Consumers have an insatiable appetite for crossovers and Volkswagen is responding by introducing the 2022 Taos. Designed to slot beneath the Tiguan, the Taos is a compact crossover that is “small in stature, but big on value.” While the model looks a little plain, it features a wide grille and sweptback headlights. Higher end variants go a step further as they feature LED lights which extend into the grille via an illuminated light bar.
Elsewhere, designers installed sporty skid
plates and plastic body cladding. The Taos also has squared off wheel arches
and a greenhouse which closely resembles the Tiguan. Out back, there’s an
angled liftgate with an integrated spoiler. We can also see wraparound
taillights and faux dual exhaust system. Eight different colors will be
available and wheels range in sizes from 17- to 19-inches.
In terms of size, the Taos measures 4,465 mm long, 1,842 mm wide and 1,636 mm tall with a wheelbase that spans 2,690 mm. That makes the model
slightly larger than the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Kia Seltos. Moving into the
cabin, the Taos has a minimalist interior with clean lines and straightforward
controls. Volkswagen didn’t go into specifics, but confirmed the model will
come standard with a digital instrument cluster and two-tone cloth seats.
Higher end variants feature an 8-inch
infotainment system, a wireless smartphone charger and a ten color ambient
lighting system. Other options include a heated steering wheel, an eight-way
power driver’s seat and an 8-speaker premium audio system. Buyers can also get
heated / ventilated front seats, a dual-zone climate control system and leather
or leatherette upholstery. Thanks to the crossover’s sizeable dimensions, the
Taos has a roomy interior with 963 mm of rear seat legroom. The
luggage compartment holds 796 liters of cargo, but that can
be expanded to 1,877 liters by folding the rear seats down.
Motivation is provided by a turbocharged
1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 158 hp and 249 Nm of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic
transmission which sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional
and it sees the eight-speed automatic replaced by a seven-speed DSG gearbox. On
the safety front, there’s a multitude of driver assistance systems including
Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with
Stop and Go, and an Active Blind Spot Monitor. There’s also Travel Assist,
Emergency Assist, High Beam Control and a Lane Keeping System.
The 2022 Taos will be launched in the
United States next summer and available in three different trims. Full details
will be announced closer to launch, but the model should cost thousands less
than the Tiguan which begins at US$ 24,945.
