“The Volkswagen T-Cross is one of the class leaders in the small SUV sector”

Volkswagen offers a wider choice of SUVs than most manufacturers, with six different models and more in the pipeline. The T-Cross is the smallest and cheapest, sitting below the T-Roc, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace, the electric ID.4 and the flagship Touareg. It aims to capitalise on the current demand for compact yet practical SUVs, and joins a class saturated with excellent rivals, including the Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq, Renault Captur, Nissan Juke, Hyundai Bayon and Citroen C3 Aircross.

The Volkswagen T-Cross is an all-new model, but under the skin it's very similar to the SEAT Arona, Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia. It borrows some of its styling cues from the T-Roc, and looks to imitate the Touareg with its wide grille. Whichever angle you approach it from, the T-Cross is clearly from the VW stable, and does just enough to stand out in a sea of similarly sized rivals. Volkswagen concentrates on making smart-looking, well built, practical cars, and the T-Cross is simply the latest product of that approach.

For its first foray into the hotly contested small SUV class, VW has given the T-Cross some bold details. Its rear lights are surrounded by a thick, black swathe of trim, while the headlights are joined by a chrome strip that goes straight across the middle of the grille. Underneath, there are fog lights and daytime running lights, which look similar to those on the T-Roc, while T-Cross lettering stretches across the bootlid. Roof rails and black plastic wheel arch extensions give the T-Cross a rugged look.

Best small SUVs

Small SUVs have already been available for a few years now, but the T-Cross is looking to take top honours - thanks in part to the badge on the front. That alone will sell the car to many buyers, although it’s clear throughout that the T-Cross is aimed at the premium end of the class.

It combines VW’s typical sturdiness and planted feel with light steering that’s perfect in tight city streets. The T-Cross continues to drive well at speed without feeling too twitchy, which can be a side effect of light steering. It’s refined even up to motorway speeds, and keeps its composure over most bumps and small potholes. VW has certainly prioritised comfort over sportiness, which is what most small SUV buyers will prefer.

The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine can occasionally feel sluggish below 2,500rpm, which means you’ll have to rev it hard sometimes - when joining a motorway, for example. Volkswagen introduced a punchier 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine at the start of 2020 but in truth, the 108bhp 1.0-litre engine will suit most buyers. The T-Cross has the option of a smooth DSG automatic gearbox - it’s a bit more expensive, but could be a great choice if you do most of your journeys in stop-start traffic.

The 1.0-litre petrol engine is offered with either 94 or 108bhp but whichever you pick it will return around 49mpg. This is pretty similar to most of its rivals but the DSG automatic does increase fuel consumption to around 45mpg. You’ll get a similar figure from the 148bhp petrol engine. A diesel engine was briefly available but it was expensive and wasn’t much more economical than the smaller petrol options.

Despite its size, the T-Cross offers space for five, and adults should be comfy in the outer rear seats thanks to lots more headroom than in the Polo. The rear seats slide forwards and backwards, so you can choose whether you want more space for passengers or luggage. It has a big boot, regardless of where you have the back seats, while those in the front will enjoy a classy dashboard with a standard eight-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The Volkswagen T-Cross certainly isn’t the first small SUV, but it’s now one of the ones to beat. It offers an impressive blend of style, comfort and peppy engines.

Volkswagen T-Cross SUV - MPG, running costs & CO2

The T-Cross is economical and should have excellent residual values

There was a time when SUVs were typified as being ‘gas guzzlers’, but the latest wave are often almost as economical as their hatchback counterparts. The Volkswagen T-Cross, which shares its engines with the Polo hatchback, should be very economical to run, even though it only comes with petrol power. It’s not a heavy car, despite its SUV bodystyle, and only comes with two-wheel-drive.

Many buyers are tempted by the VW badge on the front, and this means the T-Cross is set to offer great residual values - it should lose less of its value than some other cars in the same class.

Volkswagen T-Cross MPG & CO2

It's no longer possible to spec the Volkswagen T-Cross with a diesel engine, but the 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is cheaper and should be economical enough for most people. Available on four of the six current trim levels, the entry-level 94bhp version returns up to 49.6mpg, the same as the 108bhp version (offered on all but S trims). Petrol versions of the Renault Captur manage around 45mpg, so you’ll struggle to notice a difference between the two cars at the pumps.

