The 2022 Volkswagen Taos has officially been unveiled in the U.S.

Volkswagen America has officially unveiled its newest SUV to join its local line up - the 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The new SUV will slot under the Volkswagen Tiguan in the local lineup and will serve as proof of the German automaker’s new SUV-centric strategy. The Taos will be positioned in the largest U.S vehicle segment, the compact SUV market, where 4 million vehicles were sold in 2019 - which is around 24 percent of the market. The all-new Volkswagen Taos comes compact in size but is big on value with a bold design and high-end features.

Keogh continues by stating that the “Taos will bookend our compact SUV offering, giving buyers all the style, technology, and drivability that Volkswagen is known for at an even more affordable price.”

On the outside the Volkswagen Taos comes with the German brand’s styling DNA. It comes with a bold front end with a sculpted hood, along with LED light signature that harks back to its sibling the Atlas Cross Sport. Top-of-the-line trim-levels will gain access to LED headlights that come with an adaptive front lighting system, and illuminated light line that stretches outward from the logo. Moving on to the side and the Taos comes with distinctive side profile lines as well as a strong character line that is similar to that of what is seen on the Volkswagen Tiguan. It will also feature more squared off wheel arches as well as a unique set of 17 or 18-inch  alloy wheels depending on the variant.

On the inside, the Taos comes with a modern and premium feeling fit and finish. The cabin comes with clean lines with a horizontal focus. Its dashboard’s deco divides the central touchscreen from climate controls and flows seamlessly into the door inserts. Two kinds of seating material are available with the new SUV depending on the variant. The first is cloth for the lower trim-levels and the second is leatherette for the high variants. It will also be made available with the German brand’s latest connectivity and infotainment technology, apart from that, this compact SUV will also get Volkswagen’s digital cockpit which has a configurable instrument cluster. A new Car-Net with an in-car WiFi system will also be available with the vehicle giving users the internet on the go. The MIB3 infotainment system will also be made available with the Taos giving it wireless charging capabilities as well as wireless app-connection, this infotainment system will come in the form of an 8-inch touchscreen and come connected to an 8-speaker sound system.

Under the hood the 2022 Volkswagen Taos will come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, that’s capable of producing 158hp and 250 Nm of torque. It will come mated to either a front-wheel-drive based transmission or a 4Motion all-wheel-drive one. Transmission options come in the form of either an 8-speed automatic for the front-wheel-drive versions or a 7-speed DSG for the all-wheel-drive models.

There is no official word yet from Volkswagen Philippines if it will plan to bring the new SUV into the Philippines. Given the specifications that the Taos has, it would definitely be an ideal fit for the local automotive market.