--- title: "5 things to know about the new 2022 Volkswagen Taos" url: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/" publisher: "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" content_signal: "search=yes, ai-input=yes, ai-train=no" author: "Jill Ciminillo" published: "2020-10-14T00:01:08+00:00" modified: "2026-08-19T15:39:22+00:00" image: "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2022_Volkswagen_Taos-12314.jpg" --- # 5 things to know about the new 2022 Volkswagen Taos By Jill Ciminillo Published: 2020-10-14T00:01:08+00:00 Updated: 2026-08-19T15:39:22+00:00 ![Featured image]() Volkswagen is doubling down on its commitment to SUVs. Though the Touareg is gone from the U.S. lineup, there is a plethora of SUV goodness from the petite Tiguan to the three-row Atlas, with the Atlas Cross Sport filling in the blank space between. Now, the German automaker is introducing its petite-est SUV: the 2022 Taos. This will be the entry into VW’s SUV lineup, and though we don’t know pricing just yet, Volkswagen promises it will be big on value. So, here are the most important things to know about this all-new SUV. ### **That’s Taos, New Mexico** VW doesn’t name its vehicles willy nilly. There’s thought, even if it’s weird thought (crouching tiger, hidden iguana … anyone?), that goes into the name. And Taos was specifically chosen to resonate with the American audience. Taos, New Mexico, is known for skiing, art and stunning landscapes. ![2022 Taos]() 2022 Volkswagen Taos (Image courtesy of Volkswagen USA) I have to admit, I’m not sure how that relates to a petite SUV, so we’re heading into weird territory again. But, as a footnote [in a prior press release](), Taos was home to John Muir, author of “How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step-by-Step Procedures for the Compleat (sic) Idiot.” Draw your own conclusions there. ### **2022 Taos is smaller than a Tiguan** Taos is intended to slot in underneath [Tiguan]() (ICYMI: tiger + iguana), marking the entry into the VW SUV lineup. At 175.8 inches long, the Taos is 9.3 inches shorter than Tiguan. Because we were curious, we looked it up, and that’s slightly longer than the first-generation Tiguan, which was 175.5 inches. When you look at Taos or [Used Volkswagen Taos](), there will be no mistaking the VW lineage with the strong horizontal lines and sculpted hood. ![2022 Taos]() 2022 Volkswagen Taos Digital Cockpit (Image courtesy of Volkswagen USA) ### **It’ll have Digital Cockpit + other tech** Just because it’s small, that doesn’t mean it’s cheap, and it’ll get a lot of the up-level goodies available on the higher-priced, larger models. We’re a huge fan of the Digital Cockpit, modeled after the Audi Virtual Cockpit, which creates a visual delight of digital configuration in the behind-the-screen gauges. Other available tech features include in-car WiFi, XM Satellite Radio, navigation, a Beats audio system, dual-zone climate control, heated-and-ventilated front seats and 10-color ambient lighting Volkswagen also points out in its press release, that the IQ.Drive safety suite is available on every Taos. So, we take that to mean it’s an option at the base and likely standard as you level up. Features in this suite include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams. ![2022 Taos]() 2022 Volkswagen Taos (Image courtesy of Volkswagen USA) ### **There is one engine option** The only engine available will be a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged engine. If you’re familiar with VW, you’ve also seen this engine in the Jetta. It’ll deliver 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. VW says this will deliver outstanding fuel economy without sharing the specific specs just yet, and it’ll be mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel-drive models and a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission in the all-wheel-drive models. ### **It’ll be available in 2021** Other than showing the vehicle itself and giving some basic specs, there isn’t a lot of additional information available – including pricing. That’s because you won’t actually see this vehicle on the streets until the summer of 2021. There will be three trims: S, SE and SEL, but that’s about all we’ve got right now. For reference, Tiguan starts at $24,945, and tops out around $39K. I don’t imagine the Taos will have a $15K price span, but I think it’s reasonable to expect it to start around $21K and top out in the low $30Ks. ![2022 Taos]() 2022 Volkswagen Taos (Image courtesy of Volkswagen USA) ### **The bottom line on the 2022 Taos** Volkswagen is the master of fun-to-drive vehicles – whether you’re looking at the petite Jetta or three-row Atlas. So, we imagine the Taos will have a sporty demeanor with a bit of SUV functionality. We’re looking forward to a chance to check it out. Even if we don’t entirely understand the purpose of the name. [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 vw Taos recall]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() [2022 Taos]() **Related posts:** > [Volkswagen Admits It Has Enough SUVs According To Exec]() > [REVIEW: 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion]() > [Three Reasons Why Volkswagen Should Bring the Amarok to America Already]() ## Related