Volkswagen supersized the Tiguan a couple of years in the past for the U.S. market, eradicating it from the unusual, center floor it inhabited beforehand. It was too small to compete with larger compact crossovers just like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, and the craze for smaller-size crossovers hadn’t actually taken off but. VW remedied the issue by making the Tiguan gigantic, going as far as to wedge in an non-obligatory third row that its fundamental competitors doesn’t even trouble with.
Making the Tiguan so massive left VW with an enormous gap in its lineup and no reply to the fast-growing section of subcompact crossovers. Enter the 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The Taos is only one.3 inches longer and 1.3 inches wider than the unique Tiguan that VW strayed so distant from in 2018. And as soon as once more, it sits in an area with little or no firm — the Taos is smaller than most compact crossovers and larger than most subcompacts. That begs the query: Did VW simply find yourself proper again the place it began?
In a approach, sure. And in one other approach, no. The outdated Tiguan was designed for Europe. It prioritized sporty dynamics, didn’t play up the rugged journey angle, and the inside packaging failed to supply sufficient area for American tastes. These points are all addressed with the extra America-centric Taos. So, whereas on the spec sheet it might look as if VW simply created the Authentic Tiguan 2.0, the Taos makes certain to keep away from the previous mannequin’s errors.
The brand new Taos begins as almost each different Volkswagen product begins as of late, with the MQB platform. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a revised model of the Jetta’s engine and makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Not solely is it extra highly effective than the Jetta’s engine, however VW modified it to run the Miller cycle, making it extra environment friendly, too. Different modifications embody a brand new turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (accounting for the additional energy), a higher-pressure injection system and a brand new cooling system that warms the engine to working temperatures faster. The Taos maxes out at 31 miles per gallon mixed when paired with front-wheel drive, which is barely 2 mpg worse than the lighter and extra aerodynamic Jetta (with an computerized). You are taking a major hit at simply 28 mpg mixed choosing all-wheel drive, however there are a number of different pluses past simply energy to all 4 wheels you get when upgrading to AWD.
The eight-speed conventional torque-converter transmission within the front-drive Taos is swapped for VW’s seven-speed DSG dual-clutch computerized with AWD. Plus, the front-driver’s torsion-beam rear suspension is changed with a multi-link setup. You additionally achieve selectable drive modes within the all-wheel-drive Taos. The alternatives embody: Regular, Sport, Eco, Particular person, Snow, Offroad and Customized Offroad. It’s a reasonably fundamental off-road mode — it relaxes throttle sensitivity and upshifts earlier, but in addition permits handbook management of the transmission if you would like it. Hill descent management is mechanically activated on gradients better than 10%, and it relaxes the stability-control system, too. The Taos isn’t designed to be an ideal off-road companion, however a minimum of the electronics might be in your aspect do you have to select to go the place most gained’t with it.
One draw back to including all-wheel drive is barely lowered cargo capability. You lose three cubes off the front-drive Taos’ beneficiant 27.9 cubic toes of area behind the second row resulting from a better load flooring, although the distinction is probably going negligible in relation to real-world baggage packing. Even so, the Taos gives extra cargo area than the outdated Tiguan. It additionally has a considerably bigger again seat with 37.9 inches of rear legroom. Sitting at the back of the Taos is almost akin to being within the again seat of a CR-V or RAV4. It’s freakin’ big for such a small automotive, and it’s straightforward getting out and in, too. Similar to that, think about the unique Tiguan’s flaws addressed.
The remainder of the inside is generally customary, conservative Volkswagen. We are saying largely, as a result of VW tried to make this crossover a contact quirky. The intrigue is within the SE’s “CloudTex” fabric seats which have a Volvo-esque look to them with patterning and a number of colours. They’re much more attention-grabbing than the SEL’s leather-based seats. You’ll additionally discover better use of shiny plastic trim within the Taos versus different VW merchandise, which is corresponding to what different manufacturers are doing, nevertheless it doesn’t look or really feel luxurious right here. A lot of the controls and buttons are all outdated VW gear, not like the brand new Tiguan’s haptic-touch and touch-slider–festooned middle stack and steering wheel. The Taos is constructed to be a price range crossover, although, so it could’t have each new goodie in VW’s seize bag.