Volkswagen now sells the T-Cross with a more powerful 1.5-litre EVO TSI petrol engine. It has cylinder deactivation (under light throttle it’ll run on just two cylinders) to save fuel, but is only available with the DSG automatic gearbox. You can expect 47mpg from this engine, which is still pretty reasonable and even a little better than the claimed 44.8mpg figure of the 1.0-litre engine with an automatic gearbox.

A 94bhp diesel engine has previously been available but it made up a tiny proportion of sales. That’s not surprising when you consider it only offered around 5mpg more than the frugal petrols but cost a lot more to buy.

The T-Cross should be affordable to fill up and all variants are subject to the standard rate in VED (road tax) from the second year of ownership - the first year’s tax is usually rolled into the on-the-road price of the car.

Insurance groups

The T-Cross should be affordable to run, with insurance starting in group 8 for S and SE models with the 94bhp petrol engine. Top-spec R-Line models occupy 11-13, but the 1.5-litre petrol engine increases this to groups 16-17.

Considering the desirable badge, it’s impressive that the T-Cross is no more expensive to insure than the SEAT Arona, which also starts in insurance group 8E for 94bhp versions.

Warranty

Like all new VW cars, the T-Cross benefits from a three-year/60,000 mile warranty, which is transferable to the next owner if you sell or return the car before the warranty expires. This warranty is fairly standard, although far from class-leading. Rivals such as the Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic have five and seven-year warranties respectively, which is something to bear in mind if you plan to keep your car for a long time. You can buy extended warranties from VW, which work out at about £140 per year.

The T-Cross’ paint will be covered for three years, while the car also comes with a 12-year anti-corrosion guarantee.

Servicing

Servicing the T-Cross should be relatively pain-free. Volkswagen has the third-largest dealership network in the UK. Service intervals should be the same as the Polo, so you’ll have to book it in for a service every year or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As with all VW models, you’ll be able to take out a service plan, which’ll spread the cost of your next two services over 18 monthly payments of between £15-20. You can either pay this separately, or add it to your monthly finance payments if you’re not buying the car outright.

Volkswagen T-Cross SUV - Engines, drive & performance

The T-Cross is good to drive and impressively refined

Small SUVs are unlikely to be the dream vehicle for keen drivers, but the T-Cross easily competes with the current class leaders in this regard. It drives well, with pleasingly light steering and a comfortable ride. Over most bumps and bad surfaces it’s composed, and body roll is kept to a minimum through the majority of corners.

Like many other VW Group cars, the T-Cross isn’t built primarily to excite; its handling and driving experience is composed and careful, which inspires confidence in the car. The higher driving position compared to the Polo helps with seeing further ahead, and is one of the main reasons to buy an SUV over a standard hatchback. If you're after more fun behind the wheel, consider the Ford Puma.

Volkswagen T-Cross petrol engines

A 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine is the most popular option, with outputs of either 94 or 108bhp. While the latter is essentially the engine from the Volkswagen up! GTI, the T-Cross doesn’t provide mini-hot hatch performance. However, it manages 0-62mph in a smidge over 10 seconds, or 11.5 for the 94bhp version - the 108bhp engine is our pick.

Refinement is very impressive for such a small car. In fact, it feels very mature and capable. The higher-powered version offers a six-speed manual gearbox over a five-speed in the entry version, and the 108bhp engine is available with a slick DSG automatic gearbox at extra cost.

In January 2020, Volkswagen introduced a 148bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine to the range. It’s almost as efficient as the 1.0-litre, thanks to the ability to shut down half its cylinders when you’re not pressing the throttle hard, but the 0-62mph time improves to 8.5 seconds. Its top speed is 124mph.

Diesel engines

A diesel engine was available for a short time but, unsurprisingly, slow sales saw it withdrawn. The 94bhp 1.6-litre engine has been removed from the Polo range too. It prioritises efficiency over performance, and 0-62mph takes almost 12 seconds. No hybrid version is currently available to rival the Hyundai Kona or Renault Captur E-Tech, which is a shame. However, Volkswagen is planning to electrify most of its range, so a hybrid or pure electric version could be in the pipeline.

