Volkswagen Taos specifications: dimensions, engines

Volkswagen Taos specifications: dimensions, engine, box

In the second half of the summer, sales of the Volkswagen Taos, a local model assembled in Russia for the local market, began. With the design WAG did not think too much, repeating trick with Polo, copied from Skoda Rapid, but in this case the “donor” became a Karok. Hence the technical characteristics of the Taos are largely identical to its twin, differing in minor details.

The car is based on the last automobile platform WAG MQB (the next generation is already electric) that has been retired in the countries politically correct called developing. But it’s not about the platform, technically it’s quite perfect, but about the forced “greening” of Europe, and who has lost from the retirement of MQB is still a big question.

Like the Karok, the Taos comes in only one double-volume (with engine and combined passenger and luggage compartment) 5-door (4 passenger + 1 luggage compartment) body. Powertrains are designed for gasoline, WAG does not offer diesel engines for RF since the second half of the 2010s.

Dimensions

Externally Taos is more similar to Tiguan, it is not difficult to confuse from afar. Probably, it was conceived to flatter the conceit of the future Taos owners, and appearance of similarity does not threaten already well-established image of Tiguan.

External overall dimensions

*- Hereinafter in parentheses there are data for all-wheel drive version.

Internal dimensions

Interior dimensions

Loadspace dimensions

The volume of the fuel-tank – 50 (55) liters.

Mass of the car

Curb weight of the Taos varies depending on the configuration of the power unit:

• with the 1.6 engine the car will weigh 1,287 kg;
• with the engine 1,4 the car will weigh 1 354 (1 467) kg.

Powertrains

Initially the Taos came with three engine and gearbox combinations, a couple of months later an automatic was added to the 1.6 engine, and at the moment the powertrain lineup looks as follows:

1. 1.6MPI engine (110 hp) paired with a 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic. These versions come with front-wheel drive.
2. The turbo 1.4TSI (150 hp) for the front-wheel drive with 8-band Aisin, for the full – with a 7-speed “robot” DSG.

The motors and transmissions are well known in Russia, the products of Volkswagen and Skoda have been equipped with them for more than a year. Robot is based on a more powerful RCSC and is designed for more torque than the engine creates 1.4, ie in this case will work with a reserve, it is usually put on a two-liter motors.

8-speed automatic transmission is known for its efficiency, a little earlier on Octavia A8 in the city mode it managed to bypass the mechanics, which in itself is quite a rare case. The automatic transmission6 and, moreover, MKPP5, are simple and relatively trouble-free boxes. As a rule, with timely and quality maintenance, they do not create problems to the owner and are able to go 200-300 thousand km, for the atmospheric known cases of half a million mileage.

Summary table of the main technical characteristics

Chassis

Structurally similar to other WAG models of comparable size and weight, differing slightly for front- and all-wheel drive versions in the type of rear suspension.

Suspension is McPherson at the front and typical for modern automobile industry at the rear:

• in front-wheel drive – semi-independent twisting (the pride of WAG!) beam, which provides driving qualities, close to the characteristics of the independent;
• with all-wheel drive – independent multilever.

The all-wheel drive is switchable, through Haldex-5 muff.

The braking system is hydraulic, with integrated electronic systems and electromechanical handbrake.

Steering is rack and pinion, with electronic components and electric booster.

Wheels – the factory version provides several options in sizes from 16 to 18 inches, depending on the power unit, the type of drive and equipment:

• 6Jx16 steel;
• Chester 6.5Jx16;
• Mayfild 7Jx17;
• Kulmbach 7Jx17;
• Dublin 7Jx17;
• Montego Bay 7Jx18.

Electronic equipment.

In line with current trends, the Volkswagen Taos got its “gentlemanly” set of electronics. Now you can meet similar on the budget cars, but a couple of years ago, such options were the destiny of cars of middle and higher class.

However, traditionally for themselves, WAG did not stuff the car with electronics “above the roof”, focusing on the quality of the standard set:

1. LIGHT ASSIST (optional IQ.Light) – automates the switching of low/low beam, simplifying the work of the driver. Made on the basis of adaptive LED (projection) headlights with cornering lights. It can be supplemented with dynamic corrector and cornering lights.
2. PARK ASSIST – using parking sensors in a circle, the system can almost automatically park the car in a confined space. The driver just need to choose a place and control the gas and brake, the system will take over the steering.
3. LANE ASSIST – a system to keep the car in the strip (on tests in the North Caucasus has not proved ideal, sometimes catching up when the car was only a meter away from the oncoming band).
4. Cruise control with the function of adaptivity.
5. SIDE ASSIST – monitors the radar presence of cars in the adjacent rows, and at an attempt to change to a “busy” line warns.
6. FRONT ASSIST traces the distance to an obstacle in front, and when you shorten it, warns the driver, and considering the situation critical – automatically stops the car.

Older and more familiar electronic assistants are also installed, systems:

• stabilization (ESP);
• trailer stabilization;
• anti-lock braking system (ABS);
• anti-skid (ASR);
• imitation of interwheel drive interlocking (EDL).

Summary and conclusions

The modular design principle and the presence of the “spare parts box” with a wide range of components allows WAG to stamp new models with the ease of a child playing with a construction set, transferring the novelty of the model in the design and equipping a saloon.