Volkswagen would slightly throw us a bone within the type of the usual Digital Cockpit, which consists of an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. A configurable 10.25-inch display comes on the SEL. The bottom Taos additionally comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, whereas the 2 extra premium trims improve you to an 8-inch contact show with wi-fi CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. You’ll additionally get wi-fi charging with this unit, and the SEL provides navigation.
The important tech wanted to compete on this cutthroat section is there, however VW promised us that the Taos would additionally characteristic the standard fun-to-drive quotient we’re accustomed to with different small MQB-based Volkswagens. If you’re in search of a semi-fun (or just much less dreary) expertise, then you definately’ll must make a beeline for the all-wheel-drive mannequin. It’s much less about having extra traction and extra about with the ability to slot it right into a Sport drive mode that makes the AWD model higher.
The steering within the front-drive Taos is laughably gentle, and the throttle tuning is much too delicate in what’s seemingly an effort to make the Taos really feel faster than it really is round city. Even within the AWD mannequin’s Regular mode, the steering and throttle tuning are dialed in much better. Stick it into Sport, and the steering weights up correctly in corners, providing an improved and extra pure dealing with expertise than the front-drive mannequin. There’s nonetheless loads of physique roll, as VW’s tuning erred on the aspect of consolation over efficiency — however that’s possible a sensible selection, contemplating that few homeowners will really discover this car’s dealing with capabilities.
We might hardly sense a distinction between the torsion beam and multi-link rear suspension when it got here to experience high quality and efficiency in most conditions. The AWD multi-link-equipped Taos felt extra composed over rapidly-changing, undulating surfaces, however you’ll be hard-pressed to note the variations. Each variations experience comfortably and filter out potholes sufficiently on our pockmarked roads right here in Michigan. VW says its North American division did the ultimate tuning for the Taos, so it’s designed for our roads, not Europe’s comparatively glass-smooth tarmac.
For those who have been excited concerning the DSG, we’re sorry to disappoint you, as a result of it’s not significantly particular within the Taos. There are not any paddles to shift your self, and even in the event you do attempt to management shift factors with the gear lever’s +/- slapstick performance, the transmission auto upshifts far earlier than redline and gained’t execute downshifts if the revs will go a lot larger than 3,500 rpm. When left to its gadgets (correctly), the DSG will shift easily and imperceptibly round city like the standard eight-speed does. Whenever you do get after it, upshifts are met with a bit extra verve and quickness than the torque converter. That mentioned, you gained’t need to keep in it for too lengthy listening to the meh engine and exhaust observe. We’d wager the 0-60 run is someplace within the 8-second vary, making it fast sufficient to maintain up with the opponents, however no higher.
Consider the Taos as a really regular-driving crossover that’s extra enjoyable than some others just like the Jeep Compass or Chevrolet Trailblazer. It’s competent, however gained’t elevate any pulses, kind of just like the Kia Seltos SX Turbo. That would change sooner or later, as VW teased us by mentioning it’s had talks about doing a “GTI” model with extra energy and an upgraded suspension, however that’s solely a dream for now.
People on this class are rightfully extra involved with tech options and driver-assistance programs, of which this automotive has some good ones. Possibility the IQ.DRIVE package deal on S or SE fashions (it’s customary on the SEL), and also you get VW’s full suite of driver help programs that features desirables akin to adaptive cruise management (with stop-and-go performance) and Journey Help, which is VW’s highest degree of lane-centering on supply. It’s slightly succesful at protecting the automotive centered in lanes on the freeway, however remains to be a very hands-on system.
Discovering the direct opponents for the Taos is a weirdly tough activity in our bloated crossover market. It’s dearer than nearly the entire subcompacts, however priced according to or cheaper than the compact crossovers at $24,190 to start out. Absolutely loading up an SEL mannequin places the sticker at $35,440, which is beginning to really feel slightly steep when you will get a well-equipped Tiguan (with extra energy and area) for much less. For those who don’t want the area, although, the Taos gives spunkier styling and significantly better gasoline financial system than a Tiguan. It’s additionally extra participating to drive than most small crossovers. The unique Tiguan-sized gap in VW’s lineup is lastly stuffed, and extra successfully this time.
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