Volkswagen T-Cross SUV - Interior & comfort

The interior is a strength of the T-Cross, with plenty of tech on all versions

The VW T-Cross is one of the most expensive small SUVs available - for the price of the top-spec model, you could get a bigger and still well-equipped Volkswagen T-Roc - but the interior feels far more premium than rivals such as the Kia Stonic, Ford Puma and SEAT Arona. For buyers who don’t need a larger SUV but value premium materials, the T-Cross makes sense.

In terms of comfort, the T-Cross surpasses rivals too. It’s incredibly quiet on the move, making the cabin feel serene and relaxing. The T-Cross is well damped, ironing out most bumps - only large potholes will send a jolt through the cabin. There are many larger, more expensive SUVs that don’t manage to be so comfortable.

Volkswagen T-Cross dashboard

Volkswagen is known for its upmarket interiors, which is why many customers don’t mind paying a bit extra for a car with a VW badge. The T-Cross is no different, as it feels more plush and expensive inside than many small SUVs. While there are some scratchy, hard plastics on show, the main dashboard fascia lifts the cabin. If this silver trim doesn’t appeal, you’ll be able to choose a range of different options and even match the dashboard to the exterior paint colour.

Just like in the Volkswagen Polo, the build quality in the T-Cross is impressive. Even though this car will be one of VW’s least expensive models, it feels solid and well built, and the controls feel reassuringly chunky. There are stylish silver inserts on the steering wheel and a gloss black surround for the lower centre console, which adds to the feeling of quality. VW has also chosen to stick with a manual handbrake, instead of switching to an electric version.

Equipment

The T-Cross does well for standard equipment, with an eight-inch full-colour infotainment system fitted across the range. The car offers a full suite of connectivity including Bluetooth, USB and Apple CarPlay (this is standard on all but the base model), plus DAB radio.

The kit list doesn’t stop there. Air-conditioning and a variety of safety systems are included on all models, while top versions come with VW’s crisp configurable digital instrument cluster (shown in these pictures). In this R-Line model, customers benefit from dual-zone air conditioning, sat nav and parking sensors at both ends. SEL and R-Line models get automatically adjusting LED headlights, plus LED tail-lights and daytime running lights.

Options

There aren’t too many optional extras to choose from in the T-Cross brochure, perhaps because it’s rather well-equipped in the first place. However, you can choose from a variety of different alloy wheels (on the mid-spec trim levels) and paint colours to personalise the car to your tastes. Design packs are available across most of the range should you wish to add further splashes of colour and different interior upholstery.

VW T-Cross R-Line seats22
Once you’ve chosen these, you can pick options like a reversing camera, park assist and keyless entry. Electric folding door mirrors and high-beam assist can also be picked on VW’s smallest SUV, while packs include a Beats audio pack and a winter pack consisting of heated seats, heated windscreen washer nozzles and a washer fluid level indicator.

The options list is slightly different if you choose the entry-level ‘S’ model, however. Here, you can opt for front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights, tinted rear windows, sat nav, app connectivity and an extra security system.

Technology

As well as the entertainment technology listed above, the T-Cross gets a lot of safety features as standard. All models feature extended pedestrian and cyclist protection, front assist, auto emergency braking, tyre pressure monitoring and automatic emergency services contact in the event of a collision.

On SE models and above, you’ll also get blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, a driver alert system, adaptive cruise control and hill start assist.

Volkswagen T-Cross SUV - Practicality & boot space

The T-Cross is more spacious and flexible than the VW Polo

You might look at the T-Cross and think that it’ll barely be big enough to accommodate the weekly shop, but its small-looking proportions disguise practical interior space. The boot, while not the biggest in class, is a pleasant surprise, as is the thoughtful touch of rear seats that slide forwards and backwards.

The extra headroom afforded by the taller body will be a big draw to many customers, as it makes the T-Cross that bit more practical than the Polo. There’s also a similar amount of headroom as you get in the Ford Puma and more than in the Renault Captur.