According to this scheme is designed and Taos, technically a clone of Karok, but externally more similar to the Tiguan, except that the equipment has some identity, and that is more to prevent domestic competition.

New Volkswagen Taos 2022: photo and price, characteristics of the crossover

As we know, the promised three years wait: the first announcement of this car took place just in March of the eighteenth. The crossover itself debuted in China in the fall of that year – there it is called the Volkswagen Tharu. And in 2020 there was its variant for America under the name Volkswagen Taos. Now it is the turn of the Russian version.

In fact, the Tharu / Taos is a disguised Skoda Karoq. But if China and America offered a long-wheelbase version, the Russian Volkswagen Taos 2021-2022 is unified with the standard Karoq. They have the same chassis, units and body, and the differences come down to the design and interior.

Pros and cons of the Volkswagen Taos

Reviews of Volkswagen Taos owners

The suspension is not rigid, but rather elastic, like a ball. I was happy with the dynamics, even the new gearbox DSG 381 did not embarrass me, works like an automatic, switches seamlessly. Noise is a strong point of the Taos, after the Toyota, it feels like a luxury car. In general, the car behavior and noise feels like a car of a higher class, in comparison with Toyota. It is too early to talk about quality and reliability, time will show. While Taos only pleases.

It has been 7,000 km since the purchase. I like the car, even very much. In terms of software a lot of “raw”, hopefully corrected in the updates. In other respects I like the car, no questions.

Since the purchase of the car “eats” AI-100, but I decided to try AI-95. I don’t want to tell you how it is, but I won’t use 95 anymore. But for all 7,000 km average consumption was 9.8l/100km on AI-100.

Power enough for confident overtaking. Sometimes on the highway turned on sport, but in general and in two-way overtaking is easy. No questions to the cruise control (not adaptive) – everything works as it should.

Never leaves the feeling that the car is driving on rails or glued to the road. Very clear steering and trajectory keeping. Consumption, so far I got 7.1 for the trip on the average loaded highway. Pretty good.

Seats and seating. I got pretty tired on the road. I can’t figure out if it’s the seats’ fault or if I haven’t adapted to the crossover seating yet. I used to drive 1,500 km in one sitting in a Fabia or Multivan. But after 300-400 it’s already hard, although when you get in the car, the seats seem mega comfortable. I guess I just have not found my position yet, I need to work on it. Lumbar support must also be used wisely.

I have received license plates and mileage has exceeded 700. Car was driving confidently on highway, trips on dirt also have been successful. After the little car of course is heaven and earth. I have noticed only one drawback. In the rain, because of the almost straight hood the water drops go to the windshield. Not critical of course, but it is. And the light is of course beautiful, but not with wet asphalt, is reflected as well as xenon.

Volkswagen Taos 2022 prices and equipment

The price of Volkswagen Taos 2022 in Russia ranges from 2,828,900 to 3,501,900 rubles, the pickup is offered in the Respect, Status, Joy! and Exclusive configurations.

* MT5 – five-speed manual transmission, AT6 – six-speed automatic transmission, DSG7 – seven-speed robotized transmission, 4WD – all-wheel drive

Specifications of Volkswagen Taos

Body

Engine and transmission

Engine and transmission

At the start of sales the new Volkswagen Taos 2021-2022 in Russia is offered with three power units. The base version has an atmospheric 1.6 MPI (110 hp), front-wheel drive and five-speed “mechanics”. The announced six-speed automatic will appear later.

So far two-pedal VW Taos are offered only with 1.4 TSI turbo engine (150 hp). Four-wheel drive cars are equipped with an eight-speed automatic, but the set with a four-wheel drive has a seven-speed DSG “robot” with two clutches (it’s a box DQ381).

The length of Russian Taos is 4417 mm vs. 4382 mm for Karok. They have the same width (1841 mm) and height symbolically differs by 1 mm (1602 mm in Taos). As in the Karok, a choice of wheels with a diameter of 16 to 18 inches.

Video test drive of the new Volkswagen Taos

Appearance

From the front, the new 2021-2022 Volkswagen Taos body looks aggressive. The first thing that catches the eye is the light bar that diverges away from the logo (a reference to the Volkswagen ID.4 electric car) and seems to be one with the LED running lights.

The black radiator grille and the insert of the same color on the front bumper add to the brutality of the crossover. The image is completed with a relief hood, whose “convex” lines are combined with the location of the headlights.

The novelty is also connected with the “Tiguan” by a clear horizontal line on the side, but it goes not through the door handles, but above them. The same line smoothly passes into the trunk door, whose design seems a little rougher and more expressive than that of the “Karok”.

Interior

Interior of the new Volkswagen Taos 2021-2022 model year is German practical and ergonomic. When you sit behind a steering wheel for the first time you notice that all control elements are located exactly in the places you expect. Deflectors of two-zone climate control are horizontal, multifunction with three spokes is a little bit slanted in the bottom, an adjustable digital dashboard is installed behind it.

Outside the Parkett though it seems small, but there are no questions to a landing. In front there are comfortable seats with good lateral support and lumbar support, in back three adults (but not broad-shouldered) people can be seated at once – and to spend some hours together without special inconveniences.

The difference in class with “Tiguan” is clearly visible in the interior: the materials are simpler, the plastic is rigid almost everywhere, but designers have tried to “enliven” the front panel with wide glossy overlays – they can be silver or orange.