Although the package has very few features, it could do with more functionality. However, it looks pretty good.
The Volkswagen Atlas Basecamp concept was displayed at the 2019 New York Auto Show. Camping enthusiasts wondered if this lifted SUV could be a preview of a future product by the company. This question was answered today. The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas comes with Basecamp accessories.
Basecamp accessories include exterior styling enhancements such as a front bumper guard in satin silver/anthracite, anthracite splash guards, anthracite rear bumper guard, anthracite flared fender extensions with splashguards, satin-silver rocker panels and a satin-silver rear valance with trailer hitch cutout. The Basecamp kit is sold in total for $2,500. This seems high to us. The quality of the Basecamp kit is almost guaranteed because AirDesign offers body enhancements for Volkswagen.
The Basecamp accessory kit is a great way to save money, although each item can be purchased individually. The cost of buying the front and back valences, rocker panels and fender extension individually would be $130 more. Also, the special badge is only available on the complete package.
Basecamp’s optional rolling stock is the most striking part of its accessory line. The Atlas is given a real presence by the Fifteen52 TraverseMX 17-inch wheels. They cost $1,000 each. Fifteen52 collaborated with Volkswagen to design the wheels. The prototype phase of the New York Auto Show Basecamp concept was still underway. Atlas owners can swap the center caps for traditional Volkswagen logos. Frosted Graphite (pictured) and Radiant Silver are two options.
The buyer or the buyer’s dealer will need to supply appropriate 245/70R17 tires. This gives owners flexibility, including all-terrain tires for people who ski and camp frequently, and highway tires for those who want comfort and efficiency.
Let’s look at the numbers. Basecamp packages cost $2,500 plus $1,000 for optional Fifteen52 wheels, and $500 for an all-season tire. All-terrain rubber costs $100 more. The kit is estimated to take around four hours to install. However, depending on local labor rates, the cost of installation could be as high as $300. This brings the total cost of a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas Basecamp package, which is all-terrain, to approximately $4,500.
It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it. However, for our part, Vee-Dub should have offered the H&R 1.5 inch lift kit along with other overlanding-inspired goodies as part of the package. Basecamp accessories serve as a foil for the sporty-looking (but not really sportier) Atlas R-Line trim packages. They are more about visual enhancement than rugged rock-bashing.
The Basecamp accessory line, which is only available on the 2021 Atlas but not on other models, enhances the SUV’s newly updated styling. The refreshed Atlas clearly draws stylistic inspirations from the smaller Atlas Cross Sport. It also features attractive styling and a newly available all-wheel drive when powered with the standard 2.0-liter four cylinder.