By admin 
A Better Co-Pilot
Volkswagen may have posted a good U.S. sales performance in the second quarter of this year, but it is still working on a turnaround. Several plans have been reported regarding how the German marque intends to improve its fortunes, including potentially bringing rugged pickups and SUVs to the U.S., where demand for vehicles like the Ford F-150 is strong. For now, though, VW is looking to attract more potential customers by improving its IQ.Drive system for 2027 model-year vehicles.
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IQ.Drive is essentially the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite, like Tesla’s Autopilot. It is a timely upgrade, given that surveys show drivers prioritize improved safety systems over full autonomy and that the IIHS is pushing for better crash-avoidance technologies, with driver-attention monitoring also planned for future Top Safety Pick+ Award criteria. The MY2027 vehicles receiving the updated IQ.Drive include the Atlas family, Golf family, Tiguan, and ID. Buzz. The ID.4 isn’t included, likely because U.S. production ended earlier this year.
What’s New for 2027
The changes for 2027 include expanded availability of Travel Assist with driver-initiated lane changes, Emergency Assist Plus, updated Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control (pACC), a new Rear View Camera System, and Road Experience Management (REM) data.
The updated Travel Assist feature allows drivers to initiate assisted lane changes using the turn signals, provided the vehicle speed is above 45 mph. It uses rear radar sensors to check whether the targeted lane is clear. Meanwhile, Emergency Assist Plus can automatically move the vehicle to the side of the road and stop if the system detects an unresponsive driver. It can be triggered while either Lane Assist or Travel Assist is active, though the latter uses a more forceful “wake up” sequence consisting of horn honking, three brake jolts, and seatbelt tightening. If there isn’t enough room on the shoulder, the vehicle moves to the far-right lane instead.
pACC can now respond earlier to increased speed limits with driver accelerator input and help manage speed for highway exits and ramps. Meanwhile, a new rearview-camera system on select Atlas, Tiguan, and ID. Buzz trims can detect pedestrians behind the vehicle and automatically brake when reversing at 1–6 mph.
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Last but not least, the cloud-based REM data, available through an In-Vehicle Premium subscription, supports ADAS by using real-world road information from swarm data. This supplements the vehicle’s onboard camera information, helping with lane centering when lane markings aren’t clearly visible. It is now available on the 2027 ID. Buzz.
Safety Sells
Speaking about the update, Thomas Zorn, Vice President, Vehicle Safety, Volkswagen of America, said, “The protection and peace of mind of our customers is fundamental to all of us at Volkswagen.” He added, “We already offer one of the most comprehensive packages of ADAS features on the mass market.”
For 2027, the Atlas and the Atlas Cross Sport receive a complete overhaul, whereas the Golf and Tiguan largely carry over. The ID. Buzz is returning for the 2027 model year after skipping the 2026 model year, a pause VW attributed to managing inventory amid cooler EV demand.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 7:45 AM.