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10 Things You Need to Know About Volkswagen's New Midsize SUV

Cherise Threewitt
by Cherise Threewitt
July 21, 2016
5 min. Reading Time
2017 Volkswagen Midsize SUV front angle in camouflage at factory ・  Photo by Volkswagen

2017 Volkswagen Midsize SUV front angle in camouflage at factory ・ Photo by Volkswagen

At some point on July 19, while Autobytel was touring Volkswagen’s Chattanooga assembly plant and Engineering and Planning Center, several states announced plans to sue VW over the Dieselgate scandal. We didn’t find out about this until later, while watching news at the airport. We’d just spent the morning with VW's upcoming 2017 Midsize SUV, and the VW team was optimistic and excited. While the new Midsize SUV project can in no way downplay the seriousness of Dieselgate and the long-term implications it’ll have on the company, VW is hoping that this new family-oriented vehicle will be able to help rebuild confidence and trust. Here are 10 things you should know about Volkswagen’s as-yet-unnamed new Midsize SUV.

1) It's Volkswagen’s Largest Vehicle for the United States

The Midsize SUV will have a lower price point than Volkswagen’s upscale Touareg, but the new vehicle is actually a little longer than the brand’s flagship SUV, making it the largest Volkswagen to be available in the United States. The Midsize SUV will coexist with the Touareg and the redesigned Tiguan, as its extra length allows it to accommodate a third row of seating (which we’ll discuss later) and the crucial 7-passenger capacity that will enable it to compete with the segment’s heavy hitters. Although there have been a lot of changes at Volkswagen in the last few months, the manufacturer is committed to succeeding with its new Midsize SUV.

 Photo by Cherise LaPine Threewitt

Photo by Cherise LaPine Threewitt

2) It Looks Like the CrossBlue Concept… But It’s Probably Not

At the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Volkswagen showed the CrossBlue concept, a 3-row SUV. The CrossBlue, then slated for a 2017 release, would be built in Chattanooga, just like the 2017 Midsize SUV. And though the Midsize SUV just previewed was heavily camouflaged, it does look an awful lot like the CrossBlue. Here’s the key difference, though. The CrossBlue concept was powered by a turbodiesel plug-in hybrid, and VW’s communications team says the options for the Midsize SUV will be a 4-cylinder and a 6-cylinder. Technically, that doesn’t exclude a TDI-based drivetrain. It’s hard to see Volkswagen linking the turbodiesel reputation to such a high-stakes vehicle. And if it’s not a TDI plug-in hybrid, it’s not a CrossBlue, unless and until VW says otherwise.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

3) The 2017 Midsize SUV: Designed Specifically for the US

This is Volkswagen’s first 3-row SUV, and it was developed to appeal to American families. It won’t be sold in other markets (except China) so VW was able to forget about the complications of its usual one-size-fits-all global approach. Volkswagen’s research revealed that certain characteristics, such as seat durability, are particularly important to American consumers. “You have to develop the cars where you sell them,” explained Pietro Zollino, Volkswagen’s Chief Communications Officer for North America. 

Local production is important, too. Volkswagen says its Engineering and Planning Center in Chattanooga, near the production facility, is key to the Midsize SUV’s success, since the engineers can respond quickly to problems and feedback.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

4) The Chinese Version Will Be Substantially Different

Volkswagen’s adopting a similar strategy for the Chinese Midsize SUV. Dr. Matthias Erb, Executive Vice President of Engineering and Planning, says that regionalization is key to success. For premium products, Dr. Erb notes, companies can sell the same product worldwide—brands such as Porsche and BMW have this advantage in the global market—but in many countries, Volkswagen falls somewhere between a volume brand and a premium one. 

