Volkswagen has finally unveiled the long-awaited all-new Taos mid-sized SUV. The new medium SUV will also be launched in select international markets including Brazil, Argentina and the United States of America. The Volkswagen Taos will be positioned between the T-Cross and the Tiguan AllSpace. It will directly rival the Jeep Compass and the Toyota Corolla Cross mid-sized SUV.
Volkswagen claims that the Taos is “small in stature, but big on value, with bold design, smart packaging, and high-end features”. The Volkswagen Taos features the familiar design with bold front end. The SUV gets a sculpted bonnet, and LED light signature reminiscent of the Atlas Cross Sport. The high-end variants will have LED headlamps with the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and an illuminated light line stretching outward from the logo that is similar to the one offered in the new ID.4 electric SUV.
The side profile seems identical to the Tiguan, featuring strong character lines and squared-off wheel arches. The SUV will be offered with 4 wheel designs – 17-inch aluminium alloys as standard, two 18-inch machined or black finish wheels, and 19-inch alloys. The SUV also gets a panoramic sunroof as optional.
In terms of proportions, the VW Taos sits lower than the regular 5-seater Tiguan. It measures 4,465mm in length, 1,841mm in width and 1,636mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,690mm. The Volkswagen Taos is claimed to offer a large boot space of 796-litres, which can be further extended to 1,877-litres by folding the second row. The SUV is claimed to offer a comfortable ride for all passengers, with 40.1 inches of legroom in the front and 37.9 inches in the rear.
Inside the cabin, the Volkswagen Taos gets modern design and premium fit and finish. The cockpit is composed of clean lines with a horizontal focus, and dash decor flows seamlessly into the door inserts to create visual interest. Dual-tone seats with fabric upholstery comes as standard, while optional leatherette and leather upholstery in French Roast and Black Combination is available on the top-of-the-line models.
For comfort and convenience, the VW Taos gets automatic headlamps and push button start, keyless entry, 8-way power adjustable driver seat, dual-zone climate control, rain sensing wipers, a heated leatherette steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated ORVMs and heated washer nozzles. For connectivity and infotainment, the mid-sized SUV gets MIB3 infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen with voice control, wireless charging and wireless App-Connect for compatible devices, and navigation. The top-end variants get 10-colour ambient lighting and a premium BeatsAudio sound system with 8 speakers.
The SUV gets a range of driver assistance features such as Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous braking, Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. High Beam Control (Light Assist), the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and Park Distance Control are also available. Powering the Volkswagen Taos is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 158bhp of power and 250Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. The higher variants with 4Motion all-wheel drive system gets a 7-speed DSG.
