Less than two years after its commercial launch, the
Volkswagen Taos
is giving its first great harvest.
The recognition of a good planting embodied in a well-made vehicle is reflected in an increasingly
robust
sales index .
The Taos has not only become one of the cheerleaders in its segment, it is also the brand's second best-selling model behind the Amarok pickup.
Both are manufactured in the General Pacheco industrial complex, they are the ones that .
Statistics from the Association of Dealers (ACARA) showed that the Taos was the
best-selling SUV in March
(including compact models) with 1,081 units, beating the Toyota Corolla Cross for the first time, the other heavyweight in its category. .
Independent rear suspension to guarantee good behavior and ride comfort.
Photo Maxi Failla
The Volkswagen model grew
52.9%
compared to February (707) and currently ranks third among the best-selling SUVs of 2023, closely following the Chevrolet Tracker (it is smaller) and Toyota Corolla Cross.
attraction at first sight
The fashion for SUVs has meant that this type of vehicle ends up reducing or directly eliminating some classes of models in the ranges of many brands.
In this medium size, there are brands that concentrate with an SUV the offer that they previously had with a sedan, a rural and a minivan.
The problem is that not all user needs are always covered correctly.
It is 4.47 meters long and has a load capacity of almost 500 dm3.
Photo Maxi Failla
Drawing a parallel, the Taos is today what the Vento was before, beyond the qualities of the sedan.
It even has the same
1.4-liter turbo gasoline engine with 150 hp
that the saloon used, among other models.
Soon, the brand will once again import the Vento from Mexico, although only in its sporty GLi version that has a 2.0 turbocharged engine with 231 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque.
Another thing.
Returning to SUVs, the update that the VW Taos received at the beginning of 2023 only raises the bar and gives it a quality leap in terms of
technology and safety
.
In the case of this top-of-the-range variant (it stopped being called Hero to be called Highline Bi-Tone) the novelty is that it added
new driving assistance systems
.
It incorporated two new driving assistance systems: active lane keeping and parking assistant.
Photo Maxi Failla
One is
Active Lane Keeping Assist
(“Lane Assist”), which subtly
takes control of the steering
when it senses that the vehicle is deviating from its course.
The system prevents you from leaving the lane unintentionally;
that is, without the wink being activated.
Another autonomous device is the
Parking Assistant
“Park Assist”, which has the ability to analyze the space selected by the driver and
execute the maneuver on its own
without the need for the person behind the wheel to intervene.
The only maneuver that must be carried out is to put Reverse and Direct and go combing the brake pedal.
It is worth noting that the Taos already had an autonomous emergency brake with pedestrian detection, blind spot radar and adaptive cruise control.
This last function has two peculiarities.
The first has to do with the inclusion of the Stop & Go option, that is, it can brake to zero and resume driving without the driver having to press any pedal.
This option is automatic if it is stopped for no more than 3 seconds.
The quality and finishes are generally good, but could be improved with the introduction of soft-touch plastics.
Photo Maxi Failla
The other variant has to do with a driving condition, since the system will never allow another vehicle to pass on the right, even if we bring more speed.
On the other hand, the Highline version now comes with a new multifunction steering wheel with
capacitive touch commands
that are supposed to respond with the simple touch of your fingertips.
However, we must say that it is impractical and, far from fulfilling its function, it forces you to press as if it were a conventional one.
For this reason, the brand is stopping using it in models that already included it.
As a counterpoint, what is efficient is the 10-inch screen of the Active Info Display multimedia system that, among other things, allows you to wirelessly connect both phones with the Android operating system (Android Auto) and iOS (Apple Car Play). .
Digital interior and wireless connectivity options.
Photo Maxi Failla
The Taos also has a wireless charger, with the counter that only supports modern phones, and with four charging ports (two in the front and two in the back) but only of the USB-C type, which are the small mouth ones.
Regarding its mechanics, it kept the
efficient engine-box
set made up of the 250TSI gasoline engine and the 6-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, with manual gearbox options from the selector itself or from the paddles located behind the steering wheel.
Being a turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection, that moment of maximum force that characterizes the model is already available at 1,400 rpm;
that is, almost from the moment it begins to move after being stopped.
In this way the response is
instantaneous and without hesitation
, so much so that that first movement can become uncomfortable for those who are not used to it and prefer a smoother ride.
But he
The response of the engine does not decay and remains fast in almost the entire range.
gave of operation
Bi-zone climate control with capacitive touch commands.
Photo Maxi Failla
Its dynamic behavior is another
positive
aspect .
Its march on the road showed good poise and a level of body roll when turning quite low compared to other competitors.
The independent rear suspension is key to feeling the safety that the driver perceives when driving it and to offer the ride comfort that it provides in almost any circumstance.
Its level of comfort is appreciated both in the driving position and in any other seat.
The Taos has good space in front and behind, very good equipment that allows you to enjoy life on board, and the necessary regulations so that, for example, whoever sits behind the wheel has no trouble finding the ideal driving position.
With all these attributes, the Taos will try to unseat the Corolla Cross, which last year closed the list of the 10 best-selling models of 2022.
Versions and prices
-VW Taos Comfortline 250TSI AT:
$11,135,800
- VW Taos Highline 250 TSI AT:
$13,496,250
- VW Taos Highline Bi-Tone 250 TSI AT:
$13,601,850
(tested version)
Data sheet
Length: 4,468mm
Width: 1,841mm
Height: 1,624mm
Wheelbase: 2,681mm
Trunk: 498 dm3
Fuel tank: 50 liters
Weight: 1,450 kg.
Engine: Naftero, 1.4L turbo
Power: 150 HP
Torque: 250 Nm (1,400-3,800 rpm)
Front-wheel drive
Transmission: Automatic, 6 vel.
Top speed: 195km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km/h: 9.5 sec.
Average consumption: 8.5 L/100 km
equipment
- Front and front side airbags
- Curtain airbags
- Autonomous emergency brake with pedestrian detector
- Lane maintenance assistance
- Autonomous parking assistant
-Blind angle sensor
- Adaptive cruise control with Stop&Go
- 10” touch screen
- Digital dashboard
- Wireless cell phone charger
- Android Auto and wireless Apple Car Play
- Bi-zone air conditioning
- Electric sunroof
look also
Analysis of the Chery Tiggo 4 PRO, the best version of the historic Chinese SUV
New Ford Territory: an SUV that comes with a new design and more power