vehicle coverage - [2022 Volkswagen Taos]() ## Structured page information ~~~json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#article", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/" }, "author": { "name": "Jill Ciminillo", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/17a307b2bd8654a0efc57d38f2e79df8" }, "headline": "5 things to know about the new 2022 Volkswagen Taos", "datePublished": "2020-10-14T00:01:08+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T15:39:22+00:00", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/" }, "wordCount": 765, "commentCount": 0, "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2022_Volkswagen_Taos-12314.jpg", "keywords": [ "2022 Taos", "2022 Volkswagen Taos", "2022 VW Taos", "compact suv", "Volkswagen Taos", "VW Taos" ], "articleSection": [ "News" ], "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "CommentAction", "name": "Comment", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#respond" ] } ] }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/", "name": "5 things to know about the new 2022 Volkswagen Taos", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#primaryimage" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#primaryimage" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2022_Volkswagen_Taos-12314.jpg", "datePublished": "2020-10-14T00:01:08+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-08-19T15:39:22+00:00", "description": "Volkswagen introduces it's newest petite SUV, the 2022 Taos. Slotted under the Tiguan, Taos shows compact doesn't need to be cheap.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#breadcrumb" }, "inLanguage": "en-US", "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "ReadAction", "target": [ "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/" ] } ] }, { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#primaryimage", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2022_Volkswagen_Taos-12314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2022_Volkswagen_Taos-12314.jpg", "width": 2048, "height": 1366, "caption": "2022 Volkswagen Taos (Image courtesy of Volkswagen USA)" }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/10/5-things-to-know-about-the-new-2022-volkswagen-taos/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "5 things to know about the new 2022 Volkswagen Taos" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#website", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/", "name": "Pickup Truck +SUV Talk", "description": "Latest News, Reviews and Stories", "publisher": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization" }, "potentialAction": [ { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/?s={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": { "@type": "PropertyValueSpecification", "valueRequired": true, "valueName": "search_term_string" } } ], "inLanguage": "en-US" }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#organization", "name": "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/logo/image/", "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PUTC-Only-Shield.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PUTC-Only-Shield.jpg", "width": 613, "height": 379, "caption": "Pickup Truck + SUV Talk" }, "image": { "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/logo/image/" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/pickuptrucktalk/", "https://x.com/PickupTruckTalk", "https://instagram.com/PickupTruckTalk", "https://www.pinterest.com/PickupTruckTalk/", "https://www.youtube.com/pickuptrucktalk" ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/#/schema/person/17a307b2bd8654a0efc57d38f2e79df8", "name": "Jill Ciminillo", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "inLanguage": "en-US", "@id": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f87b10595f005ae52b8598b3d0f279f342bca284aef7f845272864395212c4e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "url": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f87b10595f005ae52b8598b3d0f279f342bca284aef7f845272864395212c4e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "contentUrl": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f87b10595f005ae52b8598b3d0f279f342bca284aef7f845272864395212c4e9?s=96&d=mm&r=g", "caption": "Jill Ciminillo" }, "description": "Jill Ciminillo is a Chicago-based automotive writer, influencer, TikTok Creator, YouTube personality and podcast host, with her articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly radio show on car stuff via Talk Zone. Previously, Jill has been the automotive editor for the Chicago Sun-Times News Group as well as Sinclair Broadcast Group. She is also a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and has the distinction of being the first female president for that organization. Jill is also currently a juror for the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) and Women's World Car of the Year (WWCOTY).", "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/jillciminillo/", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillciminillo/", "https://x.com/https://twitter.com/jillciminillo", "https://www.youtube.com/jillciminillo" ], "url": "https://pickuptrucktalk.com/author/jillc/" } ] } ] ~~~