Volkswagen T-Cross interior space & storage

The T-Cross is quite a practical car generally, not just in the context of its compact size. It’s slightly longer than the Polo and 107mm taller, which makes it feel considerably more spacious inside than VW’s supermini hatch. Large windows allow the cabin to feel light and airy.

Cleverly, the rear seats can slide backwards or forwards, depending on how you want to divvy up cargo and passenger space. This trick is usually offered on much more expensive cars, or people carriers that prioritise substance over style. As a result, the T-Cross is very versatile, despite the distance between its wheels (the wheelbase) being identical to the Polo.

You’ll want to keep the rear seats pushed as far back as they’ll go if you regularly carry passengers, as legroom vanishes with the seats fully forward.

Boot space

Creating an SUV based on a Volkswagen Polo may divide opinion, but it certainly benefits boot space. The T-Cross offers between 385 and 455 litres with the rear seats up, depending on where you have them, but even the smaller number is five litres bigger than the boot in the Volkswagen Golf. With the rear seats pushed forwards as far as they’ll go, the boot is no longer flat - there’s a large channel where the seats were, which your possessions will fall into if they aren’t secured.

Flip those seats down and you’ll have 1,281 litres to fill - plus, you can fold the front passenger seat flat to accommodate longer items. In this configuration, the T-Cross offers almost as much space as a small van, which means it’s perfect if you occasionally need lots of luggage space but only have a small parking bay.

In terms of boot space, the T-Cross leaves many of its rivals behind. The Hyundai Kona offers up to 361 litres seats up and 1,143 litres seats down, the SEAT Arona offers 400 litres in five-seat mode, while the larger Renault Captur matches it almost exactly. In fact, with the seats pushed forward, the T-Cross offers slightly more space than the larger T-Roc.

Towing

It’s unlikely that many T-Cross owners will use their car for towing, and Volkswagen says that the 1.0-litre petrol models, and the 1.6-litre diesel models will safely tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,100kg. The more powerful 1.5-litre petrol engine is the most capable model of the range, with the ability to tow a braked trailer up to 1,200kg in weight.

Volkswagen T-Cross SUV - Reliability & safety

Reliability untested but the T-Cross received a five-star Euro NCAP rating

Volkswagen has a good reputation in the UK, which is another reason why buyers flock to the brand. Its position as a premium mainstream manufacturer is appealing, and is backed up by reliable cars, a big dealership network and mostly satisfied customers. Even high-mileage cars hold their value much better than rivals in the classifieds. VW tends to post reasonable results in Driver Power surveys but this slipped somewhat in 2020. Nevertheless, the T-Cross could occupy one of the higher spots in the next couple of years.

The brand is also perceived as a builder of safe cars. All models come with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, and there is plenty of standard safety technology that would be optional extras on some other SUVs.

Volkswagen T-Cross reliability

It’s too early for any specific reliability feedback for the T-Cross but VW fell to 19th out of 30 manufacturers in our 2020 Driver Power survey (still ahead of BMW and Mercedes) while the Golf and Tiguan finished 50th and 51st out of the UK's top 75 models respectively.

Safety

Euro NCAP has given the T-Cross a full five-star score. It scored 97% for adult occupant safety, 86% for child safety, 81% in the pedestrians and other vulnerable road users category and 80% for on-board safety tech. The T-Cross features a range of passive and active safety systems to protect its occupants and pedestrians.

These include pedestrian and cyclist protection, automatic emergency braking, front assist and a speed limiter. More expensive trim levels add features like adaptive cruise control, hill start assist and blind-spot monitoring, which help the T-Cross achieve a maximum rating.

(carbayer.co.rs)

German carmaker Volkswagen will suspend sales of cars powered by internal combustion engines in Europe by 2035 and focus entirely on electric cars, while this change will arrive later in the US and China, said one of the members of the Board of Directors of the VW Group.

"We are leaving the market for cars powered by internal combustion engines in Europe between 2033 and 2035, and later in the United States and China," said Klaus Zellmer, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group in charge of sales.

"As far as South America and Africa are concerned, conventionally powered cars will stay there for a bit longer due to the fact that there are no legal frameworks that provide time limits for achieving zero emissions," he added.