VW says the Chinese market is a little more sophisticated when it comes to midsize vehicles, and is willing to pay more than American customers. The Chinese Midsize SUV, which will be built in China, will get customized with different seats and other equipment to justify and support its higher price.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

5) Volkswagen Is Doubling Production Capacity in Chattanooga

The Chattanooga plant has been building the VW Passat sedan since opening in 2011, and will build every Midsize SUV sold in the United States. Volkswagen recently added 400 robots to handle Midsize SUV production, bringing the factory’s total robots to 850. VW is hiring 700 new employees by the end of this year, with plans for 2000 more over the next five to seven years.

Quality assurance is a critical step in the Chattanooga plant’s process. Every day, two employees (who report into Germany) pull two partially assembled vehicles off the production line at random. These vehicles are pulled apart and tested for rigidity, weld strength, and other structural and build-quality issues.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

6) Safety: A Big Priority

The Midsize SUV’s windshield is one of its most distinctive features, and Volkswagen says it’s key for safety. The thin front pillars allow the glass to go as far to the sides as possible, improving outward vision and making the cabin feel bright and airy.

A full active safety suite will be available, and autonomous parking capability is expected at some point. Features such as 4MOTION all-wheel drive, emergency braking and cross-traffic warning are available in shared-platform models, so they can also be implemented.

Safety testing will come later, but Volkswagen expects the Midsize SUV to achieve a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a 5-Star Overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

7) Comfortable, Family-Friendly Interior

Though we explored inside the prototype Midsize SUV, Volkswagen did not allow interior photos. The dash and console were camouflaged, and many trim pieces weren’t in final form. That said, the cabin of the VW Midsize SUV shows promise. 

The Midsize SUV gets VW’s latest MIB II infotainment system with smartphone integration and optional Wifi. Fender speakers will show up in the vehicle’s top trim levels. A panoramic sunroof (probably an option) spans the first and second rows. The 60/40 split second row has LATCH anchors for three child seats. Second-row passengers have access to USB ports, climate controls, and sunshades. VW’s product team says most people only use two rows, but want that third row for certain occasions.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

8) A Close Look At The Third Row

Again, we can’t show you this third-row seat, but we can tell you about it.

Access to the Midsize SUV’s third row is so easy that it makes us wonder why other vehicles make it difficult. Here’s the game-changing factor—the second-row seats, with child boosters installed, can actually still slide and tilt to allow uninhibited third-row access (although kids can’t be strapped in the child seats at the time).

When the second row is pushed all the way forward, there is ample room for adults in the third row. The roof actually slopes up to provide another couple of inches beyond the back of the panoramic sunroof, giving plenty of headroom even to a 6-foot-tall passenger.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen

9) High Hopes For Midsize SUV's Success

Although the Midsize SUV we saw was still in the prototype stage, it’s clear that Volkswagen’s going in the right direction. From the front passenger seat, the ride is very smooth. It strikes the balance between being fun to drive and comfortable. Its handling is confidence-inspiring, especially for the vehicle's large size. There’s very little body roll, and hardly any road noise is transmitted into the cabin. Doors close firmly, yet softly and quietly, which is a good sign of this VW's excellent build quality.

Dr. Erb says his main goal was to make the Midsize SUV easy to handle, easy to use, and intuitive, because Volkswagens should feel better than the competition.

“You can smell [the difference] if you sit in a Volkswagen or another car,” explained Dr. Erb.

 Photo by Cherise LaPine Threewitt

Photo by Cherise LaPine Threewitt

10) On Sale In Spring 2017

Though production is starting to ramp up, the Volkswagen Midsize SUV has a ways to go. It’s scheduled for a full reveal at the Los Angeles Auto Show this fall, with availability expected in the spring of 2017. No MSRP has been announced, but Volkswagen says the price will be competitive with that of other 3-row midsize suvs.

Volkswagen's new Midsize SUV will be offered with at least two engines, a 4-cylinder and a 6-cylinder, although we’ll have to wait for more specific details. We also don’t know what the trim levels will bem, in terms of equipment or pricing. We expect to learn many more details at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

 Photo by Volkswagen

Photo by Volkswagen


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