The North American office of Volkswagen Group has unveiled the Taos, the smallest crossover SUV on the American market.
The car is 4.47 meters (14.67 feet) long, 1.84 m (6.04 feet) wide and 1.64 m (5.38 feet) tall with 2.69 m (8.83 feet) between the axles. As such, it is 25 cm (nearly 10 inches) shorter than the LWB Tiguan, but has about the same interior space. Specifically, front passengers enjoy 1,018 mm (3.34 ft.) of legroom and rear seat occupants have 963 mm (3.16 ft.) to themselves. Trunk size can vary from 795 to 1,877 liters (28.1 – 66.3 cubic feet). As far as the appearance, the newcomer strives to imitate all U.S.-sold crossovers at once, including the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan and even the new ID.4.
Three trim levels are expected – S, SE and SEL – and the base trim will offer a digital dashboard along with the entire IQ.Drive Assist Package. The latter incorporates such handy electronic nannies as AEB, blind zone monitoring, lane control, and cruise control with Stop&Go capability.
Opting for the next trim unlocks the MIB3 infotainment system with an eight-inch display, voice controls, wireless gadget tethering and optional sat-nav. The top spec brings along an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system and ten-color ambient lighting.
Other than that, paid extras include an engine start button, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, ventilated and heated front seats, steering wheel and mirrors, parking assistance and a panoramic glass roof. The wheels come sized 17 inches across, but you can opt for 18- or 19-inch ones.
The VW Taos comes powered by the standard Jetta engine, a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an 8-speed A/T and FWD. Another option is seven-speed DSG and AWD.
The production will begin in Mexico, and the first cars will ship to their owners next summer.