Atlas Auto Rental Is Officially Launching in Fort Lauderdale
On 1 June 2026 we handed over our first car. Two vehicles. No counter, no storefront, no lot with a boom gate. A 2024 Volkswagen Jetta, a 2023 Volk...
Read more →Why We Added a 2023 Volkswagen Taos to the Atlas Auto Rental Fleet
Our first car was a 2024 Volkswagen Jetta, and it does most of what most renters need. What it can't do is swallow four large suitcases, a stroller and a cooler at the same time.
So the second car had to be different in kind, not just in badge. We bought a 2023 Volkswagen Taos S w/ IQ.DRIVE — a compact SUV with real cargo room — and we rent it for $65 a day, the same as the Jetta. More space, higher seating position, no premium.
It had roughly 36,000 miles when we bought it. We'll tell you that up front, because most rental companies won't tell you at all.
Why a compact SUV and not a big one
South Florida renters split fairly cleanly. Some land at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International with a week's luggage. Some need a car while their own is at the body shop. Families are carrying beach chairs, a cooler and a stroller; others are driving down to the Keys or up to Palm Beach for the day.
A compact crossover covers all of that. A full-size SUV would too, but you'd pay for it twice — once at the pump and again every time you tried to park it near the beach. The Taos is the version of that trade-off that still fits a hotel garage.
The space you actually gain
It seats five, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and considerably more once you fold them down. In practice that's the difference between arranging luggage in the trunk like a puzzle and simply putting it in.
Where it earns its keep: airport arrivals with several bags, beach days with chairs and an umbrella, golf clubs, a big shopping run, or a longer road trip where the back seat isn't doubling as storage.
36 MPG on the highway
The EPA rates our Taos at 28 city, 36 highway, 31 combined — front-wheel drive, 1.5-liter turbo four, eight-speed automatic, regular gas. With a 13.2-gallon tank, that's a theoretical highway range near 475 miles, before real traffic, air conditioning and a full load of luggage take their cut.
That's the whole argument for this car. You get most of an SUV's practicality while giving up about two miles per gallon against our sedan.
How it drives
The turbo four makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Nobody is buying a Taos for the acceleration, but it merges onto I-95 without drama and holds highway speed comfortably with five people and their bags aboard.
Ours carries Volkswagen's IQ.DRIVE driver-assistance package, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto mean your own navigation and music come with you — which matters more than it sounds when you're on an unfamiliar road.
Taos or Jetta?
They cost the same, so pick on shape rather than price.
- Take the Taos if you're carrying luggage, beach or sports equipment, traveling with family, or you simply prefer sitting higher.
- Take the Jetta if you're traveling light, doing a lot of city parking, or want the best fuel economy we offer.
Should You Rent a Sedan or SUV in Fort Lauderdale? goes through the trade-offs properly.
Why we bought newer instead of cheaper
The 36,000 miles matter. The standard way to build a rental fleet is to buy older cars with far more mileage, because the math is better on day one — and worse every day after, in breakdowns, dated safety equipment and fuel.
We'd rather run a small fleet of cars we'd drive ourselves. We wrote about that reasoning at more length when we bought the Jetta; the Taos was held to the same standard.
Renting the Taos
It's $65 a day with 200 miles a day included, then $0.35 per additional mile, and a $300 security deposit held rather than charged. We deliver across Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Dania Beach, Davie and Aventura — to a home, hotel, office or other approved address, so there's no counter and no line.
Check availability on the 2023 Volkswagen Taos page, or see our FAQ for deposits, tolls, insurance, additional drivers and driver requirements.
