FIRST DRIVE
We drive a prototype of a new VW SUV.
CHATTA NOOGA, TENN. • First seen as a concept some three years ago, Volkswagen’s slayer in the battle against Honda Pilots, Ford Explorers and Toyota Highlanders will soon go into production at the Tennessee factory that builds the Passat — and yet the SUV still doesn’t have a name.
Called the Cross Blue concept when it debuted in Detroit in 2013, VW’s all- new, t hree- row mid- size SUV could be called the Terramont, or something else altogether, as the company continues to debate what to call a vehicle intended primarily for North American families.
Whatever t he name, the new SUV will not be easily i gnored; based on a brief drive of two heavily disguised, pre-production prototypes, it’s clear VW’s new SUV looks, drives and behaves better than its direct competitors. The test drive was in Chattanooga, Tenn., where the SUV will be built starting in December for a spring launch in 2017 as a 2018 model.
Even under the heavy camouflage, it’s easy to see the SUV hasn’t strayed far from the original concept, with a wide front end employing LED lighting, large wheel arches and hints of Jeep Grand Cherokee here and there. We saw other, undisguised units during a quick factory tour, and it’s very masculine, very American looking, yet it’s honestly attractive and not confused about its appearance, unlike Mazda’s CX-9, which can’t decide if it’s a tall wagon or an SUV.
Under the hood, a 3.6-litre V6 with about 280 horsepower will be mated to an eight- speed automatic with manual mode. Later, a 2.0L turbo with about 240 hp will be available in the U. S. in base models, with frontwheel drive. VW wouldn’t reveal exact power numbers, although did say it would tow at least 5,000 pounds.
VW did not rule out a future diesel model, but a hybrid model is more likely, given the current climate and tightening emissions standards, although a hybrid is currently not on the drawing board.
There will be fewer than five trim lines, and the units coming to Canada are likely to be all- wheel drive only. They will use the same Haldex full- time AWD system Volkswagen employs in other models, although this SUV gets a dial that offers all- wheel- drive selections for mode that include Snow, Sport, On-road and Off-road, and even drive mode settings for Eco, Sport or some combination chosen by the driver.
Built on VW’s MQB platform, the SUV clung tightly to the roads leading to Ten- nessee’s Prentice Cooper State Forest, where we briefly ventured off road. The ride along paved roads is firm and sports- car like; those who like driving will love it, especially over the long haul. Wide, supportive seats complement a perfect seating position. Even in these pre- production models, the ride was seriously quiet, with nary any wind or engine noise. The two models we drove had an annoying start/ stop system that hopefully can be shut off.
Off road, the ride became less forgiving — the predictable trade-off for tight, handling prowess on road. But it was still plenty capable, with automatic hill- descent control and good agility over the kind of terrain most owners will never see unless they live in places rarely inhabited by humans. It’s no Range Rover, but it’s not meant to be one.
Steering is electric, lightly weighted and quick to respond to inputs. A heated steering wheel will be available, as will be a full suite of safety features, including an around-view monitor, blindspot monitoring, active cruise control and park assist.
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect, however, is the interior. Stepping in is easy thanks to a low floor, and visibility is fantastic because the A- pillars don’t block the view. The glass is large and the cabin feels airy and bright, in part thanks to a panoramic roof. Instrumentation looks lifted straight out of the Golf GTI, as do the HVAC controls, but the primary infotainment system is a giant step up. A large, possibly eight- to 10- inch glass screen with incredibly sharp graphics and the ability to touch, pinch and swipe, dominates the centre stack. Reaction times are as fast as an iPhone — and yet there’s still, thankfully, a volume knob for the radio.
As many as 17 cupholders, a deep centre- armrest storage bin and other nooks and cubbies all make good use of space. We’d love to show you the space, but we were not allowed to photograph the interior. Those third- and second- row seats fold completely flat, too; the space looks big enough to support a queen-size mattress.
“It’s real, real big,” said one engineer on the project. He’s right; it’s a cave in there. In some ways, there’s enough space in here that Volkswagen could name i ts new mid- size SUV the Vanagon; it would be easy to live and sleep inside this thing, and would be ideal to drive clear across Canada.
VW’s new SUV will be fully revealed at the L. A. Auto Show in November. The Chattanooga factory has already added some 26 per cent more space and more than 400 robots. About 700 workers are to be hired as part of the $ 900- million investment in its yet-to-be-named SUV.