Want a big SUV but don't need the third row of
seats? No problem, say automakers, as they start offering their most
accommodating crossovers with just two rows.
Alongside the expanded three-row RX L, Lexus
unveiled a two-row version of the big LX at the LA Auto Show last month. Volvo
offers a four-seat Excellence version of the XC90, too. And according to the
latest report, Volkswagen will be next.
Having enlarged the latest Tiguan to accommodate an
extra row of seating, and slotted the new seven-seat Atlas into its expanding
crossover lineup, VW is planning to roll out five-seat versions of both.
The Tiguan, however, will "get kind of a little
smaller" in its next iteration, ostensibly bridging the gap between the previous
model and the new one. The new models should help Volkswagen further enlarge
its crossover portfolio without developing completely new models, while
offering buyers a more comprehensive range of choices.
