Volkswagen has presented a new SUV: the Taos. The Taos is a size smaller than the Tiguan and is actually less new than you might think.
Volkswagen already has an extensive SUV range and there will be one more. We can reassure anyone who is allergic to high legged models. This brand new Taos is in fact not added to the European, but to the North American delivery range. The car is certainly welcome there, a more compact SUV than the Tiguan is not yet available in Volkswagen in the United States, among others.
The Taos placed on the MQB platform is 4.47 meters long, making it the same length as the Volkswagen Tiguan. So what adds to the North American delivery range? Still something. In the United States, the Tiguan is only available as a 23 centimeter longer Tiguan ‘Allspace’, although the car is simply called ‘Tiguan’. The wheelbase of the Taos is 2.69 meters. The luggage compartment has a capacity of 796 liters according to the American measurement method.
Although the Taos is completely new to the American consumer, the car itself is less. The Taos has existed as Tharu for several years in China, although Volkswagen has given the car a new front for its American debut. We see a new grille that is rounded at the bottom and slightly extends under the headlights. Those headlights are also not identical to those of the Chinese Tharu and have a more modern light signature. A striking feature is the illuminated LED strip in the grille that connects the viewers optically. We saw this before on the facelifted Arteon and the ID.4 also comes with such a light bar in the nose. There are also differences with the Tharu on the back. The lighting here has a different layout and with its rounder shapes, the rear bumper looks a bit more playful. It is quite possible that the Tharu will eventually get the same nose and buttocks as this Taos.
Volkswagen Taos
The interior will not come as a big surprise to anyone. The whole looks exactly as you would expect in an SUV-like from Volkswagen. It is striking that the dashboard is identical to that of the Chinese Tharu, although Volkswagen gives the Taos a more modern infotainment system with an 8-inch display. The engine list includes a 1.5-liter blown TSI, a 160 hp and 250 Nm strong four-cylinder, which is linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission in the front-wheel drive versions. The four-wheel drive Taos gets a DSG7 transmission.
It is not coming to Europe, so VW’s SUV range remains unchanged here. That does not mean that Volkswagen does not have a new crossover for the European market. In the second half of next year, the Nivus will come to our part of the world.