Volkswagen Taos 2022: here is the small SUV that will replace the Golf

As the Golf prepares to exit the Canadian market, a new vehicle will be added to the Volkswagen lineup in the coming months. This is the Taos, a small utility vehicle smaller in size than the Tiguan.

The German manufacturer Volkswagen, which has long hesitated to offer us an SUV that is more compact than the Tiguan, is confident that the all-new Taos 2022 officially unveiled today will succeed and win over enthusiasts.

“The Taos is joining our lineup at a perfect time,” said Volkswagen Canada President and CEO Pierre Boutin. It offers all of the style, technology and driveability that made the Volkswagen brand more affordable than our popular Tiguan. “

Why not just import the short wheelbase version of the Tiguan that is offered overseas? A question of costs, essentially. The Taos will be manufactured in Puebla, Mexico, at the same factory as the regular-wheelbase Jetta and Tiguan sold here. By the way, it’s a vehicle quite similar to the Tarek marketed in South America, and the name Taos refers to a town in New Mexico.

Small but not subcompact

Compared to the Tiguan, which is one of the bulkier compact SUVs on the market, the Taos is 236 millimeters shorter in length (4,466 vs. 4,702 mm). Its width and height are 1,841 and 1,636 millimeters, respectively. Thus, it compares directly to models like the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, the Subaru Crosstrek and the Jeep Compass.

As for the interior volume, we are talking about 2,817 liters for the passengers (only 45 L less than in the five-seater Tiguan) and 795 liters for the luggage in the trunk. If you fold down the rear seatbacks 60/40, you will get no less than 1,877 liters.

In terms of design, we recognize the classic lines of Volkswagen’s SUVs, but with some distinctive elements, such as the headlights (standard LED), the light strip on the grille (certain versions only) and the vehicle name affixed to the the front fenders as well as the tailgate (future SUVs will follow suit). Eight colors are on the menu, as well as 17, 18 and 19 inch wheels.

The interior of the Volkswagen Taos does not revolutionize anything – it is of course more conventional than that of the electric ID.4 unveiled a few weeks ago – but looks pretty at first glance. The very horizontal dashboard establishes an extension with the doors and the two-tone theme is echoed by the seats, available in fabric, imitation leather or genuine leather. The central 6.5-inch display (8-inch optional) comes with an 8-inch digital display.

Popular amenities such as heated / ventilated front seats, wireless cell phone charging, navigation system, 10-color ambient lighting, eight-speaker BeatsAudio sound system and panoramic roof can also be found in the Taos.

New engine and safety well present

The Volkswagen Taos 2022 is based on the MQB platform, widely used by the German giant, but it stands out with a new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine derived from that of the Jetta’s 1.4-liter.

Developing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, this engine boasts a high compression ratio for a turbo (11.5: 1) and it uses a modified version of the Miller cycle as well as several technologies to save fuel. Among the number, let’s highlight the variable geometry turbocharger and the card-controlled cooling module which heats up the engine more quickly. The fuel consumption ratings are not yet announced, however.

An eight-speed automatic transmission controls power in front-wheel drive models, while a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission does the same in models with 4MOTION all-wheel drive. This system will be optional with the Taos Trendline and Comfortline, but as standard in the Highline version.

Finally, like the ID.4, Volkswagen offers a suite of safety and driver assistance devices called IQ.DRIVE. This includes in particular the forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind spot monitoring system, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beam headlights and parking sensors are available.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos will hit the market next summer and its prices will be announced shortly beforehand. Expect it to start around $ 25,000, which is between the outgoing Golf ($ 22,570) and the current Tiguan ($ 29,770).

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