There’s a little something for everyone coming to Canada’s car dealerships in July — as long as you’re looking for a crossover or an SUV.
South Korea’s upscale Genesis brand makes its first move into the luxury compact crossover class with the GV70, a follow-up to the mid-size GV80 that came to Canada last fall.
At the entry-level end of the scale, the Volkswagen Taos is that company’s first proper subcompact crossover, replacing the Golf Sportwagen and AllTrack that briefly catered to station wagon lovers and crossover fans.
And if you’re hoping to hit the trails, you’ve got two new options, depending on the kind of terrain you want to traverse. The Ford Bronco has finally arrived after many months of the company teasing its retro-inspired off-road SUV and, as you read this, Subaru is rolling out its Outback Wilderness, a toughened-up take on the popular mid-size crossover.
2022 Genesis GV70
This month, Hyundai’s upscale Genesis brand begins the rollout of its GV70 compact luxury crossover as a 2022 model.
According to Genesis PR and communications specialist Bianca Pettinaro, the GV70 will arrive in July in uplevel 3.5T form, powered by a 3.5L turbo V6 engine. An entry-level 2.5T version using a turbo four-cylinder engine will follow in August.
The GV70 3.5T boasts 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque and comes in Sport and Sport Plus trim levels; when the 2.5T gets here with its 300 hp/311 lb-ft, you'll be able to choose from Select, Advanced, Advanced Plus and Prestige trims. Four-cylinder prices range from $49,000 to $63,000, while V6 SUVs start at $68,500 and top out at $75,500.
With the GV70, Genesis is aiming straight for the heart of the upscale compact SUV class. The company says its primary targets are the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, noting that the GV70’s four-cylinder engine is more potent than those in 2021 versions of those German models, and that the V6 out-torques their available six-cylinder engines.
Among the GV70’s standard features is a suite of advanced safety kit comprising forward collision detection/avoidance, highway driving assist, driver attention warning, blind spot and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, lane follow assist, automatic high beams, navigation-based adaptive cruise control, and safe exit assist.
Expect the GV70 to establish a new high bar for value in this class. The base price includes a heated steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging, ambient interior lighting, and a rear occupant alert. As you move up through the GV70’s trims, Genesis adds a panoramic roof, heated/cooled leather seats, power-adjustable steering, and three-zone climate control (Advanced trim); head-up display, surround view and blind spot view cameras, and an 18-speaker stereo (Advanced Plus); Nappa leather and suede seats, remote smart parking assist, parking crash avoidance, and a driver’s seat power cushion extension (Prestige).
The GV70’s V6-powered Sport trim builds on the Advanced package, adding the Prestige’s multi-adjustable seats, a head-up display, leather/mesh upholstery, 21-inch wheels, and various other appearance upgrades. Finally, the Sport Plus trim gains a digital 3D gauge cluster, a limited slip differential, quilted Nappa seating, and surround/blind spot view monitors.
2022 Volkswagen Taos
Volkswagen’s lineup gains a fifth crossover model this month with the arrival of the subcompact Taos as its new entry-level SUV.
The subcompact Taos comes to Canada with the goal of packing a lot of practicality into a small package. While it measures 236 mm shorter tip-to-tail than the compact Tiguan, its wheelbase only gives up 101 mm to that next-size-up model. The result is a vehicle similar in size to the first-generation Tiguan, sold here from 2009 through 2017. But Volkswagen says that, despite its smaller size, the Taos’s 2,817 L of passenger volume is only 45 L less than that of a Tiguan with its standard two-row configuration. Cargo space measures 790 L behind the rear seats and 1,866 L with the rear seats folded.
The Taos is VW’s first entry in a subcompact category currently dominated by the Honda HR-V, Nissan Qashqai, and Hyundai Kona, and it will soon face off against the Toyota Corolla Cross coming to Canada later in 2021.
The Taos’s performance comes from a 1.5L turbo four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Base front-wheel drive models get an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the optional AWD setup includes a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
Standard styling flair in the Taos Trendline ($26,695; $29,195 with AWD) includes 17-inch wheels (which upgrade to 18s or 19s depending on trim), a front LED signature light bar, and LED headlights and taillights. Inside, VW’s virtual cockpit digital gauge display is standard, along with a 6.5-inch infotainment display and heated front seats.
Option up to Taos Comfortline ($32,395) and you get standard AWD, forward collision warning with automatic braking, blind spot monitor, an 8.0-inch touchscreen, leatherette seating, power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic A/C, and passive keyless entry.
The Taos lineup culminates in a Highline trim ($36,695) with 18-inch wheels, adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, navigation, leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, heated/ventilated sport seats, and a heated steering wheel. Optional in Highline is a $1,000 advanced driver assist package with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise with stop-and-go, and remote engine start.
2021 Ford Bronco
This month, Canada’s Ford dealers begin stocking the Bronco, the long-anticipated SUV Ford hopes will upset the Jeep Wrangler’s dominance in the off-road utility segment. The Bronco arrives just as Jeep has modernized its Wrangler with a plug-in hybrid option, which lets Jeep keep a narrow niche of this segment to itself.
Based on a platform shared with the Ranger pickup, the Bronco is available in seven trim levels and a choice of two- and four-door body styles.
The Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks and Badlands trims use a 2.3L turbo four-cylinder engine good for 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and all but Outer Banks come with a seven-speed manual transmission. The Bronco’s optional engine is a 2.7L turbo V6 that makes 310 hp and 400 lb-ft; it’s available in any trim, but is included in WildTrak and First Edition models. The V6 comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission that you can also match with the four-cylinder engine.
The Bronco’s standard functional features include LED headlights, manual air conditioning, an 8.0-inch infotainment display, and push-button engine start. Its exterior comes dressed with black door handles, mirror caps, and fender flares. Mid, High, Lux, and Sasquatch packages (which are optional or standard depending on the trim) add items like dual-zone A/C, passive keyless entry, backup sensors, the Co-Pilot360 driver safety assist suite, a 12.0-inch touchscreen, a 10-speaker stereo,17- and 18-inch wheels, and locking axles.
Pricing for the Bronco starts at $28,500 in base trim and, if you had jumped on the bandwagon early enough, you could have spent double that for the limited-production First Edition. If you browse your local Ford store this month, though, the Wildtrak’s $46,980 is the highest starting price.
2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness
Subaru introduces the Outback Wilderness this month, just in time for you to hop in and get out of town.
The Wilderness is the most rugged version of the Outback Subaru has ever produced. While it’s not a true off-roader, it’s better-equipped for the rough stuff than most mid-size crossovers thanks to its 9.5 inches of ground clearance and long-travel suspension, which contribute to better approach, breakover and departure angles for when the road less travelled is anything but flat.
The Outback Wilderness counts itself among a number of crossovers taking a turn toward off-road territory: It follows the Toyota RAV4 Trail, and comes to market just ahead of the Ford Explorer Timberline and its so-called “moderate off-road capability.”
Subaru also sets the Wilderness apart from other Outback trims with shorter differential gearing to improve low-speed torque — to the point that, Subaru claims, the Wilderness can scale a 40 per cent grade on gravel. An upgraded X-Mode system provides more aggressive off-road driving modes, and all-terrain tires complete the package. Cosmetic touches include black 17-inch wheels (and a full-size spare), a matte black hood applique, and bolder wheel arch cladding.
Priced at $41,995, the Outback Wilderness is the least-expensive way to get the car’s optional 260-hp turbocharged engine.
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