2022 Volkswagen Taos - VW Fills Another Crossover Niche

We already mentioned how Volkswagen is being added to the list of automakers using a tourist town in the Southwest to name a crossover and/or SUV. Now we have the full details on the 2022 Volkswagen Taos.

In addition to the Taos, there’s the Dodge Durango, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Santa Fe, Hyundai Tucson, others I am almost certainly forgetting at the moment, and now, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos.

The Audi Albuquerque or Dodge Denver can’t be far behind.

Ok, enough nonsense. We’ve been teased about the Taos for weeks now, and even knew what would be underhood, but the wraps are now fully off.

As we already knew, the Taos will be powered by a 1.5-liter version of the EA211 turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It will make 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. It will pair with an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel-drive models and a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission in all-wheel-drive models.

Now that the cover is off, we can see that the Taos looks a lot like the larger VW crossovers – if you want to dub it a baby Atlas, you wouldn’t be too far off base.

The lighting design upfront is similar to what the Atlas Cross Sport has, and upper trims are available with LED headlamps and adaptive front lighting. A light bar that crosses the grille reminds of the recently released ID.4, while the side borrows from the Tiguan, which is the next size up. There’s more hint of Atlas in the squared-off wheel arches.

Eight exterior colors will be available, along with four-wheel designs spread across wheel-size choices of 17-, 18-, and 19-inches. Two 18-inch wheels will be available to choose from, one of which with black finish. A panoramic sunroof will be available.

The 175.8-inch long Taos is 9.3 inches shorter than the Tiguan, and its wheelbase is 105.9 inches. Width measures 72.5 inches, while the height is 64.4 inches. VW is listing passenger space at 99.5 cubic feet (1.6 less than Tiguan), and the cargo area is listed at 28.1 cubic feet with the second-row seats up and 66.3 with them down.

Front legroom is 40.1 inches, and rear is 37.9.

A quick glance at photos suggests the interior will follow the Volkswagen theme of putting function ahead of form and using plenty of black. We see large climate-control knobs, a well-integrated touchscreen, and audio-control knobs. There appears to be a small cubby hole/storage area ahead of the shifter.

Inside, two-tone seats are standard, whether in base cloth or available leather. Other standard features include automatic headlights, digital gauges, in-car Wi-Fi, and push-button start. Available features include keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, power driver’s seat, rain-sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled front seats, heated side-view mirrors, wireless cell-phone charging, wireless smartphone mirroring, navigation, satellite radio, 8-inch touchscreen, ambient lighting, premium 10-speaker BeatsAudio, and heated washer nozzles.

As per usual in the year 2020, there’s plenty of driver-aid tech available: Forward-collision warning with autonomous braking with front assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping system with lane assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, travel assist, high-beam control with light assist, the aforementioned adaptive front lighting, park distance control, and emergency assist.

There will be three trim levels available (S, SE, and SEL) and the Taos will be built in not New Mexico, but “old” Mexico, in Puebla. Pricing and other details will be announced by VW before launch, which is scheduled for the summer of 2021.

[Images: Volkswagen]