In addition, Zellmer told the German newspaper Muenchner Merkur that by 2050 at the latest, the entire Volkswagen range should be completely CO2 neutral.

The idea is that in Europe, by 2030, electric cars will make up 70% of Volkswagen's total sales, which would allow them to avoid the severe penalties imposed by the European Union for all car manufacturers that exceed the CO2 allowance.

According to the latest statements of the CEO of the Stellantis group, Carlos Tavares, it can be concluded that the competition has repeatedly wanted to take ownership of the Alfa Romeo brand, and the most serious was Volkswagen in 2018.

According to Autocar sources, contact was established between Volkswagen and the FCA Group during 2018 on the idea of ​​Ferdinand Piëch. The former director of Volkswagen often spoke positively about Alfa, for example during the Paris Motor Show in 2011 when he thought that this brand could flourish if it were owned by the VW Group, and even then said that Porsche could manage the Italian brand .

By 2018, Piëch no longer had the main say in Volkswagen’s day-to-day operations, but sources claim he was still determined to buy an Alfa Romeo. His interest jumped when investment company ADW Capital Management, a longtime owner of shares in the FCA, suggested that the Alfa Romeo brand could reach the level of Ferrari with a few changes.

Contact was established in June 2018, at the request of Ferdinand Piëch. Mike Manley, who then took over as CEO of the FCA Group, and Herber Diess, the head of Volkswagen, met to talk about potential collaboration. However, when Diess asked if Alfa Romeo was for sale he got a short and simple answer - no.

Singapore is the most expensive country to own a car

YouTuber Kuma Kuruma opens the topic using the Volkswagen Polo as an example, citing its open market value (OMV), or the price of the car before taxes and fees are applied.

According to B92, the value of the open market is 17,796 Singapore dollars. Then an excise tax of 20 percent of the value is added, in Paul's case 3,559 Singapore dollars. After that, there is the service tax (GST) which is 7 percent - 1494 Singapore dollars.

The worst fee is the registration fee (ARF), and for cars whose open market value is below 20,000 Singapore dollars, you pay an additional 100 percent of the open market value. This means that since Polov OMV is Singapore $ 17,796, its registration fee is that much more.

Add another 3,559 Singapore dollars in excise duty and 1,494 dollars in services tax, the total price of the new Paul in Singapore is 40,646 Singapore dollars, which is 30,226 US dollars, or 2,983,214.82 dinars.

However, once you've bought your new car, your troubles don't stop - you need one more thing before you can drive it: a Certificate of Rights (COE) that allows you to drive a newly acquired vehicle for up to 10 years. For one Polo, such a certificate would cost around 48,000 Singapore dollars, according to which the final cost of Polo would be 99,000 Singapore dollars, which is 73,620 dollars!

Although sales in March jumped 63% from last March, the results are still far from those achieved before the pandemic.

With the exception of last year's crisis, last month's sales in Europe were the lowest since March 2013 and 22% lower than in 2019. At the same time, diesels reached a historically low share of only 24%.

According to data from 26 markets in Europe, sales jumped from 842,094 last year to 1,374,313 units in March, according to Jato Dynamics. That this is still not a reason to celebrate is confirmed by the fact that quarterly sales are only 1% higher than in the same period last year, ie the lowest since 1986.

"The European market is far from pre-pandemic, and governments need to take action to increase sales and restore customer confidence," said Felipe Munoz, a global analyst at JATO Dynamics.

What is required?
Only two groups of vehicles, SUVs and electrically powered models, recorded a positive result. In March, electric vehicles reached a record 16%. Recall, last March the share was 9.7%, and in 2019 only 3.4%.

The share of SUVs has risen even more. In March 2019, it was 37%, last year 40%, and this March as much as 45%. The largest increase in popularity is recorded in Sweden, Norway and our neighboring Slovenia and Hungary.

Best selling Golf

The Golf has regained the title of best-selling model on the European market, with an increasing share of hybrid performances. Sales were 26,265 units, or only 836 units more than the second-placed Peugeot 208, which is the quarterly winner.

