It's one of the latest members of the Volkswagen family. The new Volkswagen Taos is a new compact crossover SUV and promises to be one of the sharpest looking on the road today. Sure, the new Taos might be a tiny bit smaller than the flagship Volkswagen Atlas, but it seats five passengers in total comfort. It does end up approximately nine inches shorter than its sibling, the VW Tiguan. The best news yet about the new Taos is that it's on sale right now at Napleton's Volkswagen of Sanford

The new VW Taos is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive. Named for the town in Taos, New Mexico, the Taos SUV from Volkswagen is a completely new vehicle planted firmly in the middle of the compact crossover SUV ranks. This new V-Dub is powered by an equally new turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 that delivers 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque at a barely-turning speed of 1,750 RPM. The engine uses the Miller Cycle technologies to combine variable turbine geometry with high fuel injection pressure for a more powerful yet fuel-efficient engine than the 1.4-liter Turbo four-cylinder in the VW Jetta sedan.

The power from the Taos' transverse-mounted engine is delivered to its front-wheel-drive (FWD) powertrain by an 8-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive VW Taos 4Motion models use an electro-hydraulic center clutch pack to move power from front to back with the help of a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The specially-tuned suspension includes a tried-and-true torsion-bar rear axle on front-drive models. Drivers ordering the all-wheel-drive Taos 4Motion will enjoy a multilink suspension that gives the Taos a decidedly European driving feel, resulting in stellar ride quality and engaging handling.

Put The New Volkswagen Taos To The Test >>

Think of the new VW Taos as a small SUV that thinks big. It fits right at the very bottom of the VW SUV ranks, below the new all-electric ID4 and the newly restyled Tiguan. The Volkswagen Atlas and the VW Atlas Sport are the flagship vehicles at the head of the line. The new Taos features reduced overhangs of the front and rear bumpers, which aid in tackling the outdoors, especially when hillclimbing or trailbusting. From a looks standpoint, the LED light bar that runs from side to side is reminiscent of the larger VW Atlas.

Like many other members of the Volkswagen family, this new Volkswagen Taos crossover has good bones, thanks to the Volkswagen MQB platform. This modular platform can be built in various lengths that can be used for various vehicles. It offers a tough look from its squared-off wheel wells to its aggressively hunkered-down stance. Depending on trim level, the Taos can be equipped with either 17-inch, 18-inch and 19-inch wheels. The rear is nicely set off with the Taos logo, which is newly located just below the license plate frame.

The new VW Taos features an elegantly understated interior awash in two-tone fabric or leatherette seating. The same standard digital gauges found in many other Volkswagen vehicles are here as well. Although a 6.5-inch touchscreen display is standard, it can be upgraded to MIB3 levels, including an 8.0-inch screen complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Almost as large as the Volkswagen Tiguan, the interior measures up with 99.9 cubic feet of total volume. That's just under 2.0-cubic feet smaller than the Tig. Cargo-wise, there are 28.1 cubic feet behind the rear seat. Fold it forward and your cargo-hauling ability jumps to 66.3 cubic feet.
There are standard features galore, including onboard Wi-Fi, automatic LED headlights and a push-button starter. The Taos is available in three flights ranging from base S, SE and SEL versions.

The VW brand did not hold back when it came to safety. The new Taos can be ordered with VW's IQ.Drive Safety suite, which is optional on the S and SE models. This safety suite is standard on the top shelf Taos SEL. The system includes a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance are here. So is Park Distance Control and Active High-beam lighting.