2022 VW Taos SEL /// Small SUV Big Deal @ $36k

2022 VW Taos SEL /// Small SUV Big Deal @ $36k

2022 Volkswagen Taos There are three trim levels available starting with the S: $22,995 SE: $27,245 SEL: $31,490 These are the MSRP for FWD models. Of course, all are available with AWD as well for about $2045 more per trim level.

This is the 2022 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion and its presented here in Pyrite Silver with a French Roast & Black Leather trimmed interior and it has a MSRP of $36,004 It’s powered by a Cast Aluminum 1.5L DOHC TSI inline 4-cylinder engine with a 11.5:1 compression ratio and max turbo boost of 25.9 psi that produces 158 hp @ 5500 rpm and 184 @ 1750 rpm on 87 octane gasoline.

When talking about engines, the size of the engine or its “displacement” is often mentioned. What is displacement? It is the volume of air that the engine consumes or pumps through itself every two revolutions. The volume of each cylinder is determined by the “bore” of the cylinder, and the “stroke”. The distance traveled by the piston is determined by the “throw” or offset of each connecting rod journal on the crankshaft. If the crank journal offset is 4 inches from the dead center of the crank, the piston will travel up and down four inches every revolution of the crankshaft. Engine displacement is simply a way of comparing engine sizes. More displacement means more horsepower and torque because a larger engine is capable of pumping and burning more air/fuel mixture in its cylinders. Even so, there is no direct correlation between engine displacement and horsepower because a lot of variables affect how much power any engine of a given size will actually produce. An engine’s power output depends on its “volumetric efficiency” and “thermal efficiency” as well as its horsepower and torque curves across its RPM range. I know that was super techie but I’m sure some of you always wanted to know but were intimidated to ask. Ok now back to the Taos…….




It’s driven by a 7-speed DSG automatic transmission with Tiptronic / 4MOTION permanent all-wheel drive system Out Front -Automatic LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights -Body-colored front bumper with gloss black fascia rub strip just below the honeycomb patterned upper grille -I like the chrome strip that starts in the headlight units and runs across the top of the upper grille and the DRLs lead into yet another chrome horizontal bar that dissects the middle of the upper grille and of course there’s the bug VW logo as well

-You also see the big gaping air ducts at the lower sides of the bumper and the lower grille is framed by a nice looking brushed stainless looking frame that also doubles as a quasi-splitter and defuser -I also like how VW continued the grille pattern all the way out to just under the outer air ducts

-Up top there is a chiseled, flat hood and above that is a laminated windshield with Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers with Heated windshield washer nozzles Along the side -19” 2-tone machined alloy wheels wrapped in P225/45HR19 all season tires -Front suspension -

MacPherson strut-type with lower control arm, coil springs, telescopic dampers, and anti-roll bar

-Rear suspension - multi-link rear axle, with coil springs, telescopic dampers, and anti-roll bar

-Brakes - Power assisted, dual circuit brakes with, 12.3 in. vented front disc; and 10.7 in. solid rear disc

-Matte black wheel and rocker panel trim -Power operated heated side mirrors -Body-colored door handles with touch lock/unlock sensor

-I like the hard and sharp body-side line that runs from the top of the front headlight bezel to the rear taillights.

-Chrome beltline with black window trim -Up top there are silver roof rack rails and a powered dual panel sunroof Out Back

-Body-colored rear wind deflector -Fixed heated rear window with intermittent wiper, however I do wish they would have tucked the wiper up under the rear wind deflector for a cleaner look

-Manual opening light gate.

A power liftgate is not available on any trim level

Full LED taillights -You see the TAOS name spelled out along the bottom of the tailgate door…its an interesting area to place the name way down here but at least it does align with the trim and AWD badges

-Body-colored rear bumper with black fascia rub strip with that same honeycomb pattern that we saw on the front grille and there is a metal-look rear skid plate defuser panel and parking sensors

-The rear bumper houses two chrome trimmed areas down at the lower corners to suggest they are the exhaust ports when in actuality the Quasi-dual stainless-steel exhaust is tucked neatly under the bumper Cargo

-The second-row seats include a ski or pogo stick pass through, and they are split folding 60/40 the seat release levers are placed on the seatbacks and not in the cargo area

-There is LED cargo lighting and 12v charging port on the passenger side rear and, there are cargo tie downs and a cargo security cover as well

-Under the cargo floor, there a compact steel spare tire, some additional storage, and the stereos subwoofer

-Max Cargo Volume behind first row: 60.2 cu ft

-Max Cargo Volume behind second row: 24.9 cu ft

-Cargo floor length to first row:

-Cargo floor length to second row: 34”

-Cargo width at beltline: 41.5

-Cargo width at wheelhouses:

-Cargo opening height: 36”

-Lift-over height: Safety Systems on this 2022 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion

-Anti-lock Braking System -Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution, and Hydraulic Brake Assist -Crash-optimized front end -Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking Electronic Stability Control, Anti-Slip Regulation, Engine Brake Assist Lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist Intelligent Crash Response System Rear View Camera System Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert Dimensions

-Front Track: 61.9”

-Rear Track: 60.8”

-Max Width: 72.5”

-Length: 175.8”

-Height: 64.6”

-Wheelbase: 105.6”

-Min Ground clearance: 6.6”

-Approach angle: 17.7°

-Departure angle: 24.8°

-Break-over angle: 18.5°

-Curb Weight: 3430 #

-Max Payload: 937 #

-Turning circle: 37.6’

-Fuel Capacity: 14.5 gallons

Safety IIHS: Not yet rated NHTSA: Not yet rated Performance -0-60: 8 sec*

-Standing ¼ mile: 16 seconds*

-Top speed: 120 mph*

-60 to 0 braking: no data yet (*- FWD models, estimated) Appearance It looks like a ¾ scale version of the Tiguan, which of course is itself a ¾ scale Atlas and that’s a very good thing

Warranty -New Vehicle warranty: 4 yrs/ 50k miles -Powertrain warranty: 4 yrs/ 50k miles

-Complimentary maintenance: 2 yrs/ 20k miles

Economy - 25 City / 32 Hwy / 28 Combined And it emits 6.3 tons of CO2 per year at 15k driven

#Taos #VWTaos #TAOSSUV #VWSUV #Newcarreviews