The Opel Corsa is in third place, ahead of the Clio and Polo, and the fourth place was taken by the Tesla Model 3, also by far the best-selling electric model.

Let's also mention the novelties. The newly launched Citroen C4 reached 5,671 registrations, and the Opel Mokka up to 5,560 units. Electric VW ID.3 and ID.4 had slightly lower sales.

It’s a good thing you like SUVs, America, because the march of replacing passenger cars with compact crossovers continues without delay. The latest automaker to do it: Volkswagen. This is the new 2022 Taos, which will replace the Golf hatchback in VW’s lineup when it arrives in June (the GTI and Golf R will remain, however). Typically with these swaps — Ford Escape for Ford Fusion and Focus, Chevrolet Trailblazer instead of Cruze — the incoming SUVs are more expensive than the outgoing car. Not so with the new Taos with its starting price of $24,190 (all prices include destination), which is exactly the starting price for the outgoing 2021 Golf. The thought here is that VW is offering up the extra space, extra cargo, higher seating position and boosted utility of the Taos without a price penalty.

Is it enough to make us forget the demise of one of our favorite compact cars? We went to Chelsea, Mich., to drive the new Taos and see if VW’s new strategy will keep our interest in its crossover-heavy showroom.

Clean, Simple, Volkswagenisch Style

There’s nothing distinctive nor distracting about the Taos’ styling. It’s a nondescript crossover shape, same as most everything else out there. It does have a more formal SUV-like roofline, however, providing a boost to cargo space and headroom inside even with the optional panoramic moonroof installed. There are some surprising details, such as standard LED headlights and taillights, some nice bodyside trim with the Taos name embedded in it and VW’s new lettering style on the tailgate. Wheel sizes depend on which of the three trim levels (S, SE or SEL) you choose and whether you select front- or all-wheel-drive. Seventeen-inch wheels come on the S, 18-inchers on the SE and you can get 19-inch wheels only on the AWD SEL trim. The overall look is modern, clean and understated, but paint it in the optional Cornflower Blue pigment and the Taos really pops out on the street.

Competitive Dynamics

Powering all versions of the Taos is a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard and comes with an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission, while all-wheel drive is optional and comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. That might not sound like much grunt, but it’s extremely well tuned to the Taos, and always provided peppy acceleration and plenty of oomph whenever called on. I drove both the FWD and AWD versions, and neither felt underpowered or sluggish in the slightest. The FWD version did feel a bit lighter on its feet, but that’s to be expected given its 255-pound weight advantage over the AWD model.

The Taos easily feels quicker than competitors like the Chevy Trailblazer or Subaru Crosstrek despite not really making much more power than either of their upper trims with optional engines. The Trailblazer’s base engine is a tiny turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine making 137 hp and 162 pounds-feet of torque mated to a continuously variable transmission; you have to opt for higher trim levels to get the more powerful 155 hp and 174-pounds-feet of the turbo 1.3-liter three-cylinder. The Crosstrek comes with a 152-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes a paltry 145 pounds-feet of torque, but higher trims get a 182-hp 2.5-liter engine with 176-pounds-feet — plus, all Crosstreks have standard all-wheel drive, which is optional on the Taos. If you want something high-zoot, the Kia Seltos is the one to look at: While it starts with an unremarkable 146-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 132-pounds-feet of torque, its optional engine is a zippy turbo 1.6-liter that makes 175 hp and 195 pounds-feet.

Stacked up against other competitors’ base engines, the Taos does them one better — compared against optional engines, the Taos is competitive. It’s even surprisingly efficient, as during my limited test drive that involved considerable spirited driving, it still returned better than 30 mpg, according to the onboard computer.

Both FWD and AWD models exhibit neutral ride and handling characteristics. There’s nothing athletic about the Taos, but then there’s very few people who’ll expect one to be. The steering is feather-light and offers very little feel or feedback, but the steering ratio is super-quick and the turning radius is tight, making for quick directional changes with minimal input on the tiller. It also enables the little Taos to make U-turns in an extraordinarily small space, a boon for urban maneuvering. It feels very different from the Golf it replaces, but it should — it’s taller, larger and heavier. What it doesn’t have are the tighter, more buttoned-down European road dynamics that were seemingly baked into every Golf hatchback.

