Mexico-built Mini-Tiguan expected here in Summer 2021
Comes with 1.5L turbo standard, offers AWD
Production of the Volkswagen Taos, the brand’s latest crossover that takes the place of the Golf and Golf Sportwagen, has begun for the U.S. market at VW’s plant in Mexico. That puts the model one step closer to arriving on sale in the U.S., as well as in Canada, where it’s expected to arrive this summer.
More than 4,300 Taos models have already been built at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, MX, all destined for sale in that country. NOw that it’s gone well, production has expanded. The plant is planning to expand production capacity for vehicles designed for North America, VW says.
While U.S. production of the crossover has started, VW says that builds for the Canadian market will follow “in the coming weeks.”
The Taos is a five-seat crossover, 236 mm shorter than the Tiguan, though VW says the 1,877L of cargo space and large passenger cabin offers good space for the class. It will be powered by a 158 hp 1.5L turbo-four, a new engine for the brand here. All-wheel drive will be optional, while heated seats, LED lights, and VW’s digital cockpit dashboard will be standard. Looking much like a scaled-down Tiguan, inside and out, this isn’t a revolution for VW, but rather an expansion on what has been working very well for the automaker in the last few years. It’s no Golf Sportwagen, but it will likely eclipse that model in sales, especially in the U.S.