vehicles. Due to the higher center of gravity, there is an increased risk that the vehicle could

roll over while driving. Always consider this fact while driving and always observe the safety tips and warnings listed in this Owner's Manual.

Ground clearance The distance between the road surface and the lowest point of the vehicle underbody.

Incline angle The maximum angle the vehicle can drive up an incline on its own. A rising difference in altitude (incline) on a 100 m (300 ft) stretch is given in

percentage or degrees fig. 121. The maximum incline angle the vehicle can handle depends on the road surface and the engine power, among other

things.

Tilt angle The maximum angle that the vehicle can drive diagonally or perpendicularly to the fall line on a hill without tipping over (depends on the center of

gravity) fig. 122.

Ramp angle Maximum angle that the vehicle can drive over a ramp at slow speeds without the vehicle underbody coming into contact with the edge of the ramp.

Slope angle The transition from the horizontal plane on an incline or from the slope back to level ground. Maximum angle that the vehicle can handle without the

vehicle underbody coming into contact with the edge of the slope.

Fall line The line that is the most direct path downhill.

Axle articulation The torsional flexibility of a vehicle when driving over an object on one side.

Checklist “before driving off-road”

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Checklist

For your safety and the safety of your passengers, always observe the following points before driving off-road:

Learn about the quality of the upcoming terrain before driving off-road.

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Fill up the fuel tank. Fuel consumption is signiﬁcantly higher off-road than it is on developed roads.

Check if the tire proﬁle and the type of all the tires is sufﬁcient for the planned off-road trip.

Check and adjust the tire pressure on all tires.

Check the engine oil level and add engine oil if necessary. When the vehicle is on sloping ground, the engine will only supplied with engine oil if the engine o

level is sufﬁcient.

Fill the windshield washer ﬂuid reservoir completely with water and windshield washer ﬂuid.

Stow any luggage as low as possible in the vehicle and distributed evenly. Secure all loose objects safely.

General rules and driving instructions

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Volkswagen recommends to never drive off-road alone. At least two off-roading vehicles should drive together off-road. An unexpected situation could occur at

any time. Therefore, it is especially wise to have equipment that can be used to call for emergency assistance.

Stop and explore the path on foot, especially before critical passages.

Drive over bumps slowly so that the vehicle does not lift up, which could cause damage and prevent you from maneuvering the vehicle.

Drive slowly through difﬁcult sections of the route. Upshift on slippery ground and always keep the vehicle in motion.

There is usually a lot of soft ground on off-road terrain, where the tires could sink into the ground. This reduces the ground clearance and the wading depth.

Whenever possible, drive on level and solid ground.

Even at low speeds, always maintain a safe distance to other vehicles. If the ﬁrst vehicle suddenly becomes stuck, the vehicle following it would be able to stop

in time without also getting stuck.

NOTICE

Always make sure there is enough ground clearance under the vehicle. Severe damage to the underbody can occur if the vehicle hits the ground. This

damage can cause vehicle breakdowns and make it impossible to continue driving.

Shifting gears correctly

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Correct gear selection depends on the terrain.

Before driving on a difﬁcult stretch of the route, it may be helpful to stop and consider which gear to select. After several off-roading trips, you can learn which gear

in conjunction with gear reduction is best suited for certain areas of terrain.

When the correct gear is selected, the vehicle must normally be braked less with the brake pedal because the engine braking effect will be sufﬁcient in the

majority of cases.

Only accelerate as much as is necessary. Too much acceleration can cause the wheels to spin and thus loss of control of the vehicle.

Use the D selector lever position on normal, level stretches of off-road land.

Adjust your speed when driving on soft or slippery ground and drive at the highest possible gear in tiptronic mode.

Drive using tiptronic in gear 1 when on steep hills or on a steep incline.

Drive using tiptronic in gears 3 or 2 when on mud, sand, water, or hilly areas ⇒ Automatic transmission: selecting the selector lever position.

Use the off-road display ⇒ Offroad display.

Driving over brush and rock

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

1. Select a suitable driving mode ⇒ Selecting the driving mode and drive no faster than walking speeds over rocky ground.

2. If you are unable to drive around a stone, drive carefully onto the stone with one of the front wheels and then drive slowly over it

⇒

Even objects that are lower than the available ground clearance can come into contact with the vehicle underbody and cause vehicle damage and malfunctions.

This is especially true if there is a depression or soft ground in front of or behind the object. This is also true if the vehicle drives too fast over an object and then the

suspension compresses.

NOTICE

Never drive over a very large object such as boulders or tree trunks if it is under the vehicle or on one side. Objects that are higher than the ground clearance

will damage vehicle components when driven over and could cause vehicle malfunctions.

Driving through still or ﬂowing water

Refer to ⇒

and Safety precautions for driving off-road.

Driving through ﬂooded terrain or bodies of water could cause vehicle damage.

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Off-road driving situations -> Safety precautions for driving off-road for Your Volkswagen Atlas SUV First Generation (2018-2023)

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