Out on the street, the Taos’ ride is comfortable regardless of 18- or 19-inch wheel options. It’s well damped, quiet and while it does exhibit a noticeable amount of body roll in corners, it’s never uncomfortable or tippy-feeling. It does feel like you sit taller in a Taos than in a competitor like the Crosstrek or Trailblazer, but it’s part of the appeal of a crossover, I suppose. You’ll never mistake it for a tall wagon; unlike some competitors in the class, it does indeed feel more like an SUV than a passenger car.

Entry-Level Digs

The interior of the Taos is familiar to anyone who’s been in a VW recently. The polygonal styling, the touch-sensitive multimedia system, the buttons and knobs for the climate controls, they’re all right out of the old Tiguan, Passat, Atlas and other models, which is fine — it all works well, is easy to identify at a glance and still maintains things like a volume knob for the audio system. The touch-sensitive steering wheel and climate control system coming for the new Tiguan aren’t here yet, which could be another reason the Taos might be more popular than VW’s upcoming new, slightly larger crossover. New items in here include a standard digital gauge cluster (an 8-inch unit on lesser trims, a reconfigurable 10.25-inch one on the SEL), Volkswagen’s Car-Net connectivity suite with Wi-Fi capability, and heated seats, side mirrors and washer nozzles on the base S AWD model.

The interior is comfortable and surprisingly spacious, especially in the backseat. The front seats have a variety of materials, depending on which trim you select, but all of them feel like an upgrade over the past vinyl transgressions of VW interior designers. The same cannot be said for material quality in other areas, such as the dashboard itself, which features a large swath of shiny plastic that feels and looks cheap, especially when compared with the high-quality materials seen in vehicles like the Seltos. The SEL trim I drove had faux-leather upholstery on the dash and doors, and it does help things, but it doesn’t carry into the backseat, which features plain plastic door skins. It’s not a deal killer and certainly isn’t worse than most other vehicles in its class, but I wouldn’t call it best-in-class materials.

But just as in other VW vehicles like the big daddy Atlas, the sketchy materials quality becomes rather less significant when you realize that the Taos offers extraordinary space. I could sit in the backseat after adjusting the front seats to my normal driving position, and my nearly 6-foot-tall frame didn’t see my knees touch the seatbacks — something you can’t say about a Ford Escape or Jeep Compass.

There’s so much usable space in the second row and cargo area that I do wonder if the Taos doesn’t become more popular than the larger, slightly more expensive Tiguan; having seen them both in person, it’s obvious to me that VW wants to reposition the Tiguan as a more premium, more luxurious option in the class, leaving the Taos to take up the mantle of volume and price-leading family mover.

Priced to Bring ‘Em In

The starting price for a new Taos is $24,190, exactly the price of an outgoing Golf. For that money, you get an S FWD trim with standard LED lights front and back, black mirrors and roof rails, a 6.5-inch multimedia system, the 8-inch digital gauge cluster and more (our full pricing breakdown can be seen here). The mid-level trim is the SE, which brings faux leather and cloth seats, more amenities, and larger wheels and tires, while the top of the line is the SEL, which comes extremely well equipped. A fully loaded SEL AWD with optional panoramic moonroof will top out at $35,440, a considerable sum for a compact SUV but competitive with other models in the category — although at those upper reaches of the price spectrum, VW would truly prefer to show you a new Tiguan SEL R-Line, with its racier styling, bigger wheels and more premium cabin.

So, is this a suitable replacement for the Golf in the VW showroom? Well, not if you’re intent on finding something that’s still tight and entertaining while still being a capable commuter. But given Golf sales versus Tiguan sales over the past decade, it looks like those buyers are increasingly uncommon. The new Taos definitely has a more “American-style compact crossover” feel to it than a “tight European hatchback” feel, but that’s what sells these days, and the new Taos meets all the requirements to be a success in this segment. Priced right, loaded with equipment, efficient, more spacious than expected, and providing that high seating position and AWD capability that buyers are craving, the new 2022 Taos has the potential to be more popular here than the Golf ever was.

(cars.com)