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Volkswagens been a little late to the crossover game.
It really hasn't had anything in the Oso red hot entry level crossover segment.
Until now, let me introduce you to the Volkswagen Taos 2022 model year.
It's looking to do battle with smaller compact crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson and Jeep Compass.
But from what Volkswagen is saying it may be a bit more aspirational when it comes to performance.
Like maybe it's fun to drive is my favorite compact the larger Mazda CX 5.
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Under the hood is a 1.5 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine that is derived from the 1.4 liter that we've seen in the Jetta but it's just been upgraded a little bit so it's got more power 158 horses, but the same amount of torque 184.
Now there will be a front wheel drive version coming first, but I'm taking you guys out in the all wheel drive and that's for two reasons.
Number one, the all wheel drive it gets a multilink suspension in the back so it handles a lot better and it's just more sorted to drive.
It also has got.
Eight speed dual clutch transmission as opposed to a standard eight speed automatic which just makes it a little bit more sporty.
Now I'm going here into the sine wave and it's just, [LAUGH] time okay?
Back to regular handling.
Now, what I really like about this Taos is that, honestly you guys, it's really surprising.
I thought that was gonna call it, and this was just gonna be some kind of cheapy low, entry level sub compact crossover, but that's not the case.
I mean, I can't believe I'm gonna say this I'm gonna have to really get this out on more public roads as opposed to just this handling course to make sure that I really agree with this.
But on first glance, I think I might like this better than the Mazda CX five, which is kind of my benchmark for well handling crossovers.
I mean, this is really good.
The engine here is super torquey.
I mean it comes on really, really low.
The throttle response is great.
The steering is pretty direct.
I mean, there's not a tonne of feedback, but I mean, what are you going to do this thing probably cost, I don't know, somewhere in the early 20,000 so I can't expect greatness.
Sure there's a little bit of body roll here, but I never feel like it's gonna get out of sorts, but it's really kind of fun.
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Now we don't have any word on fuel economy or on pricing.
We think that it's going to start in mid 20,000.
But we should see the front wheel drive 2022 Volkswagen towels in dealerships in June with all wheel drive version following a few weeks after that.
Now if you'd like to learn more, I've got a write up of the 2022 Volkswagen towels plus a whole bunch of pictures over on the roadshow comm so be sure to check it out.
