With competition in the compact crossover heating up all around the world, all the big players are moving their new models into place for the 2022 model year. While many are offering refreshed or moderately updated versions of their existing models, VW is coming out with something entirely new — the Taos.
The 2022 VW Taos is set to launch in the US in Q2 2021, and in Canada in summer 2021. Not all the features have been fully confirmed, but we already know quite a lot about this fantastic new compact crossover.
Built to Compete
The VW Taos enters a tough market. It should present tough competition for the likes of the Subaru Crosstrek and the Jeep Compass. It joins an increasing range of SUV options in the VW selection, including the slightly larger Tiguan and the VW Atlas.
The Taos is about 23.6 centimetres shorter than the VW Tiguan, making it the smallest SUV on offer from the German car maker. It will run on a new 1.5L inline-4 TSI engine with advanced engineering features generating 158hp and 184lb-ft of torque. The paired transmission will depend on the Taos being FWD or 4Motion AWD. The former will get a more conventional 8-speed automatic transmission. The latter will be paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The 4Motion option will be a great choice for Nova Scotians. It comes with its own unique rear suspension multilink setup, too. The regular FWD will get a torsion beam. Fuel efficiency numbers haven’t yet been released, but we are promised excellent efficiency from this small but powerful engine.
Signature VW Looks, but Compact
The Taos may be the most compact SUV, but it’s no less beautiful, boasting all the best design features that you’d expect from VW. The lines are clean and authoritative and carry a near-universal appeal in their symmetry and form. The Taos brings power, precision and new sporty dynamism to the rich world of SUV crossovers.
Exterior highlights include the unique LED light signature, a mature and clean overall design with aesthetically pleasing edges like the squared-off wheel arches. It’s a more mature and refined design than some of the wilder, more “out there” designs that you often find in the new crossover ranges. VW appears to be sticking to its main design principles of clean and attractive utility; a familiarity that is reassuring, but also with youthful hints of chic style just to pique interest that much more.
Simple, Elegant Interiors
Not all the details have been revealed yet, but we can see from photos that the VW Taos is set to continue VW’s minimalist spirit of elegant function on the interior. Two tone seat upholstery, quality materials and a comfortable sense of symmetry and order among the dashboard controls. Furthermore, the Taos may be the “little one” in the lineup, but there’s plenty of room for cargo. There will be a very generous 793 litres of cargo space when you have the rear seats up. Lower them down, however, to augment that rear section to an impressive 1877 litres.
Impressive Standard Package with Great Options
One thing that has stood out in the information we have learned already is that the 2022 Taos will come with a very pleasing standard specification, but with lots of nice options to enhance the driving experience for those Nova Scotians who feel they need those.
We already covered further above the standard engine and drivetrain. Buyers will get 17-inch alloys as standard on the exterior, but with the option to get up to 19-inch rims if they desire. The great standard specs continue into the interior, too.
The driver gets a very contemporary 3-spoke-style steering wheel with mounted controls, sitting in front of an impressive digital cockpit display which is the standard layout. There’s also a 6-inch infotainment touchscreen in the standard setup, or an optional 8 inches if the standard screen doesn’t meet your needs.
Other ways to give the interior a boost include a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery throughout, and there will be a premium audio option as well.
VW Taos: Affordable Crossover
Another great quality of the Taos will be its affordability. The prices in Canada are yet to be announced, but if information from the US market is anything to go by, the Taos’ features will seem all the better value when it arrives in Canada. In the US, the Taos will come with a starting price of just US$24,000, which is about $2500 cheaper than the next biggest model, the Tiguan.
Combine that kind of price point with the features we have described above, and what you have is a truly exciting new VW crossover option coming to Nova Scotia. The flexibility in additions, the great looks, terrific new engine and more should be reason enough for Canadians to hotly anticipate the new Taos.