The new Volkswagen Taos is a nice enough vehicle, on paper, since the new-for-2022 model hasn’t made it to showrooms yet. It has a basic turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an all-wheel drive option and all of the interior simplicity and comfort that one expects from a Volkswagen. It is, however, a bit…pedestrian.
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We don’t know much about the Taos, but we know enough to not be particularly inspired to take it off-pavement. Much like the Wolfsburg automaker did with the Volkswagen Atlas a few years ago, they have released a concept version of the Taos called the Basecamp Concept.
On first glance, the Taos Basecamp is visually much better looking than the base model. The blue paint is unique to the concept and is accented by a flat black hood and roof that make the attached roof basket seem much more at home. The Basecamp badges are highlighted in bright orange, similar to the 2019 Atlas Basecamp.
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Driving the Taos Basecamp will be significantly more enjoyable off-road thanks to a lifted suspension form H&R and bigger all-terrain tires. Although 28.5” tires don’t sound like a lot in the overlanding crowd, that’s a mighty jump from a standard crossover tire. Those bigger tires roll on a set of fifteen52 wheels in flat black to match the accents and roof. Volkswagen outfitted more aggressive fender flares front and rear, presumably to fit the larger tire diameter. Hidden in the Thule roof basket is a Baja Designs light array with more than enough lumens to light up a dark forest road.
Although the Volkswagen Taos Concept is just a concept, the aggressive outfitting bodes well for future owners. When the Atlas model eventually made it to market, it brought with it many accessories that first showed up on the pre-production concept. Volkswagen is clearly hip to the growing popularity of all-wheel-drive crossover utility vehicles and we are glad to see more opportunity for people to explore into the backcountry.
Photos by: Volkswagen of America
Overlanding Industry News by Zach Elseman. Follow Zach @okienomads.
